20 Great Works Of Literature You Confuse With "Saved By The Bell" Episodes

Analyzing "Saved by the Bell's" many literary influences and references is a well-known hobby for scholars of the written word; however, confusing the source material is always inevitable when comparing works of equal academic caliber.

1. "And Then There Were None," by Agatha Christie

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Was it Poirot or Miss Marple who always drank a mango tonic with a kiwi twist?

2. "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner

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Challenging novel about the death of Artie the chameleon, and his family's quest and motivations -- noble or selfish -- to honor his wish to be flushed down the toilet at Bayside High.

3. "Atlas Shrugged," by Ayn Rand

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Remember when Ellis Wyatt set fire to his own oil fields, because a CalStar oil spill killed his pet duck Becky, and all the other animals in the nearby pond?

4. "The Bonfire of the Vanities," by Tom Wolfe

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Sherman McCoy and Maria Ruskin were coming from a homecoming toga party when they hit that kid with their car, right?

5. "Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley

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This poignant warning against the dangers of a dystopian society undone by its "no test policy" when students become teachers is even more relevant today.

6. "Catch-22," by Joseph Heller

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Satirical novel about the fictional 256th squadron and their exploits competing in an obstacle course throughout their high school.

7. "Death of a Salesman," by Arthur Miller

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Willy Loman sold buddy bands, right?

8. "The Grapes of Wrath," by John Steinbeck

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Enduring novel about the Joads, a homeless, mall-dwelling family who learn that all it takes is a new suit and a family with a piano to overcome adversity. One of my all-time favorite Christmas novels.

9. "Jailbird," by Kurt Vonnegut

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Scathing satire chronicles Walter F. Starbuck's attempts to escape prison in order to win tickets to Hawaii from a radio call-in show.

10. "Lolita," by Vladimir Nabokov

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Controversial novel really takes off when Lolita's boyfriend hires an actress from a pizza commercial to pretend to be Humbert Humbert's jealous girlfriend.

11. "The Martian Chronicles," by Ray Bradbury

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Most of the short stories in this beloved Ray Bradbury collection involve teenagers trying to replace a broken camera by duping local newspapers with phony alien photos.

12. "A Midsummer Night's Dream," by William Shakespeare

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This Shakespeare play has it all: Puck dressed as a giant hot dog, a volleyball game against the fairies, and a climactic ATV race between Lysander and Demetrius. The Bard's greatest work.

13. "The Picture of Dorian Gray," by Oscar Wilde

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Haunting novel about Dorian Gray, a man who maintains his good looks with acne cream (Beldasil), which, in a horrible twist of irony, ultimately turns his face maroon.

14. "The Prince," by Niccolo Machiavelli

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Influential political treatise is a must-read for any would-be politico who wants to learn about international diplomacy, tactical strategy, and how to implement MTV during Study Hall.

15. "Rosemary's Baby," by Ira Levin

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The witches' coven was running a demonic baby pool, right? And when the Scrabble letters spelled "MVEMJSUNP"? Chilling.

16. "Ulysses," by James Joyce

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Never finished this one, but didn't it have a Hot Sundae music video?

17. "Valley of the Dolls," by Jacqueline Susann

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Gripping novel about Neely O'Hara's tragic and destructive addiction to over-the-counter caffeine pills.

18. "War and Peace," by Leo Tolstoy

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Epic saga of five Russian aristocratic families, set against the backdrop of the annual Bayside-Valley prank war.

19. "The War of the Worlds," by H.G. Wells

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Classic sci-fi novel about robotic "fighting machines" who come to earth to offer witty remarks and sage advice while assisting with magic tricks, hall-monitoring, and teaching Kelly about nuclear fission.

20. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," by Edward Albee

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Powerful, acerbic play about the breakdown of a marriage when Martha learns she's allergic to George.