SparkNotes. Studying, simplified.

Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.

Top titles

  • whats new whats new

    Teaching Guides

    Introducing SparkTeach: a unique set of lesson plans designed to help teachers make classic literature engaging and relevant to today's students.

    Explore all teaching guides

  • Full Texts

    Read the complete published texts from classic books.

  • Key Questions & Answers

    Check out our answers to your most frequently asked questions.

    • William Shakespeare’s Life & Times

    Our comprehensive guide includes a detailed biography, social and historical context, quotes, and more to help you write your essay on Shakespeare or understand his plays and poems.

    Read the guide

    From the SparkNotes Blog

    QUIZ: Are You the Protagonist?
    Nov 27, 2020
    5 Books on Your English Syllabus That Started Off as Fanfiction
    Nov 25, 2020
    Shakespeare Quotes for When Your Relatives Ask What You're Doing With Your Life
    Nov 24, 2020
    7 Rejected Thanksgiving Dishes from Literature
    Nov 23, 2020
    QUIZ: Which Creature from Greek Mythology Are You?
    Nov 20, 2020
    QUIZ: Which Version of Pride & Prejudice Should You Watch?
    Nov 19, 2020
    Pick 5 Books and We'll Tell You What You Should Binge-Watch While You're Social Distancing
    Nov 19, 2020
    The 5 Most Overrated Classic Novels of All Time
    Nov 18, 2020
    Every Book on Your English Syllabus Summed Up in Quotes from The Great British Bake-Off
    Nov 17, 2020
    13 Quotes That Will Instantly Cure Your Writer's Block
    Nov 16, 2020
    The 25 Worst Ways to Start Your College Essay
    Nov 13, 2020
    17 Quotes from Books That Will Change Your Life
    Nov 12, 2020
    Pick 7 Books and We'll Guess Your Relationship Status
    Nov 11, 2020
    QUIZ: What's Your Fatal Flaw?
    Nov 10, 2020
    7 Beloved Fictional Characters You Would Probably Hate in Real Life
    Nov 9, 2020
    What Your Least Favorite Required Reading Says About You
    Nov 6, 2020