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...

Lessons Learned from “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad

Marlow left for Africa specifically to Congo in the service of the Belgian company occupying Congo as its protectorate (Conrad 3). However, when Marlow was presented with the map showing the Belgian empire, he raised concerns with the effects of imperial presence in Africa. For instance, the Congolese viewed the...

“Crescent” and “Arabian Jazz” by Diana Abu-Jaber

Introduction The Arab American writers have always employed several literary components and literary devices that reflect the true history and traditional values of Arabs living in America. The literary works of Diana Abu-Jaber in her two novels, Crescent and Arabian Jazz are some of the most important Arab American novels,...

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Bierce

In what ways are the condemned man’s perceptions of time and motion distorted as he is waiting to be hanged? Ambrose Bierce uses the stream of consciousness literary style to present some aspects of the story that take place in Peyton’s imagination. Peyton believes that everything has a slow and...

Contrasts and Details of “The Cask of Amontillado“ by Edgar Allan Poe

Introduction Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” was first published in 1846, and it is widely recognized today as the best or one of the best short stories written by the author. It contains a story of revenge taken by an insidious and dark man named Montresor on his...

Second Person Narrative in The Fall: A Unique Perspective

The point of view an author chooses to use when writing is often an integral choice to make in describing a story (Hawke 1). The most common points of view used by writers are first person, second person, and third person. Although they affect different aspects of writing, they are...

Cowardice in “To Kill a Mockingbird”: Mayella & Bob Ewell

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is full of examples of courage, but it has the examples of the exemplar cowardice as well. Cowardice has different forms in the novel. The first example of cowardice is the behavior of Mayella Ewell. She has no friends, and her...

“Literature: How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Introduction Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, which is also called by its opening line How do I love thee, is a prominent example of English poetry. This sonnet reveals the selfless and pure love of the poetess to her husband. Despite all difficulties on her life journey, despite a...

“Ode to the Midwest” by Kevin Young

Young’s poem is a representation of seemingly light poetry which, at the same time, gives food for thought. He dedicates his ode to the place where he was born and also to the whole country. The poem is very “American,” it employs a lot of words and phrases about our...

“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 History of Love” by Nicole Krauss

Prompt How does the theme (love) provide a deep sense of interweaving between individuals otherwise unknown to one another? Introduction An eminent philosopher once said that human is a social animal. Indeed, people are rooted in society from the moment of their birth. They develop inside its ties, its relations,...

Elie Wiesel’s “Night”: Father-Son Bond Amidst Holocaust Struggles

In his autobiography, Elie Wiesel describes the destructive influence of the Holocaust on a person’s inner world and his/her attitudes toward others. One of the central themes that the author explores is the relationship between a father and a son under the circumstances when people cannot easily retain their humanity....

Gender Roles in “Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys

Introduction Jean Rhys’ novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, places importance on colonialism coupled with its effects on the social dynamics in society, hence enabling the reader understand the social environment around the Caribbean during the period before the enactment of the Emancipation Act of 1833. This paper presents some of the...

“In Our Time” a Short Story by Ernest Hemingway

The nature of humans suggests that we tend to get close with certain people or things, and to keep others at a distance at the same time. Some things are familiar to us; we know them well and feel safe with them. Other things are foreign to us, and we...

Cloning in Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Cloning is a medical process whereby organisms that are identical are produced through the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer (Griffin 650). It is a very complicated process, but the bottom line is that an independent human being can be created by cloning. Cloning has brought about a lot of...

“Brown Girl Dreaming” a Novel by Jacqueline Woodson

Discussion Process and Questions “Brown Girl Dreaming,” the novel by Jacqueline Woodson, presents her life through a series of poems. During the discussion, the classmates revealed various themes and tensions that helped to understand the feelings and messages of the main character Jacqueline. Three themes the discussion was focused on...

Key Farce Elements in Theater: Analyzing Their Role in Playwriting

Farce is an inevitable element of theater and plays. Having a personal point of view about which elements of farce the theatric performances are to follow, Eric Bentley has created several aspects which are believed to be the part of farce. The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for...

The Glass Menagerie and Portrait of a Girl in Glass

The Glass Menagerie was the first successful play written by Tennessee Williams in 1945. It brought the author great fame and success and alleviated him to the ranks of America’s most esteemed and regarded playwrights. This play introduced the genre of a “memory play” to the theater, characterized by the...

“Hills Like White Elephants” a Story by Ernest Hemingway

“Hills Like White Elephant” by Ernest Hemingway is told mainly in the form of a conversation between the couple and even though the words are not actually said, it becomes obvious that the girl in the story is about to get an abortion. The main theme of the story centers...

Gendered Analysis of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

The story of Henrietta is a classical example of how women are portrayed and thought of in the society. The portrayal of women on magazine covers is exemplary done by the author in her book cover. The author views Henrietta as a beautiful black woman. In fact, pundits argue that...

The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor: Walter Lord’s Day of Infamy

Born in 1917, Walter Lord was an outstanding historian and author. He wrote many books, most of which detail major historical events such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He toured many parts of the world, interviewing hundreds of eyewitnesses about their experiences before, during, and after...

“In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote

Truman Capote in his book In cold blood has created allocated the main character varied strengths and intolerance. This is the main character and he is known as Perry Smith. In general Perry Smith has been described as having a disproportionate body with a heavy muscular torso and broad shoulders...

William Shakespearean Comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (henceforth referred to as MND) is one of the most popular Shakespearean comedies, most frequently performed on stage. The play has undergone numerous changes since 1595 when William Shakespeare penned it. The play has been performed on stage as a musical, or ballet, and off course...

Insight Into Character Psychology in Shakespeare’s ”King Lear”

One of the great things about William Shakespeare’s plays is that he was usually able to offer insight into the psychology of his characters. The dramatic play King Lear is no exception. Intended to be performed before an Elizabethan audience, the main action of the game follows the path of...

Hamlet by William Shakespeare: Summary of the Play

Introduction The play begins with Prince Hamlet going back home for his father’s funeral. The prince feels depressed when he finds out that his uncle, Claudius, had already remarried Gertrude, his mother. Claudius immediately becomes the king after the death of King Hamlet, yet Prince Hamlet is the right heir...

Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse

Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse is a psychological novel as it contains a lot of Freudian and Jungian undercurrents in its theme. One finds the hero Harry Haller trying to cope up with the many sides of his personality. In fact, Haller suffers from a dual personality. Throughout the novel, the...

Family, Feminism, and Personal Growth in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

Introduction My research is centered on the thematic strands of family and how helping one another as family members is crucial when balancing personal growth and familial duty. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women focuses on the family bond that the four little girls share and their support for one another....

Biomimicry in Poetry: Nature-Inspired Guidance from Berry and Stevens

Biomimicry in Wendell Berry’s Poetry Biomimicry is often used in poetry to find inspiration and guidelines in nature. For example, Wendell Berry was a poet and farmer who had his vision of how a person should relate to nature. In his poetry, Berry is aware that man is part of...

Character Development and Symbolism in POOF! by Lynn Nottage: Exploring Power and Emancipation

Introduction POOF! by Lynn Nottage is a strong and provocative play that explores the complicated themes of power relations, emancipation, and the effects of silence. Nottage expertly brings these concerns to the fore via character development and symbolism, enabling the audience to connect profoundly with the play’s underlying meanings. This...

Themes of Jealousy, Race, and Human Nature in Shakespeare’s Othello

Introduction William Shakespeare’s novel Othello is a classic tragedy written in the early seventeenth century. The story depicts the dramatic consequences of jealousy and manipulation and how dangerous it is when these emotions become the basis for decision-making. Shakespeare uses elements of drama, such as conflict, dramatic irony, and symbolism,...

The Static Character of Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Fences

Introduction “Fences” by August Wilson masterfully explores the African American experience in 1950s America, delving into race, personal ambition, and familial obligations. Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball player turned garbage collector, stands at the center of the narrative. This essay contends that Troy’s character remains static, entrenched in...

Feminist Themes and Tragic Structure in Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour

Introduction The main idea of “The Story of an Hour “is freedom and its importance for an individual. Louise Mallard is a happily married woman with a very loving husband. She doesn’t really have much independence, though; she only obtains it after she finds out about her husband’s passing. In...

Personal Legend in Coelho’s “The Alchemist” The Alchemist: Destiny, Mentorship, and Self-Discovery

Introduction Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” is a fascinating story of the journey to self-discovery, which resonates with every individual’s life in pursuit of success and destiny. Santiago is the novel’s protagonist whose journey to self-discovery unravels numerous challenges as they search for their hidden treasure. Throughout Santiago’s navigation to find...

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain

Introduction In “The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain, the author dwells on things that reveal a person’s essence. She says that actions are essential to get to know another person deeply, not facts from a biography. Repetitions, metaphors, oppositions, and the choice of semantically strong words help convey to the reader...

Themes and Symbols in “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Introduction Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown” is among the most significant pieces of American literature. The work utilizes a variety of literary techniques to convey its message and provide context, on the characters, the environment they live in, and the depths of their fall to sin. Above all,...

Preserving Indigenous Identity in Wagamese’s Indian Horse

Introduction Literary works have great power, which can draw readers’ attention to the most critical and disturbing problems. An example of such a work is a novel by Richard Wagamese called Indian Horse. This work touches on a relatively large number of topics, including unfulfilled dreams, the influence of alcohol...

Home, Belonging and Displacement in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

Introduction In Toni Morrison’s novel “The Bluest Eye,” the concept of home is explored and depicted in various ways, revealing the complexities and challenges of finding a sense of belonging in a racially divided society. Set in the 1940s in Ohio, the story develops around a young African American girl,...

The Novel “Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer well-known for many of her speculative fiction novels. In 2003, she created Oryx and Crake, set in a near-future dystopian post-apocalyptic world. In her work, the author discusses many social and ethical issues of capitalism, corporate greed, and corruption, in which the novel’s setting...

“Character Is What You Are in the Dark” Quote

Character is what you are in the dark. Dwight Lyman Moody Quotations from literary works can sometimes touch the soul more than a whole book or a story can do. Hence, some of them contain the author’s thoughts about a particular problem or convey a worldview. The quote under study...

The Book “The Second Sex” by Simone De Beauvoir

Introduction Simone De Beauvoir is a historical figure for writing about one of the most crucial issues in society. Beauvoir’s work involves gender equality and the position of women in society. In her book “The Second Sex”, De Beauvoir presents a history of women’s position in society from a feminist...

The Poem “The Odyssey” by Homer: Story of the Sirens

When it comes to the story of the Sirens in Homer’s The Odyssey, the first mention of them comes from the goddess Circe. She warns Odysseus that upon returning from the Underworld, he will encounter creatures bewitching sailors with the sweetness of their song. Circe notes that there is no...

Blame in “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

Leadership is always a very difficult task, not suitable for every person, especially if leadership qualities need to be developed in a war. Tim O’Bryan describes in ‘The Things They Carried’ Jimmy Cross’ attempts to become a leader. The author demonstrates how important it is to have maturity, discipline and...

Antonio and Ultima in “Bless Me, Ultima” by Anaya

The story of Antonio, a six-year-old who has grown up in a rather complicated environment, is the same as that of the Giver by Lois Lowry. Antonio struggles with himself and his cultural identity until he meets Ultima, an individual who becomes his mentor. With the deaths of those around...

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...

Crime & Punishment in ”Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo

Introduction There are differing perspectives that influence people’s actions and how they treat others. Some people’s behaviors are influenced immensely by the perceptions of others. Priest vs. the World in the story Les Miserables represents extreme perspectives that explain the behaviors of Jean and Javert, the main characters in the...

Social Satire and Pilgrimage in Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’

Geoffrey Chaucer uses Canterbury Tales to describe different professionals and their perceived stereotypes. Skipper is one of the many characters who narrate their tales as the pilgrimage journey progresses. The pilgrimage journey brings together people working in different industries. Therefore, it presents a perfect opportunity for the author to expound...

“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...

Love Affairs in The English Patient by Ondaatje

The English Patient is based on the love story between the mysterious English patient who later turned out to be Hungarian Desert Adventurer László, and Clifton’s wife, Katharine Clifton in the years before the Second World War. Burnt badly after an amnesia-stricken aviation accident, Almásy is taken to a fortuitous...

Gender Norms in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

Considering the core themes of A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, the following research question has been formulated: “What were the norms and expectations pertaining to gender in nineteenth-century Norway?” The question is essential to explore as the play is set to expose the limited roles of women during the...

Victor Frankenstein Character in Mary Shelley’s Novel

Introduction In the pursuit of knowledge, humankind devised science as an important tool for unveiling the mysteries of life. Through science, it becomes possible to generate requisite knowledge that leads to the creation of communication devices that permit people to share information in real time, provide vaccines, and/or answer any...

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by W. Shakespeare

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare brings out the theme of love basing it on two different and contrasting ideas. The first assumption is the idea that love is something very strong and it is beyond human control. Love is seen to be controlled by a divine power such as...

Literature Studies: The Odyssey by Homer

When I began to read The Odyssey, I had some background knowledge of the events and characters described by the author. For example, as a student, I read about the myths created in ancient Greece, and the characters always described by Homer fascinated me. For example, I can speak about...

Wealth and Illusion in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’

In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald explores the theme of the American Dream. In particular, the author shows the decline of this ideal and people’s disillusionment with it. This novel provides several examples illustrating this thesis. Much attention should be paid to the characters’ cynicism, their desire for sensual pleasures or...

Kazuko Itoi Is the Authentic (Japanese) Name of the Writer Monica Sone

Kazuko’s attitude toward the American people during and after her relocation. Kazuko Itoi is the authentic (Japanese) name of the writer Monica Sone, who was born in the United States to Japanese parents, first-generation immigrants. As the story progresses, this balance of the two components of her personality periodically changes...

Sir Philip Sidney’s Poem “Thou Blind Man’s Mark”

Introduction Desire is one of the most common themes explored in poetry. It is also the subject of Sir Philip Sidney’s poem “Thou Blind Man’s Mark”. On the surface, the text seems to implicate desire as the main cause of harm, yet a closer inspection of poetic devices can show...

There There by Tommy Orange Review

Introduction “All these stories that we haven’t been telling all this time, that we haven’t been listening to, are just part of what we need to heal. Not that we’re broken” (Orange 137). This excellent use of irony demonstrates why Tommy Orange’s “There There” is a stylistic, form, and storytelling...

Emily Dickinson “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?”: A Formalist Analysis

One of Emily Dickinson’s most famous poems is titled “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” The poem’s first line is among the most brilliantly inventive and unforgettable in all of her poetry. In its poetic vision that fame lends complexity to life, the poem represents the reality of the world. The...

“History and Topography of Ireland” Book by Gerald of Wales

Introduction The Norman vision of the Irish has primarily shaped the attitude of the English toward them. This is evidenced, in particular, by the manuscripts of Gerald of Wales, a clergyman whose ancestors were both Normans and Welsh. Gerald was descended from the Norman Lord Marcher, who was actively involved...

“Where My Characters Come From” by Haruki Murakami

Introduction Murakami, in his article “Where My Characters Come From,” gives an overview of how he chooses the characters in his novel and what motivates the choices of characters (2). Murakami’s purpose is to explain how he develops his characters over time in his writing career and how the characters’...

Frederick Douglass’s Narrative – Legacy of Resilience

Introduction The “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” calls readers on a heart-wrenching journey through the life of Frederick Douglass. This memoir is about Douglass’s years in slavery and his resolution to escape freedom. It was published in 1845 and played a significant role in winning the minds and...

Morality in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by O’Connor

“She would have been a good woman,” The Misfit said, “if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” – Flannery O’ Connor. Literature has been a source of knowledge and a means for the author to convey the moods and problems of the time...

The “Oil” Play by Ella Hickson

Essay Summary In the essay under analysis, the author examines the play Oil by Ella Hickson through the lens of postcolonial ecocriticism and such concepts as environmental activism, place, and borrowed time. The writer introduces the playwright and briefly describes the play, its structure, and style, giving an example of...

Angelou’s Poem “Still, I Rise” Analysis

Angelou’s poem, Still, I rise, incorporates figurative language in stanza five. The speaker uses metaphor in the first and second lines of stanza five to express her view and emotions toward racists. “… shoot me with your words” Angelou (line 21) and “you may cut me with your eyes…” Angelou...

“The Wife of Bath” by Geoffrey Chaucer

Introduction In The Wife of Bath, Geoffrey Chaucer uses the technique of confronting a male-dominated reality with a woman who is unwilling to accept it. The most critical social problem that Chaucer raises is the total disregard for women’s desires by men who are in power and have their way....

Concept of Power in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Henry IV Plays

Introduction Shakespeare’s plays present complex narratives where power is not a stable construct that defines one characteristic. Instead, as many authors argue, it is tied to the appearance of order and the expulsion of evil. It generally implies that people with political power must protect their citizens, albeit it is...

Appearance and Reality in “Du Tenth Sinks…” by Feng Meng-Long

Introduction Appearance is a subjective notion regarding structural ideologies, such as perceived respect among the wealthy while the reality enshrines incongruent personality traits among individuals on ethical virtues. The short story, ‘Du Tenth Sinks the Jewelry Box in Anger,’ fosters an apt evaluation of the contrast in the human behavioral...

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...

Is Shakespearean Hamlet’s Madness Feigned?

Introduction Hamlet is a tragedy play written by Williams Shakespeare; it is set in Denmark during unsettle times. It was revealed to the young prince that his father has been murdered by his uncle King Claudius, so Prince Hamlet seeks revenge by acting insane. Hamlet’s comments about madness, his elaborate...

“Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario

Enrique’s Journey chronicles the lives of a little kid from Central America who is trying to find his mother after she abandoned him when he was five years old, so she could work in the United States. The goal of Nazario’s description of Enrique’s life is to humanize and make...

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....

Alienation in the Works of Hemingway and Faulkner

The themes of loneliness and alienation are shared among all writers of the Lost Generation. The desire to find a home and return to everyday life after the war influenced the styles of Hemingway and Faulkner. Similar life experiences encourage writers to depict events in dark tones, full of ambiguity...

The Series of “Harry Potter” by Joanne Rowling

Introduction The works of the British novelist Rowling collectively referred to as the Harry Potter series, are classified as fantasy. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley are all enrolled at Hogwarts School in the novels. Major plot points revolve around Harry’s battle against the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who...

“The Beekeeper of Aleppo” by Christy Lefteri

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is the moving story of the journey of two spouses who experienced the war and were forced to flee Syria. This book illuminates the lives of civilians who had a formed life and a safe environment, coming face to face with war, death, and grief. The...

Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”: A Psychological Approach

The novel “The yellow paper” discusses the limitations imposed on women by society and domestic life and shows what impact these limitations may have on a person’s psyche. From a psychological point of view, doing nothing can lead to all kinds of psychological deviations as the desire for self-realization is...

Creon in the Antigone Play by Sophocles

Antigone’s opponent Creon is a notoriously very arrogant dictator who demands absolute loyalty from his subjects. He displays his conceit from the outset of the performance via both his words and deeds. He claims the inhabitants of Thebes as his own and uses fear to compel them to submit completely....

Analyzing the Use of Water in Danticat, Roumain, and Marshall

The use of water in the three novels Roumain’s “Masters of the Dew,” Danticat’s “Krik? Krak!” and Paul’s “Praise Song for the Widow” has a symbolic meaning. The main innovation of the writers is the image symbol which replaces the traditional artistic image. The early forms of poetry and visual...

Rose as a Family Leader in “Fences” by August Wilson

Introduction Fences is a play by American playwright August Wilson that was first staged in 1985. Set in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, it explores race relations and the evolution of the African-American experience. In the center of the plot is the character of Troy, the head of the household, who...

Themes of Knowledge and Family in Shelley’s Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a narrative that brilliantly illustrates life, death, desolation, vengeance, ignorance, and the fundamental human sin of behaving like God. The primary purpose of Shelley’s writing of this narrative is to demonstrate how futile it is for humans to play God, no...

Why Hamlet by Shakespeare Delays Revenge

The theme of death and revenge is multifaceted in Shakespeare’s works, as it is a classic strand of 16th- and 17th-century poetry. It is worth noting that revenge occupies a special place in the results because of its versatility and innocence. For Hamlet, revenge is an entirely new way of...

Rashomon by Akutagawa: A Short Story Analysis

The narrator in the story under consideration plays the role of a modernist, interpreting the servant’s consciousness in everything and not just conveying his actions. This story is one of Akutagawa’s shortest works, but it is very memorable because of the complexity and multilevel nature of the narrative. The author...

The “Goodbye to All That” Story by Joan Didion

Joan Didion’s “Goodbye to All That” is a remarkable story about the author’s life in New York City, written in 1967. This essay is about a life of a woman in her early twenties who dreamed about living in a big city. However, after she moved there and experienced this...

Owl Eyes in “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald

Introduction Owl Eyes is a minor character from Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby”. While only being present a few times in the story, his character is important to the overall message of the book and to the reader’s understanding of its characters. The audience first meets him in Gatsby’s...

Fate in Beowulf and Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Introduction An Old English poem Beowulf was written by an unknown author approximately at the end of the VII century. It is an epic with alliterative verses in the Germanic glorious story genre. Macbeth is a drama play written and composed by William Shakespeare, who was a prominent English author....

‘Everyday Use’ by Alice Walker – African-American Perspectives

Introduction In Everyday Use, Walker deals with controversial topics for African-Americans, both generations and cultures. The author raises the question of rather do individuals need to give up their African-American roots and more common families when they leave home and embrace the African-American heritage. The problem is primarily African-American, but...

The Novel “1984” by George Orwell

The novel “1984” written by George Orwell, raises many social and political issues, and at the same time, its plot is built around the relationship of the main characters – Winston and Julia. In a totalitarian state, where love is prohibited, their romance is rebellion and crime. However, when the...

The Poem “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath

Introduction An intensely tumultuous beat runs through the poem Daddy by Sylvia Plath. She composes a poem about her father, Otto Plath, as an experience, including an unsolved complicated relationship. Plath regarded her father so highly that she alluded to him as an idol and a Nazi while comparing his...

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...

The Kid Under Apartheid: The Trevor Noah Experience

Introduction Apartheid had a significant impact on all South Africans and many people who traveled to these territories or researched this issue. A well-known anti-apartheid fighter was Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, who spent years in prison. He once said: “Many people in this country have paid...

Chinua Achebe’s Life, Igbo Culture, and Things Fall Apart

Introduction All literary works are created within a specific historical era characterized by distinct beliefs, cultures, and experiences, which shape the artists’ story, perspective, and style. Published in 1958, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (TFA) mirrors the everyday socio-cultural context of the Igbo people as they struggled with the complexities...

“Great Ideas Why I Write” by George Orwell

In his article, George Orwell details his childhood and early dreams of becoming a writer. He talks about his first poems and plays and how hardy and quick he was as a writer in his youth (Orwell, Great Ideas Why I Write (Penguin Great Ideas)). For George Orwell from childhood,...

The Essay “A Small Place” by Jamaica Kincaid

Postcolonial era writers made several crucial attempts to deterritorialize their land, which colonists had taken. For instance, Kincaid sets this process in Antigua by narrating how negatively tourism has impacted Antigua. A Small Place by Kincaid primarily concentrates on how Antigua has been exploited and colonized through tourism. Significantly, the...

Plot, Themes, and Characters of “Othello” by Shakespeare

Introduction Othello is a tragedy about heavy and terrible trials that the sublime and deep love of two beautiful people underwent. The noble Moor – Othello – who absorbed the culture of the Italian Renaissance, an experienced warrior, wounded by years and suffering, turns out to be powerless before the...

Book Recommendation System (Content-Based & Collaborative Filtering)

Abstract The enormous variety of digital content encourages providers to engage users and consumers on their services. They use different recommendation systems in order to meet their customers’ expectations and preferences. Such methods direct clients according to their needs and requirements by analyzing vast information databases, such as prevalence, popularity,...

Modernist and Postmodernist Techniques and Themes in McEwan’s “Atonement”

An example of free indirect style in Atonement by Ian McEwan can be found in chapter six as the author describes the acts and thoughts of Emily Tallis. The author takes on Emily’s thoughts and expressing that she considered it important not to provoke the pain in his head lest...

Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

Introduction A heart seeking love and burdened by traditions can open a doorway into madness. The given analysis focuses on a short story, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, written in 1930. The plot revolves around a town in the state of Mississippi with central characters Emily Grierson and...

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...

Complex Claim: “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 18 is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and best-known works. Some people like this poem because of the opening romantic phrase: ”Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day” (Shakespeare line 1). Every avid romanticist knows by heart this comparative metaphor and uses this literary comparison towards their beloved....

Men as Breadwinners in Maupassant’s “The Necklace”

Gender roles in families have often been regarded as the most important aspect in ensuring harmonious relationships. It is the foundation that holds a family together in the same manner, pillars are imperative in preventing the building from collapsing. In the Parisian society at the end of the nineteenth century,...

Responses to Essays of Baker, Schreiner, and Hughes

Response to “The Art of Eating Spaghetti” By Russell Baker “The Art of Eating Spaghetti” demonstrates the essential rule for creating any art, namely, a sincere desire to express oneself. The narrator shows that a simple and most conventional task of writing an essay as homework can produce an effect...

Stylistic and Literary Devices of “Hamlet”

The play Hamlet is one of the most dubious and intriguing works of William Shakespeare. The author shows Hamlet, an educated man, always in the search process, with a deep sense of empathy for everything that surrounds him. However, life forces him to face true evil in various manifestations. With...

“The Butcher’s Tale” by Helmut Walser Smith

The Butcher’s Tale: Murder and Anti-Semitism in a German Town by Helmut Walser Smith is a 2002 book set in a Prussian town in the early 1900s. The novel begins with Smith outlining the details and history of a grisly murder that occurred in Konitz. While the town is now...

Social Conditions During “If We Must Die”

McKay wrote the sonnet “If We Must Die” in 1919. The audience for this poem was the Black community that was suffering violence due to white supremacy. Even though slavery had been abolished decades earlier, Black people still experiences social injustices. McKay urges his kinsmen to be courageous in the...

Connie and Arnold in “Where Are You Going…” by Oates

Introduction It is important to note that the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates addresses a wide range of critical and key topics, such as narcissism, deception, manipulation, and reality versus appearance. The given analysis will primarily focus on the deceptive interactions between...

Absence in War by Candlelight by Daniel Alarcon

In his story, Daniel Alarcon, raises an important topic and conveys the secret of all immigrants from disadvantaged countries. The author says: “leaving is no problem. It’s exciting actually; in fact, it’s a drug. It’s the staying gone that will kill you. This is the handed-down wisdom of the immigrant.”...

Romanticism in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”

Mark Twain’s famous novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer illustrates the Romanticism tradition in depicting the characters. Even though the romantic literature was in a state of collapse at the time of the novel’s writing, Twain preserved the inherent image for this movement. The dreams and desires of the main...

Odysseus’ Encounter With the Cyclops Polyphemus

Introduction Many obstacles awaited Odysseus on their long journey home. Odysseus’s team and himself were suffering, going through difficulties, coincidences, and the influence of other gods. At the same time, it is unlikely that the same path would have awaited him before meeting with cyclops Polyphemus, since it was partly...

Cultural Context in the Short Story ”Everyday Use” by Alice Walker

“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker is a short story about an African American family of Mama and her two daughters, Dee and Maggie. Dee does not live with her mother and younger sister, as she is receiving an education. Upon returning home, she finds two old quilts, which seem to...

Communism in Dave Eggers’s “The Circle”

Dave Eggers’s The Circle is a novel about a same-name web organization that offers innovative products and services to ordinary citizens. Even though the literary piece considers the American context in the present time, it introduces some dystopian principles because the organization, the Circle, has a few features of a...

Nature of “The Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad, an English-Polish author has made a considerable contribution to the artistic scene of Great Britain. As a writer, Conrad was noted for his unique writing style, accentuated by the fact that English was not the man’s first language. Having lived during the period of rapid discovery and societal...

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs

Notably, the Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs tells the story of the family who receives a monkey’s paw from a friend, fulfilling the owner’s three wishes, which always lead to dire consequences. Through the story, the reader may notice Jacobs wanted to warn readers to be careful with their...

Feed, M. T. Anderson’s Novel Issues

Feed, M. T. Anderson’s novel, shows how technology, accessibility to goods and services, and the world of free entertainment make society morally starving. The work, written in 2002, is relevant nowadays as all the principles and behavior patterns observed there can still be noticed in today’s community. Besides, this book...

“The Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

Introduction The Song of Myself is a 52-part poem written by Walt Whitman in 1855. In the poem, the speaker praises the human body for its ability to join with self and nature. This union between the body and self provides a religious experience for the speaker and all humanity....

Themes of Humanism in Jackson’s “The Lottery” Story

Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” is a mystic and enthralling story, shocking the audience with its ending. The story begins with a quite positive yet suspicious note. From the first lines, readers feel the tension and guess that something terrible is about to happen. Later they realize that they...

C. S. Lewis: “Course He Isn’t Safe. But He’s Good”

In chapter 8 of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Mr. Beaver talks about the experiences of Tumnus. He explains that Tumnus was arrested by Secret police under the White Witch’s spell (Lewis, 1950). Children, to whom Mr. Beaver was talking were scared and wanted to...

“Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban”: Book and Movie Comparison

In 1997, over the span of one night, Harry Potter took the world by storm when the book sold 11 million copies within 24 hours of its release: 2.7 million copies in the UK and 8.3 million in the US. And as of 2021, More than 500 million copies of...

Analysis of “The Yellow Wallpaper”: The Villain

As a tool of oppression, gender roles have been affecting the lives of women across the globe. The problem of rigid gender roles and the suffocating effect they produce on women and girls has been studied from various perspectives, including artistic and, particularly, literary works. In her seminal short story,...

The Dignity of Ushers by Al Maginnes Analysis

The poem “The Dignity of Ushers” by Al Maginnes discusses the effects of modernity on the eponymous profession. In this context, the term means people who stand at a church’s doors and open them for people who attend sermons. They also direct visitors to seats to minimize confusion and ensure...

The New Colossus Poem by Emma Lazarus

Anthology The New Colossus is a famous poem written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 (Lazarus 2000). I chose that poem as it has an interesting history behind it and is related to one of the most well-known sites in the US. The unique aspect of its history is that the...

An Analysis of “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare

Introduction The first scene in Hamlet is one of the most profound first scenes in the history of drama. It starts when one of the guards asks, “who is there?” (Shakespeare, 1602, p. 5). This depicts a revealing of one’s identity. The answer the other guard gives is quite strange....

Feminism and Femininity in “Death by Landscape” by Atwood

Introduction The rebellion of women against the roles, characteristics, and behaviors imposed on them and expected from them by society is quite successful and popular in the modern world. Although it began centuries ago, at those times, few women saw a need for it. Most females saw specific sustainability in...

Independent Child Hero in Coraline Novel by Gaiman

Introduction The book Coraline mainly focuses on courage among children, as depicted by Neil Gaiman. Neil Gaiman’s children’s novel, Coraline, is about a tale of a child and mother, belonging, and the variances between reality and fantasy. After Coraline moved into a new apartment located in a remote area, she...

Transcendental Ideas in Frederick Douglass’ Memoirs

One of the seminal literary works revealing the theme of historical legacy is The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, written as the memoirs of a dark-skinned American slave. The book proper consists of eleven chapters describing, in chronological order, childhood, the stages of learning to write, the periods...

Jealousy and Its Examples in Literature

Introduction Jealousy occurs when a person longs for something they do not possess, whether it is a relationship, talent, or a material object. People may choose to control the natural reactions regarding this feeling or exhibit them freely regardless of the consequences. Jealousy could occur toward other humans, dead or...

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Essay Example

Feminist literature has been in existence for several centuries, which allows researchers and lay people to become familiar with how women were treated during different historical periods. Moreover, by analyzing the sources and accounts of previous epochs, one can gain a better understanding of the current situation and establish certain...

“Worlds Together, Worlds Apart” by Adelman, J et al. Analysis

Chapter 19: Global Crisis, 1910 – 1939 World War I was the first modern war, and its consequences were fundamental on a grand scale. Adelman et al. (2017) state that WWI’s aftermath expedited the trend toward mass society and hastened the debates on how to measure progress and organize people...

“The Necklace” by Guy De Maupassant: Character Portrayal

Introduction Guy De Maupassant’s story, The Necklace is an example of how a writer uses various characters to develop the plot of the story leaving an everlasting memory on the reader. This essay will focus and determine Mathilde’s character as portrayed in the story The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant....

Young People’s Lives in Nadine Gordimer’s “A Company of Laughing Faces”

In Nadine Gordimer’s short story “A Company of Laughing Faces,” Kathy Hack’s dynamic character reflects many teenage girls’ lives in contemporary society. Kathy is provoked by the life around her; she seems lost in the struggle to tap fantasy while embracing reality. She reflects many young people blinded by ambitious...

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...

Elizabeth Bishop’s “One Art” Poem Analysis

Poets and writers use numerous literary devices, ways of building rhyme, and rhythm to convey the message of their compositions to readers. Elizabeth Bishop is also one of these authors as her poetry is filled with various elements to create form and context for sharing her personal experience and ideas....

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...

Kafka’s Metamorphosis from a Legal Perspective: People vs. the Samsa Family

Closing Statement: The Prosecutor Your Honor, the life of a person, no matter what his or her body may look like, is sacred, which is why the Samsa Family must answer for their actions. There is clear evidence that, despite his transformation, Gregor Samsa still possessed the ability to feel,...

The Problem of Power and Powerlessness in “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens

Introduction The problems of public life and power are central in any culture, and their poignancy is expressed throughout the history of literature: literary forms are often seen as a safe place for ideas to dwell. The desire to achieve a lawful legal order and a moral and ethical climate...

The Story “The Black Box” by Jennifer Egan

Jennifer Egan’s “The Black Box” has emerged as a unique short science fiction about future citizen espionage. Published in 2012, the story is a bold and triumphant experiment of narrative presented in new media. Besides Egan’s ability to embrace the wide-ranging virtues, forms, and pleasures that accompany traditional storytelling in...

The Fight between Good and Evil in Harry Potter Series

Introduction The peculiarity of Rowling’s books is that, as in life’s reality, good and evil tend to penetrate each other, replace one another and intertwine so closely that it is challenging for the hero to distinguish one from the other. Consequently, the choice of his path is complicated enough as...

Troy vs. Family Conflict in “Fences” Short Story by August Wilson

Introduction In any normal setting, family and society conflicts are inevitable, whereby people misunderstand one another. People have different perspectives on how they view different life instances. Notably, what seems to be correct to one might be wrong to another, leading to a conflict. In playwriting, developing a conflict is...

Oedipus Rex and Hamlet: Compare and Contrast

Oedipus Rex and Hamlet are prominent literary characters who constitute the example of brave men under challenging circumstances, they experience tragic events in their lives concerning their family members, which eventually leads to their fall. Oedipus is the man whose life is in the hands of fate, he murders his...

Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” and Racial Discrimination

Introduction Lorraine Hansberry’s acclaimed play A Raisin in the Sun narrates the struggles and prejudices suffered by black families in the America of the 1950s as they endeavor to improve their financial wellbeing. The piercing drama draws its title from Langston Hughes’ poem Montage of a Dream Deferred and follows...

“A Rose for Emily”: Violence and Mental Illness in William Faulkner’s Short Story

Some of the key questions a first-time reader of William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” would ask involve why a sane person would consider sleeping or speaking with the dead and mete violence to their lover. Specifically, in the present-day society, a reader would refer to cognitive psychology to explain...

“Mexicans Begin Jogging” by Gary Soto

Introduction In his free verse poem “Mexicans Begin Jogging,” Gary Soto addresses the issues related to the employment conditions of Mexican Americans. The story of illegal factory workers who have to run when the police arrive for inspection explicitly demonstrates the existence of ethnic problems in society caused by disparities....

Traditions in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

“The Lottery” was written by Shirley Jackson in 1948 and contains many notable themes that are significant and relevant to discuss even today. The author tells a story of a fictional village which practices a long-established custom of conducting an annual lottery. The symbolism chosen by Jackson constitutes an important...

The Short Story “The Birth-Mark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nature and science are intricately linked elements that complement and contradict each other in equal measure. Nathaniel Hawthorne has contributed to this discussion through “The Bench-Mark,” a uniquely written short story that revolves around the life of Aylmer, a scientist whose current mission involves the removal of a birthmark from...

Jane Austen and Her Accomplishments

Jane Austen was born on 16th December 1775 and died on 18th July 1817 at the age of 41. She is considered to be among the world’s greatest novelists and she is mainly known for her six major novels which portray the British manners, customs, and beliefs of landowners near...

William Shakespeare’s “Othello, the Moor of Venice”: An Aristotelian Tragedy

Introduction William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, the Moor of Venice, describes tragedy using Othello as the protagonist. Othello is a Moorish soldier in the Venetian army who is highly qualified and respected. In the play, he finds himself in several tragedies resulting from racial discrimination, envy, love, and infidelity. Other characters...

“The Jewelry” Story by Guy de Maupassant (1969)

First of all, before analyzing the main contents of the essay, it would be fair to say that the author manages to grab the reader’s attention by discussing the issue of perception. He begins the analysis by asking if lies affect people in a negative way. The writer also poses...