When did you last delve into Discovering Literature?This free online resource from the British Library is brimming with inspiration for English teachers, students and book lovers everywhere. It covers over a thousand years of literature in context, from Medieval to Shakespeare, from the Romantics and Victorians to the 20th century. We’ve used digitised treasures from our archive to bring key poems, plays and novels to life. It’s the perfect way to revitalise your lessons, plan revision and encourage independent learning.
Treasures for English teachers
Examine manuscript drafts of iconic works such as Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum est’, Blake’s ‘London’ or Levy’s Small Island. They reveal how great writers make real choices about language. Use vivid primary sources to shine a light on contexts. Browse new articles and short films to find fresh angles on your texts. Or explore our teachers’ notes and themed packs of 19th-century non-fiction sources.
Highlights for GCSE texts: from Macbeth to An Inspector Calls
We’re excited to share on Litdrive a set of brand new resources for GCSE and A level teachers. They’re accessible guides to our highlights for many of your top texts: Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein and Great Expectations. You’ll find links to the best resources for setting the texts in context, or analysing themes more closely.
Examine JB Priestley’s poignant letter from the First World War trenches, and an article exploring how war shaped his socialist ideas in An Inspector Calls.
Read great pieces on Jack the Ripper or duality in Jekyll and Hyde.
Explore everything from Victorian Christmas to Ghosts in A Christmas Carol.
Marvel at the manuscript of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
This is just a flavour of what Discovering Literature has to offer. Easter could be the perfect time to explore the site for yourself.