English literature classes were kind of boring. But maybe the books our teachers had us reading were better than we realized. Here are 10 literary classics you should absolutely revisit as an adult.
10. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
Written by Edith Hamilton
Let’s be honest. As boring as school could be, we all loved studying mythology in our English literature classes. And part of the reason we loved those units was due to the incomparable Edith Hamilton. Reignite your love for Greek, Roman, and Norse myths by cracking open your old copy.
9. Hamlet
Written By William Shakespeare
Shakespeare can be a hard read, especially when you’re in high school. But now that we are all grown ups, we can appreciate Shakespeare and his works. If you are going to reread The Bard’s tragedies, you have to start with Hamlet. You will be able to understand the emotional and political complexities better than when you were a kid. Plus, the whole thing reads like a well written soap opera.
8. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Written by William Shakespeare
Now that you have read one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, now it’s time to read his most beloved comedy. If Hamlet was a bit too depressing, you can cheer yourself up by reading a play that is essentially a teen rom com but with faeries.
7. The Lady Of Shalott
Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Lady Of Shalott walked so that Lana Del Ray, Florence Welch, and Chappel Roan could walk. This poem tells the story of a beautiful woman who is cursed to sit in a tower and watch the world via a mirror’s reflection. The gorgeous imagery and message that it is better to live your life even if it’s only for a short time than to stay cursed and trapped in a tower will resonate with most readers.
6. The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
This was one of those poems that we did not appreciate enough in our English literature classes. Maybe we remember this poem as a boring story about sailors. But if you reread it, you will adore this dark frame tale of a man who sailed with a zombie crew after killing an albatross and meeting Death himself.
5. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Written by Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. Lovers of literature from The Harlem Renaissance will enjoy reading about the main character’s fortitude as well as her quest for love and independence.
4. Animal Farm
Written by George Orwell
Remember when our teachers taught us about the dangers of fascism, authoritarianism, and dictatorships with a book about talking animals? The book may have been creepy, but it was also effective. Maybe we should all reread this book, since we need a reminder of why fascism is bad.
3. Sula
Written by Toni Morrison
Sula is the story of duality and friendship. This book tells the tale of two girls, Nel and Sula, who grow up together but eventually grow apart due to social conventions. Readers will be enthralled by the women’s rocky yet meaningful relationship.
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2. The Westing Game
Written by Ellen Raskin
You probably don’t remember this book, and that’s a crying shame. The Westing Game is a quirky mystery about a group of people who are summoned to the will reading of a millionaire, Sam Westing, who mysteriously died. From there they have to solve a puzzle to figure out who killed him. Reread this book to remind yourself that not every book we read in school was boring.
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1. The Giver
Written By Lois Lowry
If you want to revisit this story, I implore you to actually reread the book rather than watching that horrible film adaptation. The Giver tells the story of a boy who is raised in a seemingly utopian future where life is perfectly planned out for every citizen and emotions such as love are considered frivolous and meaningless. We follow the main character, Jonah, who is selected to be the receiver of human memories on his journey to escape his oppressive community.
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