Monthly Archives: November 2012

Respect Soldiers, Keep Them Safe

By Robin Bates | Published: November 12, 2012

In a number of his poems, Kipling honors the common soldier by giving us his perspective.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

Half in Love with Easeful Death

By Robin Bates | Published: November 11, 2012

In his haunting “Ode to a Nightingale,” Keats imagines himself as a homesick Ruth standing “amid the alien corn.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Cruz Comes Out, the Bard Would Approve

By Robin Bates | Published: November 10, 2012

Boxer Orlando Cruz has just come out, bringing to mind Shakespeare’s hyper-masculine gay characters.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

An Austen Romance for Dems and GOP?

By Robin Bates | Published: November 9, 2012

It proved easy to apply the election to Toni Morrison and Jane Austen in my classes.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Morrison’s Novel Shaped the President

By Robin Bates | Published: November 8, 2012

“Song of Solomon,” one of Obama’s favorite books, yield important insights into him and his African American supporters.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

Elated? Depressed? This Lit’s for You

By Robin Bates | Published: November 7, 2012

Lit to caution election night winners and bolster election night losers.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Lit Options for Election Day Defeat

By Robin Bates | Published: November 6, 2012

Responding to election day loss, will we be calm like Henry Fielding or in agony like Grendel?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Wanted: Beowulf Strength vs. Extremism

By Robin Bates | Published: November 5, 2012

“Beowulf” teaches us that rewarding extremism encourages rather than moderates it. The GOP should not therefore be rewarded with the presidency.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

Sacrifice Ram of Pride, Not Isaac

By Robin Bates | Published: November 4, 2012

Rumi honors the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha, which centers on the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed