Nature Versus Nurture

How much of our identity is shaped by our environments? How much is intrinsic to who we are and beyond the control of external forces? These are ancient questions with complex answers. In this collection we've gathered texts that explore the issue of nature versus nurture from a variety of angles.

Publication year 1823

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Classic Fiction, French Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction

Written in 1823 by Claire de Duras, Ourika is a French novella based on real events about a Senegalese woman taken as a slave from her native country and raised in French high society. Ourika is one of the first European texts to feature a black protagonist, the psychological depth of whom promotes empathy with the racial “Other” and highlights the importance of nurture (versus nature) in human psychological development. In the Introduction, a young doctor is summoned to an... Read Ourika Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Fathers, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Southern Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: World, Romance

Out of the Easy, written by Ruta Sepetys and published in 2013, is a young adult historical fiction novel. Sepetys is an award-winning Lithuanian American writer of young adult historical fiction. Her honors include the Carnegie Medal, awarded to one work of children’s or young adult literature per year. Her novels are international best sellers and are widely translated. Out of the Easy is about Josie, a teenage girl living in the French Quarter of... Read Out of the Easy Summary


Publication year 1977

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Agriculture


Publication year 2008

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Education

Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Science / Nature, Social Science, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Fairy Tale / Folklore


Publication year 2018

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1962

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Lyric Poem


Publication year 1994

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Parenting


Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Language

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Science / Nature, Sociology, Relationships, Business / Economics, Psychology


Publication year 1909

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Self Discovery, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Social Justice, Naturalism, Education, Education


Publication year 1921

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Lyric Poem, Free verse


Publication year 1923

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Free verse


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Irish Literature


Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Sports


Publication year 1915

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Metaphysical, Romanticism / Romantic Period


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Anthropology, Anthropology, Animals, Science / Nature, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology


Publication year 1912

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Animals, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Colonialism, Society: Education

Tags Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy

Tarzan of the Apes is an adventure fiction book written by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912 and initially published serially in the pulp magazine The All-Story before being printed as a novel in 1914. Burroughs was an American from Chicago who had a variety of careers before building a name for himself as a writer of pulp fiction. His first story, entitled Under the Moons of Mars (1911), became the first book in the science... Read Tarzan of the Apes Summary


Publication year 1957

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment

Tags Grief / Death


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Flora/plants, Society: Community, Self Discovery

Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Animals, Depression / Suicide, Diversity, Immigration / Refugee, Parenting, Poverty, Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Science / Nature, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Bean Trees (first published in 1988) is the first novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver is an American novelist, essayist, and poet who holds degrees in ecology and evolutionary biology, and her work often addresses biodiversity, social justice, communities, and people’s interactions with their environment. The Bean Trees is a work of realistic adult fiction that follows Taylor Greer as she leaves her rural upbringing in Kentucky, drives across the country to Tucson, Arizona, and... Read The Bean Trees Summary


Publication year 1949

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Relationships