Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Title:

Hamlet

Author:

William Shakespeare

Year:

1623

Country:

England

Themes:

The struggle to persevere during times of grief

The problems that arise from a corrupt government or nation

The violence caused by the cycle of revenge

Synopsis:

The story of a young Danish prince seeking revenge for the death of his father.

The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan

Title:

The Dragon Reborn

Author:

Robert Jordan

Year:

1991

Country:

America

Themes:

The balance of good and evil in the universe

The cyclical nature of existence

The pressure of being called upon to fulfill one's destiny

Synopsis:

The story of a young man destined for greatness in a cycle of good and evil.

As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner

Title:

As I Lay Dying

Author:

William Faulkner

Year:

1930

Country:

America

Themes:

The partiality of considering another person’s actions wrong or insane

The different methods of dealing with grief

The tense relationships that exist within every family

Synopsis:

The story of a family struggling to deal with and move on from the death of their mother.

The Romance of the Rose - Jean Renart

Title:

The Romance of the Rose or Guillaume De Dole

Author:

Jean Renart

Year:

1275

Country:

France

Themes:

The strict doctrine of chivalry in the medieval period

The struggle for women to secure their position

The terrible things people will do to gain power

Synopsis:

The story of a young woman who has been wrongly accused of giving up her virginity trying to restore her position in the world.