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Graphic with icons illustrating literature and language

From Robert Burns to J K Rowling, discover unique National Library of Scotland resources focusing on language and literature — English, Gaelic, Scots and modern languages.

Learning resources

Illustration of man jumping from train

"The thirty-nine steps"

'"The thirty-nine steps" — 100 years on' explores some of the themes in John Buchan's famous 'shocker'

Mary Brunton

Forgotten women writers

'Forgotten women writers: Jane Austen's Scottish sisters' looks at Scottish female writers now largely forgotten but who were best-selling authors in the early 19th century

Witches and Tam o' Shanter

Witches in Scottish literature

The 'Witches in Scottish literature' resource looks at a selection of writing that has been inspired by and features witches

Boy on a boat, scene from 'Venus Peter' film

'A twelvemonth and a day'

Our resource on Christopher Rush's 'A twelvemonth and a day' looks at different aspects of writing and interpretation through source material and video interviews with the author

Hansel and Gretel

Fairy tales

'Fairy tales' learning resource for primary school teachers which includes activities for creative writing, storytelling, drama and art and design

Illustration of an alien and a rocket

Science fiction in Scotland

'Science fiction in Scotland' features video interviews with three leading contemporary authors based in Scotland

Illustration of Othello

Getting started with Shakespeare

'Getting started with Shakespeare' looks at a selection of characters, scenes and sonnets to help pupils get started in reading and understanding some of Shakespeare's work

Alasdair Gray self portrait

Alasdair Gray

'Themes in Focus: Alasdair Gray' looks at the creative processes used by Scottish writer and artist Alasdair Gray, using sources from the Gray archive

Learning Zone main page

See also

Gaelic text and manuscript detail on website home page

Gaelic Bards of Keppoch

Explore the songs of two of Scotland's great Gaelic bards

'Project Blaster' resource page

Information literacy

Learn how you can build information literacy skills in the classroom through 'Project Blaster

.

Library learning for you

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