Monthly Archives: March 2019

Approaches to Literary Criticism

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

There are many ways in and out of works of literature. Here are a few of the most widely espoused. This is by no means a complete list, but it covers many of the most historically influential approaches. Agonistic Criticism … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching Literature and Writing | 2 Comments

Are We Failing Our Boys?

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

We are making admirable strides toward redressing millennia of gender inequities, toward FINALLY not shutting women out of government, business, universities, the arts, and so on. Of course, we’re far from there yet, as a glance at the sea of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sex and Gender | 2 Comments

How to Prevent Another PARCC Mugging: A Public Service Announcement

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

NB: Everything said of PARCC here applies, as well, to all the standardized tests in English language arts currently being used by state departments of education. In other words, PARCC is singled out, here, as an example of a general … Continue reading →

Posted in Ed Reform, Teaching Literature and Writing | Leave a comment

Bésame Mucho

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

Once upon a time, there was a Princess and a frog. And the Princess said, “If only you would kiss me, I would turn into a frog too and be most beautiful and slithy and live in the cool, dark … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, Short Stories | Leave a comment

Ideology | Cartoon | Bob Shepherd

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

Copyright 2001. Robert D. Shepherd. All rights reserved.

Posted in Art, Humor, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Capriccio | Cartoon | Bob Shepherd

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

Copyright 2001. Copyright Copyright 2001. Robert D. Shepherd. All rights reserved.   For other artwork by Bob Shepherd (and essays about the nonliterary arts, go here: https://bobshepherdonline.wordpress.com/category/art/

Posted in Art, Humor, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Ditty for the Don, Cheeto Trumpbalone

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

Ah, I feel a song coming on. There’s a big sinkhole at Mar-a-Lago. Let that sink in. Donnie is our president Although he did not win A popular plurality, And that is just a sin. Ask me what I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Poetry, Trump (Don the Con), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Propaganda Value of the Omniscient 3rd Person POV

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

An omniscient, third-person point of view typically (but not always) assumes a Godlike understanding of how things are, and readers go along with this . . . until they don’t–until the POV of the little man behind the curtain becomes … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching Literature and Writing, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bobu and the Missionaries

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

Three Mormon missionaries came to the hermitage of the monk Bobu. They wore clean white shirts and $10.00 ties from Walmart. Each was extremely earnest and exceedingly well scrubbed. Though no more than nineteen or twenty years old, they referred … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Religion, Short Stories | Leave a comment

The True Gospel of Thomas the Apostle | by Bob Shepherd

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Bob Shepherd

Prologos This is the true book of Thomas the Apostle as spoken unto his scribe regarding those events to which he was witness in his youth. Let none be tempted by some fleeting end to take away from the words … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion, Short Stories | Leave a comment