Value of Honor in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing

Introduction People have a tendency to develop various attitudes towards the concepts of honor, respect, and loyalty. On the one hand, an idea of honorable behavior pervades human activities, and it is necessary to rely on personal knowledge and skills to demonstrate the best examples. On the other hand, honor...

Taming of the Shrew: Katherina’s Final Speech

Katherine’s final speech in Act 5, scene 2 of Taming of the Shrew, is quite surprising and contradictory to her character. A woman who was known for rebellious behavior towards men, including her husband, suddenly speaks as an exemplary wife. Katherina’s husband asked her to talk about a woman’s duties....

“I Stand Here Writing” by Nancy Sommers

The essay by Nancy Sommers explores the concept of writing which can vary strongly based on the context, ideas, and purpose. Writing is both a skill and an art, never set in stone or adhering to some rigid structures, which is what makes the process uniquely charming and personal. The...

“The Worth of Love and Human Relationships” by Oscar Wilde

Human relationships, either comic or dramatic, turn out to be a common topic for many works of literature. Oscar Wilde used a variety of literary devices to enhance sensory experiences among readers. The Importance of Being Earnest is his play about the significance of social institutions like family and marriage....

“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison

Stylistic convergence is an essential component in any prosaic text system and serves as the most indicative means for expressing the author’s feelings and emotions. Expression with the joint use of individual stylistic devices is superimposed on the interpretation of another, and the overall stylistic effect as a result of...

Because I Could Not Stop for Death Analysis

The work of the American writer Emily Dickinson determines the significant contribution to the world poetry of the second half of the nineteenth century. It coincides with a turning point in the history of American literature, as Dickinson’s poetry reflects the destruction of the Puritan worldview and the search for...

Analysis of “Out of the Dust” by Karen Hesse

«Out of the Dust» is a touching and tragic tale written by Karen Hesse which tells the story of the childhood of a girl named Billie Jo. She lives in Oklahoma Panhandle with her family and experiences the hardships and cruelty of life. Billie Jo’s mother and brother die in...

The Process of Radicalization in “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Hamid

Introduction The novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid is the year 2007 bestseller that focuses on the tension between the American government and the people from East Asia. The book tells a story from a point of view of a professor of finance from Lahore, Pakistan. Bearing a symbolic...

“A Late Aubade” by Richard Wilbur

Introduction “A Late Aubade” is a poem by Richard Wilbur, one of the most prominent American poets of the 20th century. The title of the poem suggests that it is a morning farewell song from one lover to another. The poem consists of seven paragraphs and “features a carpe diem...

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Stowe

Introduction What if someone told you, that the Civil War was started by a simple book? Uncle Tom’s Cabin or Life Among the Lowly was written by the American author Harriet Beecher Stowe, who was a teacher and prominent abolitionist. Published in 1852, the novel gained widespread popularity and became...

“A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty: Point of View

A Worn Path is a short story laden with meaning and symbolism wrote by Eudora Welty. The narrative is about an old African American woman, Phoenix Johnson, walking a familiar path in the rural areas of Natchez, Mississippi, seeking to get medicine for her ailing grandson. The story is written...

Walt Whitman’s Poetry: Transcendentalism Beliefs

Walt Whitman was the American poet who represented the transcendentalist movement in the nineteenth century. Transcendentalism’s general belief is that human senses are not enough to provide the profound truth as they are limited to physical knowledge of life. Rueben concludes transcendentalism as “the intuitive faculty, instead of the rational...

“Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw

Pygmalion if one of the compositions that were written significantly ahead of their time. Like many other plays by George Bernard Shaw, it raises the problem of changing the role of the middle-class woman. Undoubtedly, besides being an extraordinarily entertaining drama, Pygmalion summarises the arguments of how the ‘new woman’...

Rewiew of “The Illegal” by Lawrence Hill

Character Growth in Three Parts The first part of the novel introduces the protagonist, Keita Ali, who has to flee his homeland to earn money for his family’s ransom. In this part, the readers learn that he feels alienated from his motherland and tries to fit in. The next section...

Critical Analysis of James N. Gregory’s American Exodus

Introduction The book, American Exodus: the Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California, is written by James N. Gregory and it depicts the great dust bowl times which caused major agricultural and subsequent economical damage in American agricultural lands from the years 1930 to 1936. Canadian prairie lands were...

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison: A Symbolic Importance of the Novel

Introduction In the last chapter of Beloved, Toni Morrison resorts to a symbolic meaning of the ghost’s appearance in the house at Bluestone. Never satisfied and comforted Beloved is doomed to roam about the house thus mortifying and torturing the dwellers of the house, Paul and Sethe. In this way,...

Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis

Author The author, Joseph John Ellis was born in 1943 and is currently professor at the Mount Holyoke College of History on the Ford Foundation. He wrote the Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation in 2000 and received the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2001 for it. He received his PhD...

Alan Paton’s “Cry the Beloved Country”

Literary works have been instrumental the world over in initiating wide ranging changes in human affairs. Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country is one such striking work of fiction that had sought to bring about positive social change in South Africa and has been assiduously studied and debated by scholars...

“The Life You Save May Be Your Own” by Flannery O’Connor

Terry Teachout says that in Flannery O’Connor’s world “unbelievers living in a fallen world tainted by modernity suddenly find themselves irradiated by grace, but… they struggle in vain against its revelatory power.” In “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” Tom T. Shiftlet lives in a fallen world tainted...

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” : The Book Analysis

Background “One Flew over the Cuckoo´s Nest” is a story of lives within a group of people with different psychological approaches. The characters in the book are definitely with peculiarities as of their psyches and Billy Bibbit is a great example of a man with a psychiatric disorder. Ken Kesey...

Cinderella’s Stepsisters As Saviors

The story of Cinderella has been told in most cultures but the European version is the best known, partly because that version has been modified as times changed. It is mostly read as a rags-to-riches story of a virtuous girl who gets her just reward in this life rather than...

Othello and Antigone: Compare & Contrast

Introduction There can be little doubt as to the fact that Sophocles’ “Antigone” and Shakespeare’s “Othello” are highly emotional dramaturgic pieces: in both tragedies, the motifs of love, treachery, misunderstanding, honor and one’s call of duty, actually define the semantic subtleties of a plot. Both plays represent the very best...

Supplication in the Iliad

Supplication or petitioning can be considered a kind of prayer where a person asking his superior for something. This prayer can be for himself or for someone else. The person who is making the supplication is referred to as a supplicant. Normally the supplicant is the inferior of the person...

A Comparison of “Hamlet” by Shakespeare and “Wuthering Heights” by Bronte

Literature has a way of continuing to explore many of the same themes that seem to plague mankind throughout history. One of the common themes that continues to appear throughout much of earlier literature is a representation of women as nearly hysterical creatures that needed the guiding and calming hand...

Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis Book I and II

Introduction The book Persepolis I and II, reflects on the life of Marjane Satrapi, an Iranian girl who fled to Vienna in Australia after the Islamic revolution in 1979. This occurred after the Iranian warfare augmented the government’s authority over its people. Satrapi’s parents saw the need to send their...

Historical Context of Pride and Prejudice: Research Paper

The novel Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen are considered to be a significant contributor to the world of literature made in 1813. It is important to stress that Jane Austen finished her work in 1797 when she was only twenty-one. The novel has rich historical value because it...

The Idea of Sublime: Critical Analysis

“You will remember, my dear Postumius Terentianus, that when we examined together the treatise of Caecilius on the Sublime, we found that it fell below the dignity of the whole subject, while it failed signally to grasp the essential points, and conveyed to its readers but little of that practical...

Willy & Linda: Family as a Theme in Death of a Salesman

Introduction Death of a Salesman takes place a few years after World War II has ended. America is enjoying a postwar economic boom, but the war has caused a shake-up in American society, changing the way people view business, leisure, themselves, and others. The Lomans live in Brooklyn, a busy...

Shifting Gender Norms in Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits

The questions of gender equality and the role of women in family and society are central for Isabel Allende’s novel The House of the Spirits that was first published in 1982. Although Allende describes the life of her characters without directly naming the Latin American country they live in, it...

The Role of Money in “The Forged Coupon” by Leo Tolstoy

Introduction When one hears the name of Leo Tolstoy, the first thing that comes to mind is his great novels War and Peace or Anna Karenina. However, this famous Russian writer created more than 150 works, including short stories, autobiographical novels, and novellas. The Forged Coupon is one of the...

“The New Automaton Theater” by Steven Millhauser

Introduction It should be noted that Steven Millhauser is a writer and author of many popular works that raise important philosophical and moral questions. He uses the images familiar to every individual and creates a small world, a micro-universe, into which the reader is immersed from the first lines. The...

Literary Devices in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Plays

Introduction Suzan-Lori Parks is an African American playwright of the 20th century who transformed American theatre with her mythic plays. She has won the acclaim of dramatists, critics, and the public around the globe as a provocative and influential author. At the same time, her innovative approach to language and...

Henrik Ibsen’s Drama “An Enemy of the People”

Introduction The aim of this paper is to analyze a situation and the protagonist of a drama by Henrik Ibsen An Enemy of the People—Doctor Thomas Stockmann. In highlighting the nature of the doctor’s character and rebellion that takes place in the play, the virtue of selflessness and the role...

Literary Elements in “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death” is one of the more famous works of the author. It tells the story of a grotesque plague that is sweeping the land. Instead of dealing with it, Prince Prospero gathers a thousand of his friends and travels to...

Doggerel by a Senior Citizen by W. H. Auden

The piece of literature I selected for the analysis is Doggerel by a Senior Citizen by W. H. Auden. I believe that it is the poem reflecting the attitude (to people and the world as a whole) that is still relevant today and is shared by many. It was typical...

Gender Equality in Jackson’s “The Lottery”

The issue of gender and relationships between men and women has always been an area for multiple debates and the collision of opposing views. Therefore, being one of the most topical issues for discussion, it has been widely discussed in the literature, and “Lottery” is one of the strongest examples...

Analyzing Themes and Impact of David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly

M. Butterfly is probably one of the most controversial still rather popular works by an American playwright, David Henry Hwang. This story consists of several captivating details and examples with the help of which it is possible to understand the essence of western and eastern women, define the benefits which...

From a Villain to a Victim and Back: Othello and Iago

Introduction: Among Villains and Victims Of all the complex and thought-provoking Shakespearean plays, Othello must be the most complicated and enticing one. Offering a plethora of three-dimensional characters and developing an intriguing plot, the play conveys the author’s idea of the battle between good and evil and offers specific, unclichéd...

Hans Christian Andersen’ Works Analysis

Introduction The term ‘author’ can be used to refer to someone who “…….originates or gives existence (or life) to something” (Hodges 2002). In the context of literature, an author can be described as an individual who originates or gives existence to a piece of text. This is for example a...

John Smith’s Style in “General History of Virginia”

John Smith, the author of “General History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles” does not seem to be a reliable narrator, even though he is talking about his adventures from the times of colonization, he makes the story sound like an ode to himself and his deeds. The...

Loneliness in The Diary of Anne Frank

Summary The novel is based on real-life events that happened during World War 2. The main character of the novel, which was a Jew, narrates how the Jews survived during the holocaust. The diary of Anne Frank is an account of a young girl’s experience. The diary narrates the ordeal...

Robin Hood’s Problems from Strategic Perspective

Introduction Robin Hood faces a number of problems. The first of these problems is that he intended to dispose the High Sheriff of Nottingham from power. This led him to launch a rebellion against him. What began as a personal crusade developed into an idea that many people came to...

The British Colonial Rule Impact on Kuwaiti Literature

Conducting literature research with special attention to particular nations or periods in human history helps specialists to find new facts that explain similarities and differences between people’s mentalities. Knowing that literature is the most precise reflection of everyday life, studying and comparing outstanding literary works is a way to understand...

“Not Either an Experimental Doll” by Shula Marks

Nowadays, it represents a commonplace practice to refer to the policy of apartheid in South Africa, as having been innately racist – something that serves as the best indication of this policy’s sheer inappropriateness. The main assumption behind such a point of view is that the policy’s practical implementation used...

“Fences” a Play by August Wilson

Introduction One of the main themes in The Fences is the theme of parenting. Both Troy’s and Bono’s sad recalls offering background for considering the similarities and dissimilarities of the generations unraveling Troy from Cory and Bono from Lyons. The one feature Troy appreciated was a sense of accountability, and,...

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton: Novel on New York’s Upper-Class

Introduction In the chef-d’oeuvre book, The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton highlights a form of innocence that comes by simulation. The strict societal rules that govern every aspect of living impose this form of innocence that does not come by one’s choice. In a bid to understand the context of...

“The Unbearable Lightness of Being” a Novel by Milan Kundera

Ever since Milan Kundera’s novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being was published in 1984, it became instantly popular with the readers. And, as of today, critics’ opinions as to what attracts readers to this particular novel vary rather substantially. Whereas; some critics explain novel’s popularity by the sheer progressiveness of...

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” a Novel by Mark Twain

Introduction Classical children’s literature is full of examples of outstanding works that have become a cultural treasure and are still being discussed with interest today. One of these well-known works that are known to almost everyone in the book “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” written by the famous American writer...

Nathaniel Hawthorne Short Stories Analysis

In Hawthorne’s stories, men of supposed decency sometimes do very unpleasant things, and these often affect the women in their lives. The gentlemen in these tales demonstrate is a willingness to take risks with or abuse the good will of women that today would be considered thoughtless at best, or...

Love and Sexuality in “Tom Jones” by H. Fielding

Introduction Sexuality and the construct of ideal love in the novel Tom Jones by Henry Fielding is an explication of the new form of love and sexuality prevalent in the eighteenth century. Love in its discoursed ideal, sentimental form is little presented in the novel. Instead, Fielding presents male love...

Prejudice Power in Forster’s “A Passage to India”

Introduction E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India has been a focus of literary, historical, psychological, and anthropological arguments ever since it first was published in 1924. The novel explores the internal relationships between the English and the Indians during the colonial period. The author paints a picture of a...

Literary Devices in The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

The Raven Literary Devices: Essay Introduction Literary works are often analysed in terms of literary devices and themes outlined. However, it is also important to understand how linguistic features help people reveal their ideas and enhance the impact of the text. Yeibo and Alabrabra (2011) note that linguistic tools have...

“Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism” a Book by Bell Hooks

Introduction Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism is a book that was written in 1982 by Bell Hooks and was titled after the Sojourners Truth’s speech, Ain’t I a Woman. The writer is a feminist theorist, a cultural critic as well as a writer. Her work is a...

Williams Shakespeare Biographical Interpretation

Does the life of an author have a significant influence on his work? Do the author’s experience and surrounding wield influence on his writing? How much does an author’s life impact his work? The effect of an author’s life experiences on his writing is often unquestionable. The impact Shakespeare’s life...

The Courtesy in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” Poem

How does Sir Gawain show courtesy? Find the answer in this essay! Read it to learn all about courtesy in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Courtesy in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Introduction The concept of courtesy in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight features on almost every...

“Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar

“Sympathy” is the poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the first African-American poets, whose works gained popularity at the end of the 19th century. The son of the enslaved father, Dunbar, knew a lot about the misfortune of being a slave. “Sympathy” is the author’s narration about the...

Analyzing Olaudah Equiano’s Narrative: Themes and Historical Impact

It is apparent that Olaudah Equano is a Nigerian native who was born in 1745 in Eboe. At the age of 11 years, the young lad was captured and sold to West Indies as a slave (Eqioano Interesting Narrative 32). From a careful review of literature, the young boy spent...

“Heritage: For Harold Jackman” by Countee Cullen

Paraphrase the poem The poem entitled “Heritage” was written by Countee Cullen. The poet contemplates his origins and his present state. Cullen concludes that though he is civilized, he will still remember about his roots, and he will never forget the beauty and greatness of Africa, his motherland. Interestingly, it...

Cultural Identity and Border Bureaucracy in the Borders Novel by Thomas King

Introduction In the graphic novel Borders, written by Thomas King and illustrated by Natasha Donovan, the universal conflict between maintaining cultural identity and the bureaucratic systems put in place is presented. In the story, the mother and son, both Aboriginal Canadians, attempt to cross the border into Salt Lake City,...

Moral Dilemmas and Choices in Ursula Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

Introduction “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula Le Guin is a thought-provoking short story that challenges people’s morality and choices. It tells the tale of a utopian city called Omelas, where the citizens live in contentment and bliss. However, unbeknownst to them, the community’s prosperity seems to...

Satire and Gender Power in Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata”

Initial Reaction The text Lysistrata is about women and their dealings with the war. The author discusses women’s power and how they exert control over peace through their influence on sex. The text also reveals the roles of men and women in society. After reading the text, my initial response...

Behavioral Analysis of Tom in “The Ant and the Grasshopper” by W.S. Maugham

Introduction Tom contrasts George’s responsibilities in W.S. Maugham’s “The Ant and the Grasshopper” by offering fun, leisure, and personal freedom at any price. The essay analyzes Tom’s traits, deeds, language, and the author’s portrayal, connecting his actions to a studied pattern and showing his influences as a character. Through this...

The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald: Characters and Realities of the Roaring Twenties

Introduction In the path of the First World War, America underwent a transformative era known as the Roaring Twenties. This decade, characterized by economic prosperity, cultural dynamism, and social change, is the backdrop for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s renowned novel, The Great Gatsby. Through the eyes of its characters, the novel...

Analyzing Moore’s Watchmen Using McCloud’s Concepts

Introduction and Thesis Statement A landmark publication in comics studies, “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud offers readers a thorough overview of the distinctive qualities and potential of the art form. Because of its intricacy and depth, “Watchmen” by Alan Moore is regarded as one of the best graphic novels of...

William Wordsworth: A Romantic Poet’s Life, Legacy, and Love for Nature

Introduction William Wordsworth was an English poet who was born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, on April 7, 1770. He was one of the most remarkable Romantic lyricists whose works helped usher in a new era of poetry that emphasized the power of the individual imagination and the beauty of nature. His...

Denialism and Social Illusions in James Joyce’s The Dead Short Story

Introduction The broad issue raised in the literature text is denialism, where life is lived without passion. The writer depicts a joyful Christmas celebration full of dancing and laughter. Nevertheless, given that the story is titled “The Dead,” this is peculiar and a strong indication that something is wrong. Dublin,...

Dionne Brand’s “Blossom”: Identity, Growth & Transformative Symbolism

Introduction In the story Blossom from Dionne Brand’s compelling work, the author delves into the themes of growth, identity, and transformation. Brand’s mastery in weaving a tapestry of language to explore the intricacies of human existence is evident throughout her narrative. The main idea encapsulated in Blossom is the journey...

Langston Hughes’ “Salvation”: A Story of Faith, Pressure, and Disillusionment

Introduction “Salvation” by Langston Hughes is a poignant coming-of-age story about a young boy who has a religious revival and experiences a crisis of faith. The story centers around the themes of innocence, peer pressure, and the struggle between societal expectations and personal beliefs. Summary The story starts with the...

The Role of Children in Medea and Oedipus Rex: Despair, Revenge, and Dramatic Irony

Introduction Ancient Greece is known for its many traditions and norms that have been preserved for millennia, emphasizing the values of family, dignity, and integrity. However, Ancient Greece is additionally known for its literature and well-known plays that carry powerful messages and illuminate themes that are often debated even in...

Exploring the Lessons in The Tale of Despereaux: A Story of Courage and Uniqueness

Purpose of the Book In this book, DiCamillo tells the story of a mouse called Despereaux, who is different from the other mice in his community. While his fellow mice spend their days scavenging for food and avoiding danger, Despereaux dreams of adventure and romance. He is captivated by stories...

Social and Economic Inequality in Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson”

Introduction Imagine a world where a simple trip to the toy store can change a child’s perception of society and class. Toni Cade Bambara’s ‘The Lesson” offers just that: it tells the story of a group of underprivileged children who receive an eye-opening lesson from a well-intentioned but confrontational teacher....

Themes of Power, Love, and Justice in Shakespeare’s King Lear

Introduction William Shakespeare’s King Lear is a tragic play that audiences have loved for centuries. The plot follows Lear, an aging king of Britain, as he attempts to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. Lear quickly learns that his love for his daughters is not reciprocated, and he is...

Analysis of Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”

The central idea of Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”, which is vividly formulated, is a dilemma between loyalty to a blood relative and commitment to justice. Sarti, a little boy, realizes that his father’s actions and behavior are inappropriate, but Sarti’s love for him heavily influences the assessment. However, in this paragraph,...

“Mona Lisa Smile”: Plot, Themes, and Influence

Mona Lisa Smile tells the story of feminist teacher Kathryn Ann Watson, who leaves her boyfriend in Los Angeles to teach at a conservative private women’s college. Instead of the bright minds of her generation, Kathryn meets girls with the primary life purpose to get married. Watson tries to convince...

The Essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift

The satire of “A Modest Proposal” stems significantly from the vast disparity between the speaker’s calm and reasonable voice and the evident obnoxiousness of his proposal. The poor’s young infants are raised as livestock, butchered, and given to the wealthy, who devoured them as a delightful treat. Swift uses irony...

Aeneas’s Characteristics in Aeneid by Virgil

Aeneas is the main character of the Aeneid; he is the son of Trojan ruler Anchises and Venus, the Roman goddess of fertility and beauty. In IV’s book of Aeneid, he is depicted as “the most handsome of them all,” who “walks, as lightly, beauty like the god’s shining from...

The Malcolm X Character in Poems

Brookes, Gwendolyn. “Malcolm X.” This poem is about Malcolm X, as obvious from the title, written soon after his assassination. It seems to be relatively ambiguous in its descriptions of him – “original,” “ragged-round,” “rich-robust.” It acknowledges the influence Malcolm X had on the Black movements, and yet emphasizes that...

Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour’: A Review

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin has been named as the mainstay of literary studies of feminist works. It explores the complicated reaction of the protagonist, Louise Mallard, to learning about her husband’s, Brentley Mallard’s death. The main interest of many scholars and readers in the story lies...

Atmosphere of “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

Introduction James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues” makes a reader thoughtful of the major issues many people have to face in their lives. Family, challenges, failure, recovery, and every person’s stamina are addressed in this literary piece. Due to the limits of the form, the author has to choose every...

Mood in Edgar Allen Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado”

The “Cask of Amontillado” is a short story by Edgar Allen Poe that follows an act of revenge enacted on a man called Fortunato by Montresor. Montresor does so out of the assumption that Fortunato has insulted him, and his revenge is subtle, intricate, and the main driving force of...

“Their Eyes Were Watching God”: Story Analysis

Introduction “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a story by Zora Neale Hurston that captures the essence of society’s impact on relationships. Gender roles and identities define how individuals conceptualize love. Behavioral expectations and societal norms affect people’s worldviews and determine how they relate to each other. People’s perception of...

Analysis of “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner is centered around a rich and unmarried woman, about whom there are also many rumors among her neighbors. Faulkner’s use of specific literary techniques can be observed throughout history. The author uses every literary technique needed for developing the topic that is not...

“Cinderella” vs. “Vasilisa the Beautiful” Folk Tales

Folk tales are an integral part of the culture of any nation. These stories were passed down from generation to generation and were constantly interpreted depending on the time period. It is essential to understand that each folk tale carried a special message, which was instructive in conception. In other...

Reflection on the “I, Too” Poem by Langston Hughes

Introduction Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” is a stirring portrayal of the African American experience in the United States, highlighting the struggle for equal treatment and dignity in the face of pervasive racism and discrimination. The poem speaks to the resilience and strength of those who have been marginalized, and...

The Break Book by Katherena Vermette

Katherena Vermette’s narrative details the circumstances under which a family in North Winnipeg is forced to deal with a violent sexual assault that occurs in the full view of a young Metis woman. Stella must contend with the fact that the young girl she witnessed being molested was her niece,...

Does Shakespeare Still Matter?

Shakespeare’s works are still highly relevant to modern society and people. Despite the fact that his plots unfold in a historical setting, the poet talks about timeless matters and themes. Firstly, his characters experience the same conflicts and problems as modern people do. Secondly, they have difficulties understanding themselves and...

The Poem “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

In her poem “Girl,” Jamaica Kincaid explores a mother’s struggle to explain to her child the place of women in the social structure. The author’s aims are clear from her feminist actions, her relations with her family, and the poem’s format. This short fiction aims to demonstrate how women support...

Carnival, Memory, Identity & The Dragon Can’t Dance by E.Lovelace Review

According to the Russian theorist Mikhail Bahktin, a specific type of holiday is optional in all historical festivities. The most crucial is an emerging force preserved in it and contributes to the flight from the capture of “official culture,” such as the state, the church, or other suppressive systems. In...

Perception of War in A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway

A Farewell to Arms, an Ernest Hemingway novel, has a distinctive anti-military rhetoric. While the war is not directly condemned, its atrocities are described vividly, showing that something wrong is happening. Its main character, Frederic Henry, is an American lieutenant serving in the Italian Army ambulance during World War I....

The Goal Book by Eliyahu Goldratt

Introduction The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement was published in 1984 by Eliyahu Goldratt, with the latest edition being released in 2004. Goldratt uses the story to explain the interrelated management concepts essential in strategic planning and operation management. Alex Rogo is the protagonist in the story, as it...

Racial Issues in Othello and Their Relevance

Introduction The topic of discrimination on various grounds, including racial ones, is not new. People who differ in skin color and culture often become outcasts in society. The very existence of a divergent person gives rise to a societal conflict. Shakespeare’s Othello deals with such a confrontation, showing the viewer...

Virgil’s Importance in Dante’s Inferno

The Divine Comedy is an epic narrative poem by a great Italian poet and scholar, Dante Alighieri. In the poem, Dante’s character has to travel through Hell (Inferno) and Purgatory (Purgatorio) before being brought into Heaven (Paradiso). During Dante’s exploration of hell, he is accompanied by Virgil, a mentor figure...

Depiction of Women’s Life in Dove’s “Daystar” Poem

The poem Daystar by Rita Dove depicts women’s lives in the role of a mother and a wife. The author illustrates the state of loneliness of the protagonist, as well as the peacefulness of her quiet moment of the day. It is also reflected in the title of the poem....

Critical Analysis of “Othello”

Individuals tend to perceive the meanings of the words ‘dignity’ and ‘confidence’ differently, depending on their nature and nurture. For some people, honour, and certainty can be obtained and restored via power and money. Others believe praise and assurance come from hard work, honesty, and a pure soul. William Shakespeare...

Moral Judgment: The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood

Introduction I agree that we must be cautious when passing moral judgment when. Reading the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is accurate in terms of Offred, the Commander, the Commander’s wife and the Angel, when examining the decisions and actions they take. However, universal laws of human morality...

Existentialism in “The Metamorphosis” and “Donnie Darko”

Existentialism is the philosophical theory identifying a man as the only responsible person for his development. Many pieces of literature and cinematography masterpieces depict a man who dictates his life purpose and decisions by himself, highlighting man’s freedom in actions. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and Kelly’s Donnie Darko are two examples...

Annette Baier’s “The Need for More than Justice”

Introduction Justice is a quite vague concept that is perceived and utilized by people differently. Due to its ambiguity, it sometimes leads to misunderstanding and dissonances. Annette Baier explains that men and women perceive the world divergently and have varied values, which leads to considerable differences in their attitudes and...

The Complex Character: Hamlet From “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare

Introduction The infamous The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or simply Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, is a powerful literary composition presenting the protagonist’s multidimensionality and complexity – Hamlet himself. The play traces Prince Hamlet and his contemplations on the topics like life, death, love, and revenge. The point...

Human Development Psychology

The Notebook is a romantic novel authored by Nicholas Sparks in 1996. The novel is told in two versions; first, when Noah reads the notebook to a woman by the name Allie. He reads to her how Allie and Noah fall in love young; they are separated for years but...

Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Ambition Corrupts Good Morals

Every individual is driven by an ambition which often manifests itself in the desire to achieve a goal. In this context, individuals will go to any length to achieve their ambition. However, in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, too much ambition is depicted as a corruptor of good morals. Through the character...

The Feeling of Lost in Hemingway’s “Soldier’s Home”

Introduction Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) was one of the most popular and successful American writers of the 20th century and is now considered a modern classic. His novels and stories revolve around bullfighting, big game safaris, and war. Ernest Hemingway is probably one of the best and most influential short story...

Title of “Woman Hollering Creek” by Sandra Cisneros

“Woman Hollering Creek” was first published in a 1991 collection of short stories by Sandra Cisneros called “Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories.” The narration is about Cleofilas Enriqueta DeLeon Hernandez, separated from her friends and family after her marriage to Juan Pedro Martínez Sanchez. Cleofilas was raised by her...

Edwidge Danticat’s “Brother, I’m Dying” Themes

Introduction In her memoir published in 2007, Edwidge Danticat tries to gather the whole picture of her broken family’s life: when Edwidge was four, her mother left the children with their uncle in Haiti to join her father in New York. At the age of twelve, Edwidge reunited with her...

“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant: McManus’s Review

“The Necklace” is a story of a young woman who expresses discontent with the life she leads. Her unhappiness is the result of false expectations, and she is driven to despair by her humble surroundings. She is intent on escaping her reality by engaging in endless daydreaming. In addition, she...

Motives of “A Dream Called Home” by Reyna Grande

Reyna Grande was born on September 7, 1975, in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, in difficult social and financial conditions. Today she is a famous author living in the United States and has received numerous awards and prizes for her books and novels. Grande, along with her siblings, grew up in poverty;...

On Being Brought from Africa to America Poem by Wheatley

The poem On Being Brought from Africa to America by Phillis Wheatley is a poetic representation of dark period in American history when slave trade was prominent in society. However, despite the horrors of slavery, it is a poem of resilience and strength demonstrated by Wheatley on her journey. In...

Beauty in The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The idea of beauty has always been important to human society. People use specific standards to consider someone more attractive than others and provide them with privileged status. At the same time, failure to meet dominant standards might result in exclusion, isolation, and loneliness. Thus, beauty is one of the...

Reasons for Downfall of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King

Oedipus the King is a well-known tragedy about ancient Greeks and the king of Thebes written by Sophocles. The content attracts the reader’s attention for many reasons, and one of them is the development of the events that result in the main character’s killing his father and marrying his mother....

The Essay “The Dreamer” by Junot Diaz

Introduction It is complicated for young people to imagine that once upon a time, women and certain sections of society were deprived of the opportunity to get an education and their dream profession. Women, in accordance with paternalistic attitudes, had to work in the household and devote themselves to exhausting...

Poems Themes Comparison

Ballad of Birmingham Ballad of Birmingham is a relatively short poem written by Dudley Randall in 1963. The poem covers a wide list of controversial subjects, including violence, regret, justice, equal rights, love, death, and hopes. Randall narrates about a small girl asking her mother if she can join a...

Structure of Langston Hughes’ Harlem Poem

“Harlem” was a poem work written by Langston Hughes in 1951, a time when jazz and blues music was emanating. He wrote the poem to explore the consciousness and lives of the black people in Harlem (Duki 162). The composition took another path of addressing the continuous experience of the...

Father-Son Relationship in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” Play

Often children respect and honor their parents even after they have passed. In many movies, for instance, Disney movies, a child’s motivation is a result of their parent(s) passing and that becomes their new reason to keep them going. Another example of this is when a child grows up with...

Religion in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry

Emily Dickinson was a famous American 19th-century poet born on December 10, 1830, in New England to a Puritan family that had lived in Massachusetts since the 17th century. Emily’s father, Edward Dickinson, was a lawyer and politician, who for a long time resided in the House of Representatives and...

‘My Mother Enters the Work Force’: Rita Dove’s Perspective on Motherhood

Rita Dove seems to have an intimate understanding of motherhood and the responsibilities ascribed to motherhood. In the poem, Dove provides strong diction and the female point of view to express the life of being a mother and a wife. In the first stanza, Rita Dove arrays motherhood as a...

United States Colonialism in Sherman Alexie’s “Evolution” Poem

Introduction Postcolonial theory claims that the members of decolonized cultures develop a specific postcolonial identity, shaped by the unequal power dynamics of their colonial past. This identity is based on the collective trauma and exists in response to the oppression the identity holders had experienced in the darker parts of...

Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville

Bartleby, the scrivener, gives an idea into the broken life of Bartleby, which depicts changes in his career affected and ultimately influenced his emotional stand. The author clearly uses symbolism to reflect the mental state that burdens Bartleby in the Lawyer’s office. Bartleby holds signs of depression at work, which...

Feminist Connotations in Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

The subject of feminism is among one of the subtle and underlying themes of Frankenstein. Mary Shelley, the author of the story, primarily emphasizes the issues of male oppression and patriarchy through the use of subordinate women imagery. In addition, the fear of femininity and the power of womanhood can...

Hybrid Creatures and Their Significance in Greco-Roman Myth

Introduction The imagery of hybrid species, encompassing a wide array of bizarre anatomical combinations feature in numerous Greco-Roman myths. These hybrid creatures typically possess humanoid parts alongside beastly characteristics, which intuitively seem to exhibit a certain principle. The true nature of the creatures remains unclear; they may have inhabited alternate...

“Le Morte d’Arthur” Book by Thomas Malory

Le Morte d’Arthur retells the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The medieval setting of the literary piece is traced through the use of outdated language that describes the atmosphere, social relations, and the environment of the medieval times. However, the themes of love, friendship,...

Reflection About Teaching Patriotism in Schools

Introduction As a concept, patriotism has been subjected to multiple interpretations, which range from quite neutral to outstandingly positive to downright negating its significance. The perception of patriotism, has become particularly complicated over the past decade due to the rise in political tensions among representatives of different countries, as well...

The Comprehension of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman”

Introduction The phenomenon of the American Dream appears vague and indeterminate in the American literature. In a broad sense, this term indicates both material and spiritual values of the American citizens. It is a complex of various ideals, inherent for the Americans since their childhood. The American Dream is a...

Saving Rufus’s Life in “Kindred” Novel by Butler

Kindred is a fictional novel written by Octavia Butler, which touches upon the topic of the value of human life, referring to the horrifying antebellum South events. The female protagonist Dana suddenly experiences the time-traveling to the past and meets her ancestor Rufus, the antagonist of this story. Dana has...

Racial Inferiority and Blacks Empowerment in Brooks’ Poem “Primer for Blacks”

Introduction Poetry is an art that many individuals use to pass information. From politics to liberation movements and racial awareness rallies, poetry enables communication that conveys crucial messages to the public. Poetry can influence decision-making among people as it can give the truth to the public and also manipulates some...

Female Agency in 19th and 20th Century Literature

Introduction The problem of female agency and the constraints that patriarchy has placed on it became particularly prominent in the West in the late 19th-early 20th century. Due to the pressure of sociocultural, as well as socioeconomic and sociopolitical changes, the opportunity for women to add potency, urgency, and convincingness...

Amy Tan’s Reflections on English Varieties in ‘Mother Tongue’

Summary of Text: In her article “Mother tongue,” Amy Tan shares her views on different forms of English and their impact on the life of people, especially immigrants. She raises the problem of the limitations of their activities connected with the language barrier (Tan, 1990). In the article, Amy describes...

The Moral Strength and Failure of Relationships in “Young Goodman Brown”

Introduction Morality does not exist in a vacuum; moral beliefs, judgments, and acts are only possible within the context of interpersonal relationships. The various forms of human relations can at once reflect and influence morals. Throughout his writing career, Nathaniel Hawthorne pays close attention to the questions of morality. Hawthorne’s...

Similar Theme in “The Lottery” and “The Hunger Games”

The lottery theme unites the books “The Lottery” and The Hunger Games. In Suzanne Collins’s book, the inhabitants of Panem were forced to participate in a survival game, with teenagers engaging in such a competition (Collins). Shirley Jackson’s story tells the story of the tradition of an American city throwing...

Krebs’ Portrayal in “A Soldier’s Home” by Hemingway

In Hemingway’s “A Soldier’s Home,” the main character experiences apathy for a multitude of reasons. Harold Krebs was trained in a way that made him void of any empathy. The disinterest towards maintaining normal relationships or any mundane hobbies settled in after the return to civilian life (Hemingway 2). This...

“The Misfits” Characters Analysis

The Misfits depicts a group of friends rejected by others, known as the Gang of Five, despite having only four members. They are Bobby, Joe, Skeezie, and Addie, the only girl in the circle. Each has a distinct personality and certain reasons for being ostracized, and later the quarter joins...

Literary Devices in John Updike’s “A&P” Story

Aguiar, Christian. Living class in John Updike’s “A&P”. The Explicator, vol.78, no. 2, 2020, pp. 58-61.  Some analyses identify the specific variation of the short story interpretation referred to as the “living class” concept of Beverly Skeggs. It is known as a classism perception in A&P Story, another metaphoric tool...

Family in Bambara’s ”Raymond’s Run” & So’s ”Three Women of Chuck’s Donuts”

Kindred significantly contribute to the character, values, beliefs, identity and status of an individual. When kindred suffer loss due to divorce, illness or death of an individual the impact is felt by others. In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story, “Raymond’s Run,” the protagonist shows how she relates with her brother...

Prejudice and Lost Innocence in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

\Frankenstein’s monster is, perhaps, one of the most sympathetic characters in the pantheon of monsters that have become emblematic of the horror genre. Although modern readers are unlikely to find the novel quite as chilling as their predecessors did, “Frankenstein” raises quite several disturbing themes that still hold relevance for...

Ideal Tragic Hero: “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles

Introduction The tale of King Oedipus has become one of the best-known Greek tragedies, mostly due to the controversial nature of the fate that Oedipus meets. However, stepping away from the specified controversy and considering character development, one will have to point out that Oedipus is the perfect tragic hero....

Analysis of Justice in “The Oresteia”

Justice is a concept studied by all the ancient peoples: Scandinavians, Goths, Europeans, and Greeks. The nature of revenge and whether it is just to kill somebody as an act of vengeance is a central issue of the trilogy The Oresteia. Throughout the novels, the concept of fairness evolves onto...

Creon in “Antigone” by Sophocles

Sophocles revealed a deep conflict between ancestral unwritten rules and state laws in his tragedy Antigone. On the one hand, religious beliefs, deeply rooted in the tribal community, dictated people to sacredly honor kinship ties and observe all the necessary rites with blood relatives. On the other hand, every citizen...

Dangers of Mob Mentality in ”The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Introduction The short story The Lottery is one of Shirley Jackson’s most famous works. Its concept revolves around an annual draw in a small village. Although the lottery is usually associated with a winner getting a grand prize, in the story, it is a process of selecting a victim for...

Jack Turner, the Song of the White Pelican

Identity encompasses the unique signature that differentiates different works of literature. Essentially, this identity can be utilized to differentiate different works originating from different authors. Jack Turner is an author that has created an identity for himself, by not only writing interactive works on wildlife but also incorporating various figures...

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”: Human Cruelty

Introduction Shirley Jackson’s story “The Lottery” was published in 1948 during the rebuilding of the world after World War II. Almost all the post-war period literature is, to one degree or another, devoted to understanding the consequences of what happened during 1939-1945. One of the cruelest and most inhumane episodes...

Interpreter of Maladies: The Plot of the Story

Interpreter of Maladies is included in the collection of short stories of the same name. The plot of the story is built around the trip of the couple Das and their children – Indian immigrants of the second and third generation, who grew up in America – to the Sun...

“Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen

“Dulce et Decorum Est” is a poem written by Wilfred Owen after his experience of fighting in World War I. The title is a Latin clause meaning it is worthy to die for one’s country. However, Wilfred Owen shares the reverse opinion, implying that it is an awful death. Due...

Sisterhood in Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” Play

Introduction Susan Glaspell is a celebrated American writer, and Trifles, a one-act play, is among the many works that she wrote in the early twentieth century. At the time, women in American society were facing various challenges and Glaspell used her literary skills to highlight the same, albeit dramatically. In...

Sharikov as Generational Symbol in “The Heart of a Dog”

Polygraph Polygraphovich Sharikov is a demonstrably villainous antagonist in Mikhail Bulgakov’s novella The Heart of a Dog. After “a small experiment” on a stray dog, Sharik, conducted by a talented surgeon, Professor Preobrazhensky, and his assistant, Dr. Bormental, the dog is turned into a human (Bulgakov). From the former Sharik,...

The Analysis of “Race” by Karen Gershon

Every poem is unique in the way it portrays emotions and experiences that have already been reported in the literature. For instance, it may employ different tropes to create a lasting impression. The narrator’s personality, their perspective, is another important tool that allows conveying the message of the poet. This...

Marxism and Socialism in “Mending Walls” Poem by Robert Frost

Introduction The poem “Mending Walls” by Robert Frost, written and published in 1914, narrates a story originating from rural New England and talks about a fence between two industrious farmers’ estates that separates their properties. It is worth noting that the wall is rebuilt every spring, and one of the...

Pip in “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens

Introduction As the title suggests, the novel ‘Great Expectations’ is about the expectations of a young man as he moves into the harsh cruel world of reality outside his home. His tryst with destiny, first at the hand of a golden hearted criminal, Magwitch, and then at the hands of...

“Othello” by Shakespeare: Desdemona as a Strong Character

Women have always played central roles in literature as they impacted the development of the plot, motivated main characters, and affected their actions. However, because of the patriarchal system of values and the adherence to the stereotypic perspective on females’ duties and rights, their position in stories was mainly passive....