Want to ditch Austen-tacious lessons and make your English classes Wilde and crazy? You're in luck. Short of resurrecting Shakespeare to teach your Hamlet unit, Shmoop's free English and Literature Learning Guides are the best way to spice up reading assignments, prompt real-life connections, and launch spirited discussions.

Here are seven easy ways to incorporate English and Literature Guides into your class, straight from the brilliant minds of teachers like you.

1. Brush up beforehand; look like a rockstar in class.

You're the teacher. You know all this stuff. Right?

Right?

If it's been a few years (or decades) since you read the material you're teaching, take some time to click through its Learning Guide. You'll be ready for tricky questions your students might throw your way, and you'll practically ooze credibility.

2. Use them as an exciting introduction to the material.

Looking for a way to instantly grab your students' attention and get them pumped for reading? Have kids read character analyses or background sections beforehand to give them a solid foundation to build on. Priming from Lit Guides will have your students diving into the text confident and prepared. (Just watch out for spoilers.)

3. Solidify a tricky reading assignment.

Some books and poems can be tough slogging. Get everyone on the same page by using Literature Guides as a review. "If students aren't quite grasping what's going on, we Shmoop the next day after a long night's reading," says Jade Clukey of Carrabbassett Valley Academy. "It has been especially helpful while reading Shakespeare!" Finally, Macbeth seems manageable.

4. Use the Quotes section to analyze and explore.

"To Shmoop, or not to Shmoop?" (Trick question. Always Shmoop.) The quotes sections of the English and Literature Guides provide a window into characters' thoughts and motivations. Letting students analyze direct quotes will draw them closer to the characters and story and will help them hone their close-reading skills.

5. Compare and contrast ideas with Shmoop.

We'll be the first to admit: there's a lot more to the classics than we cover in our guides. Have your students read sections of the Literature Guide and discuss. What do they agree with? What do they disagree with? Are there points we didn't cover? Try channeling teenage sass into a nuanced analysis of To Kill A Mockingbird... you may be surprised by the results. Our "Chew on This" statements are intentionally written to spark debate, so start there and let 'em loose.

6. Keep things fresh with Best of the Web.

Grading papers, putting together killer lesson plans, and finding relevant online resources? Ain't nobody got time for that. That's why we've done the work for you. Our Best of the Web tab brings engaging articles, documentaries, images, and more to your fingertips.

7. Use Lit Guides as a springboard for in-depth discussions.

You know your students are bright, and you know this book is excellent... so why are class discussions falling flat? Toss in some unexpected questions and watch students scramble to make their opinions known.

Elise MacAdam of Auckland, New Zealand, says "I go through the Shmoop challenging discussion questions and pick a few as meaty group and class discussion topics to prompt students to think more deeply about the issues in the text." After all, few things are as rewarding as a quiet student making a zinger comment.

English and Literature Learning Guides can make your class livelier than a Meryton ball, but we've got another trick up our sleeves: check out Shmoop Teaching Guides for reading quiz questions, essay prompts, activity ideas, and more.

Interested in getting Shmoop into your school or district? Email sales@shmoop.com and let our Sales Shmooperstars know who you are and what you're looking for.

Just have a question about something in Shmoopland? Hit us up at support@shmoop.com. It's kind of gross how often we check our email, so we'll get back to you in the blink of a cursor.