"The course of true love never did run smooth," wrote William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream—and he knew what he was talking about. A text from this study guide collection might be just the thing to remind you of the bliss and pain of love.
Publication year 2006
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Food
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Travel Literature, Romance, Religion / Spirituality
Eat Pray Love is a 2006 memoir by writer Elizabeth Gilbert whose previous works include the novels Stern Men and The Last American Man. The book’s subtitle is One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, and it chronicles Gilbert’s quest for mental and spiritual healing following a divorce, difficult legal settlement, unhealthy love affair, and period of depression. This guide references the 2016 Penguin Random House edition.SummaryThe author searches for “I” in... Read Eat Pray Love Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Relationships
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Place, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Fantasy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
In Eleanor and Park, we introduced to the young teenager, Park, who is half-Korean and somewhat of an outcast at school. He would prefer to read comics or listen to music than make new friends, and he is bullied from time to time by his peers. One day, Park sees Eleanor Douglas get on his bus, and from that point forward, his life is changed forever.In many ways, Eleanor is a target for bullies. She... Read Eleanor and Park Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a 2017 comic novel about human connection. The title character, Eleanor Oliphant, narrates the story, introducing herself as an office worker with a solitary life in present-day Glasgow, Scotland. Eleanor spends her free time doing crosswords, listening to the radio, drinking vodka, and reading classic literature. She does not socialize with anyone, and her only family is a spiteful mother who calls from prison once a week. One night... Read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Mythology
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Immigration, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Romance, Philosophy, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Philosophy
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Realistic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Gail Carson Levine’s book Ella Enchanted was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1998 after its publication in 1997. In 2004, a film adaptation was released, though it received criticism for diverging from Levine’s story, including adding new key characters. Ella Enchanted was Levine’s debut. She also wrote Fairest, which retells Snow White’s story and is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Some of her other notable works include Dave at Night, The Wish... Read Ella Enchanted Summary
Publication year 1717
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, Age of Enlightenment, British Literature, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Gothic Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Romance, Classic Fiction
“Eloisa to Abelard” is a poem published in 1717 by Alexander Pope. The poem discusses the ill-fated love affair of a real-life couple from 12th-century France: Heloïse d’Argenteuil, a gifted 18-year-old student, and Peter Abelard, a renowned French scholar, philosopher, and poet of the Medieval era who was 20 years older than Heloïse. The poem is a heroic verse epistle, which is a genre first made famous in Ovid’s Heroides. Pope adopts Eloisa’s persona and... Read Eloisa to Abelard Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Magical Realism, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Religion / Spirituality
Elsewhere is a coming-of-age story and work of magical realism—a genre in which fantastical elements (e.g. talking animals) are woven into an otherwise ordinary setting. First published in 2005, it was writer Gabrielle Zevin’s first novel for a YA audience, and was a 2006 Bank Street Best Children’s Book; it is also an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book. All page numbers in this guide refer to the Farrar, Straus, and Giroux edition. Plot SummaryElsewhere begins... Read Elsewhere Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 1815
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humor, Class, Gender / Feminism, History: European, Relationships, History: World
Emma is a fiction novel published in 1815 by the English author Jane Austen. The book centers on the character development of its eponymous protagonist, a genteel young woman on a country estate who meddles in the love lives of friends and neighbors. Jane Austen was conscious that Emma’s snobbery, vanity, and meddling might make her a “heroine whom no one but myself will much like” (Austen-Leigh, James Edward. A Memoir of Jane Austen. London:... Read Emma Summary
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fairy Tale / Folklore, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, New Adult
Publication year 1979
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family
Tags Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Love / Sexuality, Psychology, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Psychology, Classic Fiction
Endless Love by Scott Spencer, first published in 1979, is a psychological drama that delves into teenage love’s obsessive and destructive nature. Spencer, an American novelist known for exploring intense human emotions and relationships, crafts a story centered around David Axelrod, a young man whose all-consuming love for Jade Butterfield leads to tragic and life-altering events. The novel examines themes such as The Destructive Nature of Love, Dysfunctional Family Dynamics, and The Construct of Mental... Read Endless Love Summary
Publication year 1818
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Mythology, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1170
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Romance, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, French Literature, Education, Education, Mythology, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Erec and Enide is a book-length poem written by French poet Chrétien de Troyes around the year 1170. The poem is one of Chrétien’s series of so-called Arthurian romances—a genre of poem in the Middle Ages that told the stories of the individuals associated with King Arthur’s court. His poems are among the earliest to refer to King Arthur and his knights, and Erec and Enide focuses on the adventures of the knight Erec. This... Read Erec and Enide Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Asian Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Indian Literature
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Humor, Animals, Romance, Classic Fiction