This thematically organized anthology treats literature as a continually expanding commentary on our infinitely varied lives, helping students make the connection between literature and their own unique life stories. Each of the anthology's themes Family, Men and Women, Fear and Loss, Freedom and Responsibility, Imagination and Reality, and Quest progresses outward from reflections on the self to larger, more universal issues. Within each theme, the readings provide a unique combination of traditional and contemporary works that highlight the diverse cultures and perspectives that make up our world today. Brief, but essential, writing apparatus includes new coverage of literary argument and a stronger emphasis on writing about film.