In the nineteenth century, The Pilgrim's Progress was a standard volume in nearly every literate household in the United States and England. Most children read it along with the Bible and the great plays of Shakespeare. In the twentieth century, its popularity has declined, mainly because of changes in contemporary views of religion. The Pilgrim's Progress stands, for better or worse, as one of the monuments of Puritanism, a part of our historical past rather than an active influence in our present.
Nevertheless, The Pilgrim's Progress has a good deal to...
Source: Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, ©1999 Gale Cengage. All Rights Reserved. Full copyright.
(The entire page is 482 words.)
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