Up, Up, and Oy Vey!
Source: Aish
An old joke goes that if you meet a guy whose name has “man” at the end, either he’s from a Jewish family or he’s a superhero. A rabbi digs into the Jewish roots of our most popular superheroes.
Arts & Entertainment
Robert Frost’s Christmas Cards
Source: Academy of American Poets
Although these greeting cards started as a way to celebrate the winter season, poet Robert Frost was encouraged to continue them as an annual holiday tradition. Find out which of his famous poems were used as the verses for these unique cards that are collectors’ items today.
What Is Fashion?
Source: PBS News Hour
Why do we wear what we wear? How is fashion a way of making your voice heard? This article on fashion provides insights into these questions.
Modern day Canterbury Tales refreshes Chaucer to tell the lost stories of refugees
Source: The Conversation
In June 2015, a group of academics set out to re-create The Canterbury Tales by walking 80 miles across the North Downs in England and telling the stories of refugees along the way. Their goal was to give a voice to those who are often unheard.
Mark Twain’s Eternal Chatter
Source: The New Yorker
Author Ben Tarnoff analyzes the celebrity of Mark Twain and critiques the writer’s autobiography, which was published in several volumes starting in 2010.
A Wild, ‘Burning’ Journey Back To Old Mexico
Source: NPR
Author Oscar Casares reviews the work of Juan Rulfo, who covered themes of violence and how it affected the behaviors of individuals in his writing. An excerpt from Rulfo’s The Burning Plain and Other Stories is included.
The Life of the Buddha
Source: Asian Art Museum
Read about the events of the Buddha’s early life that lead him to preaching about a different way of living.
Stephen Crane
Source: Poetry Foundation
This biography of author Stephen Crane includes an analysis of some of his work. Click the “Poems, Articles, & More” tab to read some of his poetry.
Review: Kate Tempest, a Young Poet Conjuring Ancient Gods
Source: The New York Times
Kate Tempest followed up her powerful piece “My Shakespeare” with award-winning poetry and breathtaking rap performances.
Langston Hughes: Biography
Source: Biography
American poet, playwright, and novelist Langston Hughes was an influential contributor to the Harlem Renaissance. Discover how his voice expressed in writing the feelings and beauty of African American lives in the 1920s.