Which do you prefter? Sparknotes, Cliffnotes, Gradesaver, or any other suggestions and why?

Question

I'm reading the text, but I'd like to make sure that I understand what's going on in the text.

Answer 1

huh? i prefer sparknotes because i think it is great!

Answer 2

Sparknotes and Cliff's Notes are both fabulous, but Sparks are FREE! Yay for free! If you want to download the pdf, you have to pay for it (cheap,) but the full versions are available for free on sparknotes.com.

Also, I believe that Sparknotes have more consistent format. I have noticed with Cliff's that different authors include different types of information (for example, mini-summaries in addition to the long ones, detailed character descriptions, themes and symbols, etc.) Basically the stuff in the "Romeo and Juliet" notes might not all be there in the "Hamlet" notes. Not true for Sparks though, they seem to have the same information available for each book.

Answer 3

I understand what you're saying. I was an English major the first two years I was in the University (I've since changed to Spanish which I find to be both more challenging and more interesting). For this reason, I read a LOT of literature. However, my favorite source was pinkmonkey.com. It gave scene analysis, character analysis, symbolism, literary elements, etc. I always read the actual work, but like you said, I like to know what I should be looking for.

Answer 4

Sparknotes, definitely. It's very easy to access, free, and has a huge database of stuff. I would also like to say that using summaries and analases are not a means of "skating through life" but is a valuable supplement to assigned literature.

Answer 5

I have found Sparknotes to be of great help with any of William Shakespeares works. They offer a translation into easier to understand english.

I would also ignore garfields answer as I have a daughter who topped her Literature and Philosophy in year 12 and she used Sparknotes and found them helpful. Any extra insight into the works is helpful, as well as reading the material yourself.

Answer 6

I prefer sparknotes because I think it gives the most detailed summary and the best explanation of plot development.

Answer 7

I prefer Sparknotes because it gives more details, it has a wider variety, and it is easier to understand.

Answer 8

You decide which from these links.

These links will give you a summary of the book, character analysis, plot and much more, so that you will be able to answer literary questions.

For the Great Works of World Literature.

( Book Summaries & Study Guides)

http://www.schoolbytes.com/list-p.php

http://www.jiffynotes.com/

http://www.awerty.addr.com/summaries.html

http://education.yahoo.com/homework_help/cliffsnotes/all.html

http://www.gradesaver.com/

http://summarycentral.tripod.com/

http://www.bookwolf.com/

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/

http://sparknotes.com/

http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/index.asp

http://www.shvoong.com/

http://www.reviewsofbooks.com

http://thebestnotes.com/

http://www.monkeynotes.com/

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/

http://barronsbooknotes.com/

http://www.studyworld.com/

http://aesop.thefreelibrary.com/

http://www.allreaders.com/

http://www.novelguide.com/

http://www.hoboes.com/Mimsy/?CAT=reviews

http://www.bartleby.com/

http://www.homework-online.com/litguides.asp

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/index.htm

http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~jmcd/book/

http://www.4literature.net/

http://www.online-literature.com/

http://www.online-literature.com/author_index.php

Literature reviews

http://everything2.com/index.pl

English literature

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=57905&lastnode_id=124

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.

Answer 9

all of them are great