Imagery of vision and eyes permeates Emily Dickinson’s poetry. In this article, humanities professor and physician Larry Zaroff (with Tony Chan) provides a medical rationale for one of Dickinson’s most powerful metaphors.
Once upon a time, fairy tales weren’t for children. They weren’t even written down. Read this history to learn how much fairy tales—even the ones with which we’re most familiar—have changed over time. Be sure to follow the links to older versions of the tales, and find out for yourself!
The 1948 publication of Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” in The New Yorker magazine inspired subscribers to send a record number of letters, nearly all of them negative. Why all the fuss? Book critic and author Ruth Franklin considers these responses and Jackson’s own reaction to them.
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel, became a critically-acclaimed film in 2007. Learn about the creative process behind the depiction of one young woman’s struggle for personal and political freedom.
Like many of his contemporaries, Shakespeare drew on a variety of resources for his astounding output of plays.
Lucinda Grange is a photographer with a love of adventure. She scales skyscrapers and monuments to take unbelievable photographers. Check out this photo essay of her work.
As many athletes and fans know, sports can unify people who don’t have much in common otherwise. This article explains how Nelson Mandela used rugby and other sports to help unify the people of South Africa after years of racial segregation.
The Odyssey is one of the most exciting stories ever told, of a long and complicated heroic journey. This interactive story map summarizes Odysseus’s journey using a modern-day map and representations in art.
Frank Stasio, host of radio program The State of Things, talks to poet Joy Harjo about her latest collection, Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings.
This biography outlines the life of Phillis Wheatley, who became a published poet despite being enslaved.
