Middle School Students Must Read: Illustrated Classics of Literature

Author: Zhang Wenjie
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-03-01
Features: The editor of Illustrated Classics for Middle School Students selects from the list of recommended literary classics for middle school students as specified by the Ministry of Education's Teaching Syllabus for Chinese. The book features original illustrations from the classics, along with valuable images, accompanied by descriptive text and expert introductions. Its main feature is the use of visuals to convey the essence of the original works. The selected images, drawn from renowned artists throughout Chinese and foreign history, vividly capture the highlights of the classics, showcasing strong artistic appeal. Students can subconsciously understand and master the key plot points, memorable scenes, character traits, and themes of the works through appreciating these images, leaving a deep impression.
Look, in this image, Grandfather Goyrand sits in his chair, his thumb circling endlessly as his eyes gaze blankly into the distance. His brother has committed suicide due to bankruptcy, yet he shows no grief, instead pondering how astonished the people of Saumur will be if they learn he made 200,000 francs from his wine barrel business the next day. Grandfather Goyrand's expression fully embodies the greedy, inhuman nature of a money hoarder.
Here is the first edition cover of Fortress Besieged, featuring a man and a woman leaning back-to-back, their faces melancholic, as if trapped in a fortress and yearning to escape. This image reflects the theme of the book: "Those inside the city want to escape, and those outside want to enter. It is the same for marriage, career, and life's desires." (Yang Jiang). The illustrations in the book are as thought-provoking as these two examples, seamlessly blending with the text. The visuals vividly convey the meaning of the words, while the words clearly elucidate the essence of the images.
In addition to the images, the editor has invited experts to write introductory essays on the classics. Each essay is divided into four sections: Author Biography, Key Summary, Work Appreciation, and Quotable Lines. The Author Biography section lists the author's major works, achievements, critical acclaim, and significant life experiences, with notable quotes highlighted separately.
Turn to the page of the book, and you will immediately see Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, quoted in 12-point bold: "Meet misfortune with a smile, for a great heart should display such courage—face all misfortune with double the courage." Hemingway, the author of The Old Man and the Sea, is quoted as saying: "Man is not born to fail. One may be destroyed, but not defeated." This quote fully embodies Hemingway's hard-boiled spirit. The quotes from other classic authors are equally inspiring.
The Key Summary section presents the original content in elegant and fluent language, authentically capturing the ideological depth, plot outline, and artistic style of the works. The Work Appreciation section is concise yet insightful, offering thorough analysis of character portrayals and artistic features. The Quotable Lines section selects the most representative quotes or famous passages depicting scenery or emotions, printed in regular script, to aid students in copying and memorizing, helping them grasp profound life philosophies while improving their writing skills.
From the Quotable Lines of Robinson Crusoe, we can admire the following line: "I accept the will of heaven, now I begin to possess this will, and I believe all arrangements are already the best." This reflects Robinson's philosophy of adapting to nature. In the Quotable Lines of The Collected Poems of Tagore, we can appreciate such a famous line: "Sit quietly, my heart, do not raise your dust. Let the world find its way to you." The meaning of this line can only be understood by eliminating all desires and distractions, sitting in quiet contemplation.