English & Language Arts: British & World Literature
Chinua Achebe: Africa’s Voice Things Fall Apart has been translated into 50 languages, has sold over 8 million copies, and is considered one of the 20th century’s literary masterpieces. This program analyzes the impact Chinua Achebe and his writings have had on world literature, as well as his influence as an editor and a spokesman for a generation of African writers. Dr. Achebe, noted professors Abiola Irele and Gerald Graff, and Charles Larson, editor of the anthology Under African Skies, discuss the characterization, social implications, and levels of interpretation of Things Fall Apart. Vital concepts indigenous to the Ibos of southeastern Nigeria such as oral culture, reincarnation, and negotiation—concepts essential to a deep understanding of the novel—are also presented. This program is an indispensable supple- ment to Achebe’s best-known novel that elucidates Nigerian history and culture and the impact of colonialism. (61 minutes) © 1999 Preview Clip Online o $169.95 QGR9050 • DVD / VOD
Masterpiece Classic: Wuthering Heights An orphaned Heathcliff is befriended by his new stepsister Cathy, and their bond deepens as adults. But when the two are separated, Cathy becomes open to a new courtship, forcing her to choose between a life of comfort and one of love. Her subsequent actions affect genera- tions to come. This adaptation of Emily Brontë’s darkly passionate novel stars Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy. Distributed by PBS Distribution. (142 minutes) © 2009 Preview Clip Online C $169.95 QGR43632 • DVD / VOD
Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales Written in the 14th century, The Canterbury Tales has stood the test of time as a landmark in the development of English literature. This innovative “frame story” owes its classic standing and impact to the diversity both of the narrators and of the styles of tales they tell. In this program, expert commentators Dr. Christiania Whitehead and Dr. Peter Mack, both of the University of Warwick, discuss the tradition of 14th-century poetry, the General Prologue, Chaucer’s social grouping of the pilgrims and the themes they explore, and the poem as a reflection of medieval English society. Dramatic reenactments of the pilgrims on horseback and numerous period images help bring the tales to life. (33 minutes) © 1998 Preview Clip Online o $169.95 QGR8657 • DVD / VOD
New! Secrets of The Arabian Nights The stories of The Arabian Nights have entranced Western readers ever since their appearance in Europe some 300 years ago. This program examines the 18th-century compilations of Antoine Galland as well as the medieval Islamic folklore from which Galland derived his narratives. Viewers also learn about present-day controversies relating to The Arabian Nights’ sexual themes. Contains mature content. A BBC Production. (60 minutes) © 2011 Preview Clip Online C ‡ $169.95 QGR44795 • DVD / VOD
Now Available! Surviving Don Quixote In this film, Don Quixote and his loyal squire travel throughout Andalusia searching for information about the life of Miguel de Cervantes and the personal and historical events that may have influ- enced his work. Commentary from biographers and historians is interspersed with the narrative, along with gorgeous footage of the landscape, art, and architecture of Cordoba and Seville. Spanish with English subtitles. (61 minutes) © 2005 Preview Clip Online $149.95 QGR45485 • DVD / VOD
Joseph Conrad: Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad’s compelling novella, marked by an ominous tone and a sense of unspeakable menace, is a literary introduction to the savage 20th century. In this program, noted Conrad scholars Bruce Harkness, Frederick Karl, Jerome Meckier, and Dwight Purdy examine the author’s life within the context of his times: the pervasive influence of his Polish back- ground, the impact of the sense of isolation he experi- enced as a merchant marine, and the nightmarish conditions in King Leopold’s Belgian Congo. Historic photos and maps help set the tale in the context of time and place. In addition, experts analyze Marlow, Kurtz, the Accountant, the Manager, and Kurtz’s fiancée; discuss the importance of literary techniques such as juxtapositioning; interpret the meaning of Kurtz’s last words and Marlow’s lie to the fiancée regarding them; and consider the story’s bleak implication that it is only the knowledge of one’s own perversity that separates humankind from the darkness. (30 minutes) © 1998 Preview Clip Online o $169.95 QGR8589 • DVD / VOD
Dante: Visions of the Inferno Drawing upon the insights of numerous international scholars—and illustrating crucial passages with stunning animation sequences—this program guides viewers through the Inferno of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Portions in Italian and French with English subtitles. (74 minutes) © 2006 Preview Clip Online C ‡ o $169.95 QGR35994 • DVD / VOD
William Golding: Lord of the Flies Stranded on an island by a plane crash that leaves all the adults dead, a group of schoolboys establish a primitive society in order to survive. However, their tribal community, begun on moral terms, decays into savagery and ends in a brutal murder. This allegorical novel, now a classic of 20th-century literature, probes the dark side of human nature that lurks beneath the thin veneer of civilization. In this program—enriched by footage from the 1963 black-and-white film directed by Peter Brook—literary experts discuss the novel’s religious imagery and use of irony. In addition, the principles of law and order, the role of society and culture, and the effects of political unrest are explored. (32 minutes) © 1999 Preview Clip Online o $169.95 QGR8673 • DVD / VOD
Metamorphosis For Gregor Samsa, the ill-fated protagonist of Franz Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis, home is where the horror is. Filmed in Kafka’s native Prague and narrated by actor Jeff Goldblum, this program blends creative reenactments with expert commen- tary to explore how Kafka’s prescient masterpiece about a man turned into an insect shattered notions of the happy family and anticipated the darkness descending on Europe. The autobiographical aspects of the novel are richly documented, as are modern- day examples of what is now called Kafkaesque. A Discovery University Production. (51 minutes) © 2001 o $99.95 QGR30743 • DVD
In the Steps of William Shakespeare: London and Stratford An aromatic stew of biography and local color, this program will give viewers a sense of the London and Stratford of Shakespeare’s time. The section on London visits 18 major sites associated with the Bard and his plays, while the section on Stratford conjures up the presence of young Will through a journey around Warwickshire. (42 minutes) © 2004 Preview Clip Online o $129.95 QGR42126 • DVD / VOD
William Shakespeare This program tells the story of Shakespeare and his works. Featuring delightful dramatized extracts from some of Shakespeare’s best-known plays, the program also includes memorable depictions of life in Elizabethan times. The program also features expert commentary and critical analysis by Stanley Wells, director of the Shakespeare Institute, and Robert Smallwood, deputy director of the Shakespeare Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The well-regarded Shakespearean actor Brian Blessed also makes a special appearance in this program. (46 minutes) © 1995 Preview Clip Online o $169.95 QGR6559 • DVD / VOD
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