Modern Fairy Tale: How The Necklace Tricks the Reader

The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant is an intriguing story with an unexpected ending that any average reader might find at least interesting. The author is highly esteemed for the skillful structuring of his writings’ composition as well as for their plot. A massive part of his legacy comprises the...

The Canterbury Tales Costumes as Symbols

Clothing in a literary work can serve as a detail that communicates certain information about the hero. Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales are replete with detailed depictions of various characters’ wardrobes. At the same time, Chaucer’s numerous descriptions of clothing are equipped with varying artistic functions, serving special expressive purposes. The...

A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Critical Analysis Essay

Introduction Flannery O’Connor is the brightest representative of the Southern Gothic in US literature. Her prose is filled with violence, erupting evil and dark features of a human being, and many stories shockingly end on a note of horror. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” first appeared in a...

Thwarted Love in Anton Chekhov’s Literature

Born in 1860, Anton Chekhov wrote extensively on the complexities of human nature and the hidden importance of how day-to-day interactions impacts human life (Kirk 43-56). He is famously known for such stories as “The Steppe”, “The Lady with the Dog”, “The Seagull”,” A living Chattel”, and” Uncle Vanya”. Even...

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 Glass Menagerie: Analysis of Relationships

The Glass Menagerie is a play about a dysfunctional family, each caught in between their feelings and dreams. The conflicts experienced in the Wingfield’s family primarily lie deep within themselves, but also intertwine with each other. This essay will analyze the complicated relationship between Amanda–the mother and Laura—the daughter and...

Hubris vs. Nemesis in Literary Stories

Creating a story that stands the test of time is difficult not because of the necessity to build a compelling character or create a narrative that allows readers to remain engaged. Although the described items are also crucial components of a story, it is an action challenging the norm that...

Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” vs. Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Comparison

Introduction This essay will compare and contrast two classic American short stories. The comparison will take the point-by-point approach where one idea will be discussed fully before moving on to the next idea. The two stories that will be analyzed are “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, which was...

“All My Thoughts” Poem by Dante Alighieri

Introduction Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an Italian poet famous for his Divine Comedy, which is regarded as the most prominent literary work ever written in Italian. The sonnet “All My Thoughts” is a part of the acclaimed narrative poem. The very title of the sonnet resorts to the readers’ attention...

The Nature of Revenge Prior to and After the Creation of Hamlet

Introduction One of the most famous plays created by William Shakespeare is Hamlet. The play deals with multiple themes. However, the most dominant theme that overshadows everything else in the play is the theme of revenge. The issue of revenge is questioned from the point of view of violence. This...

Rian O’Doherty’s “Inside the White Cube”

Introduction The book comprised O’Doherty’s famous essays “Notes on the Gallery Space,” “The Eye and the Spectator,” and “Context as Content,” published in 1976 in Artforum magazine. It also includes the article “The Gallery as a Gesture,” published ten years later. In these writings, the author explores the social and...

“Inside the White Cube” the Book by O’Doherty

Summary of the Book The book, Inside the White Cube, by O’Doherty focuses on the concept of the gallery space, how it has evolved over the years, and its significance in passing a specific message to the audience. In this book, the author explains the relevance of neutral patterns in...

Analysis of “Sula” by Toni Morrison

In her novel called Sula, Toni Morrison challenges the reader’s perception of good and evil. The book narrates the story of a small black community in Ohio, which takes place after World War I. Sula and Nel are the main characters of the novel, and, by depicting their lives, the...

Ernest Hemingway’s Life and the Themes Presented in “Hills Like White Elephants”

It is not a rare occasion that authors include some details from their personal life in their works. Sometimes, they explicitly remark that a book or a story is autobiographic. In other cases, writers entitle their characters with some features pertaining to themselves. Finally, there are also situations when nothing...

The Upper Class in Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”

The play portrays the upper class in a highly interesting and realistic fashion, which enables the readers to understand the struggles the wealthy people can possess. The work of Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, begins its story in the capital of England, in the living space of Algernon...

Perrault’s vs. Grimm’s Little Red Riding Hood

Introduction The timeless old tale of a little girl who goes to her grandmother and meets a wolf has undergone several changes. They were in accordance with the authors’ social stance and what was politically acceptable in their place of living. Perhaps one of the oldest variations of the fairytale,...

Susan Glaspell’s Trifles: A Feminist Drama Analysis

Introduction Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is widely accepted as the most shining example of feminist drama. Within only one act, the author manages to evolve a complicated plotline, to describe settings in detail, and, most of all, to represent the life of a woman in the early 20th-century society. Representing such...

The Story of Wildflower

Introduction All that travelers knew, was that the Emerald Forest was about 350 kilometers north of Prague. Pilgrims from all across the world, who were lucky enough to hear of that magical place made sure to invest all their efforts and pay that forest a visit. Many folks would hear...

Three Appeals in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” Play

Introduction In rhetoric, the use of Aristotle’s three appeals is often viewed as a crucial component of any discourse. Implying that every argument must have ethos, logos, and pathos, the specified principle allows identifying a strong statement and determining the goals of a particular message. In Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare...

Werewolves: Meaning Behind Monsters

Introduction Werewolves are one of the most recognizable types of monsters in modern culture. They are almost constantly featured in both mainstream and niche fiction, and the number of interpretations of the same creature grows every year. While the details of the stories vary, the core idea of a werewolf...

“The Compound” by Bodeen: Close Reading

Choose a favorite chapter/section in your YA novel In this section (the beginning of chapter seventeen), Eli and his mother are trying to figure out how to leave the compound. Since Eli’s father is unconscious, they have the chance to leave the compound, but only if they can understand what...

“Great Expectations” a Book by Charles Dickens

Pip’s Feelings the Next Day After He Met Mr. Jaggers Pip’s mood has improved the next morning after he came into possession of the unexpected fortune. However, he feels uncertain about his future and even thinks that something may happen to London before he even has a chance to get...

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...

Epic Heroes in Literature: Gilgamesh, Achilles, Beowulf

Introduction Epic heroes are considered to be one of the most important figures in history and literature, who represent the best human qualities and traits, illustrate proper morals and values, and teach the reader what it means to be a fair, honorable, and respectable person. As a rule, epic heroes...

Ancient Greek Tragedies: Agamemnon, Antigone and Bacchae

The Agamemnon Agamemnon, one of Aeschylus’ greatest work, is a classic Greek Tragedy. This play shows the extension of a curse that was on the house of Atreus. The time setting for this play is the end of the Trojan War, and King Agamemnon’s come back. The play entails the...

Cinderella Fairy Tale in Narratology and Feminism

Introduction Children’s literature can be defined as that form of literature that is designed for readers and listeners of about twelve years or below. Barry (2009) is of the view that children’s literature can be viewed from four perspectives. The first perspective defines children’s literature as that form of literature...

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...

Ha Jin’s “Saboteur” in Nicola McAllister’s Critique

While reading the critical response on Ha Jin’s short story Saboteur, I’ve realized that the critic Nicola McAllister has a low opinion of the Chinese government and knows nothing about the policy of China. On the other hand, he is just ignorant of the historical changes that took place in...

Holocaust Legacy: Dehumanization of Jews in Elie Wiesel’s Night

Thesis statement What causes the historical legacy of the Holocaust particularly disturbing is that, while exterminating Jews, the Nazis were also trying to humiliate/dehumanize the ‘chosen people’ in just about every way possible. The book Night by Elie Wiesel illustrates the validity of this suggestion. Body of the paper One...

Sarah DeLappe’s Play “The Wolves”

There are different ways of getting acquainted with writers’ works, such as reading a book, watching a film, or attending a theatrical performance. Out of these three, the latter seems to have the greatest impact on the audience. A play is different from a book in that it presents characters...

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Summary (By Anne Fadiman)

Introduction There is growing recognition today of the importance of cultural differences in many spheres of life, including health care. Anne Fadiman wrote a nonfiction book entitled The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which is the story of a young Hmong girl named Lia Lee who had epilepsy....

Jewish Unity in Modern Hebrew and Yiddish Literature

Modern Hebrew and Yiddish literature are extremely versatile in terms of subjects. Nevertheless, the themes of Jewish tradition, history, and culture pervade many of the pieces written by Hebrew and Yiddish authors. As stated by Miron, art and literature often serve to strengthen the collective identity of the communities that...

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois’ “Of the Coming of John”

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois uses color symbolism in “Of the Coming of John” to reveal the plight of the diverse American population. The author uses opposite colors to point out not only racial differences but also those associated with the opportunities to live a happy life. He refers to...

Relationships and Rape in “Disgrace” by Coetzee

Introduction J. M. Coetzee is an author of a well-known novel that impressed the public at the end of the 20th century and is still often discussed. Disgrace was positively perceived by critics who appreciated the author’s desire to make the society question the morality of their actions. The novel...

“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...

Short Stories Analysis: “The Necklace” and “The Last Leaf”

“The Necklace”: Analysis In One of the Opening Paragraphs of the Story, We Are Told that Mme Loisel “Suffered Intensely.” Why Did She Suffer? As someone who had the appearance, demeanor, and ambitions of an upper-class woman, yet belonging to a comparatively less wealthy class, Mme Loisel must have felt...

Behavior Under Pressure: Insights from Hughes and Orwell

People often behave in a certain way not because they want to or think that they should behave in this way because it is the right thing but because they experience the pressure of people around them. The nature of this pressure is curious: it is not that people who...

“Pierre; or; The Ambiguities” by Herman Melville

Books 1-5 The story told by Herman Melville in his book titled Pierre; or; The Ambiguities that was first published in the middle of the nineteenth century attracts the attention of the readers to a network of conflicts and troubled relationships between the protagonist and other characters. At the beginning...

“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 Bean Eaters” by Gwendolyn Brooks

The subject of the Poem The poem The bean eaters deals with a seemingly simple subject, which is a scene of two old people having dinner and eating beans. However, a closer look at the narrative will show that it addresses an array of social issues, poverty being the main...

“Fairy Tales and Stories” by Hans Christian Andersen

About Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was born in Denmark in a poor family. Interestingly, his father loved books and encouraged Hans Christian to compose fairy tales. At an early age, the author had to start working at a factory to support his family, but then his poetry...

“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison: Main Themes and Motifs

Nowadays, many people tend to assume that there are no reasons to believe that the socio-political realities in today’s America are being affected by any officially endorsed policies of racial discrimination against African-Americans, as it used to be the case up until the late 1960s. Nevertheless, it does not represent...

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...

Gender Representation in Fiction: A Sociological Perspective

Introduction Gender is one of the concepts that have attracted the attention of scholars in the recent past. It is defined as the wide range of traits that create a distinction between femininity and masculinity. For instance, in their works, Messner (1999) and Kimmel (2009) think that the term ‘gender’...

“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...

Analysis of The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas: Essay Sample

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas: Essay Introduction The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is a short story by Ursula Le Guin. Like most of her texts, the story raises a number of issues related to the problem of obedience to authority and compliance with social conventions and...

The Emotional Meaning of Home in Literature

Home has an emotional connection to each one of us: it is the place where we feel safe, where we grew up, where we go for security, and to find love. It means different things to different people, mostly sentimental and heart-warming. For example, Silas the dying old servant in...

Behavior in “The Slipover Sweater” by Jesse Stuart

There is no use denying the fact that people are different and they all have their tastes and styles of behavior. This fact makes our life more interesting as one can never know what awaits him/her and how a person will react to certain actions. The story The Slipover Sweater...

Canto III in The Divine Comedy by Dante

Introduction Canto III describes Dante’s first acquaintance with Hell and the interpersonal changes that occur in the pilgrim’s inner world as a result. This part demonstrates to the pilgrim the sufferings of those people who did not strive hard during their earthly life to make the right choice between the...

The Book “Man, the State, and War” by Kenneth Waltz

Even though the book Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Approach by Kenneth Waltz was written as far back as in 1959, it nevertheless contains a number of in-depth insights into what can be considered the main preconditions for wars to occur on a periodical basis. Given the fact...

“Catch” by Robert Francis and “Easter Wings” by George Herbert

Two poems written by Robert Francis and George Herbert are separated by more than three centuries of the literature process. These aspects influenced the style of writing and the peculiarities of the poetic language. Nevertheless, it is still possible to determine the main differences and similarities in Francis’s “Catch” and...

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 Romance of the Forest” a Novel by Ann Radcliffe

Despite being set in a particular time and place, Radcliffe’s story actually transpires in a space of imagination and feeling; it is the moral and emotional state of her characters that form the focus of the author’s attention, with a Cinderella plot underpinning their journey of towards discovery and reward....

Revenge in the Play “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”

Introduction Hamlet is a character used in the play, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, to depict the theme of revenge. In the play, Claudius and Gertrude kill Hamlet’s father, the king, due to the quest for power. The murder of the king motivates Hamlet to commence his revenge mission. Evidently,...

Richard Bauman’s Analysis of Story Performance and Cultural Events in Literature

The “Story Performance and Event” by Richard Bauman is relatively a short book, but very deceiving. The brevity conceals a hypothetical richness and depth that is hard to find in most works of literature which double its volume. In this book, Bauman illustrates the necessity of novel strategies in the...

The Aeneid, the Iliad and the Odyssey Literature Comparison

The Aeneid is an epic poem written by Virgil. This work narrates the story of Augustus by using the character, Aeneas. The Aeneid is related to Greece and Rome, as the story begins in Troy and ends in Rome. The principal aim of the work is to appreciate the achievements...

Symbolism in “Disgrace” by John Coetzee

Introduction The Novel, Disgrace, revolves around David Lurie, a University lecturer who faces one disgrace after another. Disgrace follows David wherever he goes throughout the novel. The 52-year-old man faces life in a post apartheid South Africa where racial discrimination is still rife. David’s first scandal with Melanie at the...

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Introduction The problem of the relationship between humans and technology is often discussed nowadays. In the 20th century, when Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was published. This problem was no less important than now. Many post-apocalyptic novels depicted the horrible future that could follow the future...

The Struggle of Elie Wiesel in “Night”: An Insightful Reflection on Humanity

Introduction The book shows Eliezer’s struggle with faith in God. This theme is quite dominant throughout the story. For instance, other characters like Akiba Drumer, among others lose faith in God. In the face of fiery problems, God seems silent on them. Moreover, Jews in concentration camps wonder why their...

“Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy and the Concept Feminism

Struggling for rights has always been one of the integral parts of a man’s life, which predetermined the pace of humankind development. It is quite peculiar though that woman started to protect their rights and freedoms relatively not quite long ago. Perhaps, this could explain the rapid growth of the...

Analyzing Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness: Themes and Interpretations

An important aspect of any story is the setting that the reader can imagine. The atmosphere that is created, very much adds to the general theme and the relationship between the characters and the surrounding environment. “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad is a story where the setting plays a...

Comparing Social Norms in Wilde and Molière’s Plays

Oscar Wilde’s comedy The Importance of Being Earnest highlights the prejudices and stereotypes which were widespread during the Victorian era. The writer illustrates how these biases could influence the life of an individual. To some degree, this literary work can be compared to Molière’s play The Learned Ladies because both...

The Play “Ghosts” by Henrik Ibsen

The play “Ghosts” by Henrik Ibsen is a play depicting the immorality that was inherent in the society during his time. Set in a country side home, the play revolves around a dramatic turn of events. It seems the events are in some way interconnected and tied up together by...

“Disgrace” by John Maxwell Coetzee

A protagonist is the major character who let readers follow the story. The protagonist is the person whose actions and choices influence outcomes of the story, and in Disgrace, J.M. Coetzee tells the story through the lead character, David Lurie. Through the protagonist of Disgrace, readers must understand all information...

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...

Conflict Theory and Negativity Bias in Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville

Introduction Herman Melville’s Bartleby, the Scrivener is a short story set in Manhattan’s financial district. In 1853, it was published anonymously in two installments in Putnam’s Magazine. In 1856, it was republished in his The Piazza Tales with minor editorial changes. After putting in some initial effort, the new clerk...

Huckleberry Finn as a Symbol of Freedom and Moral Integrity in Mark Twain’s Novel

Introduction It is significant to emphasize that, along with the plot, the image of the character is one of the most constructive elements of the artistic text. Therefore, it is essential to characterize Huckleberry Finn as a free character. Context Huckleberry Finn is a homeless ragamuffin, the son of a...

Antigone’s Relevance Today: Justice, Law, and Women’s Roles

Introduction Since Antigone was written by Sophocles more than a thousand years ago, starting today, this play is still relevant. Writing is based on personal conflicts and choices that border between what is morally right and what is legal. The world has not changed much since the time that Antigone...

Anna Schmieg’s Trial in Robicheaux’s The Last Witch of Langenburg

Introduction It is important to note that Anna Schmieg’s case serves as a sobering reminder of the necessity for impartial and just legal proceedings. Her trial was inherently unfair due to the reliance on a potentially coerced confession and the prejudiced attitudes fueled by the religious conflicts of the time....

Exploring Memory, Meaning, and Friendship in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot

Introduction Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot has been regarded as one of the most essential pieces of dramaturgy to come out of the 20th century. The play, originally staged in 1953, centers on the characters of Vladimir and Estragon, who anxiously await Godot’s advent. The characters are forced to...

The Irony and Social Commentary in Woody Allen’s Death Knocks

Introduction The play’s title, Death Knocks by Woody Allen, is ironic as it suggests a profound encounter with death. However, there is a comedic approach to the theme of morality. Woody Allen turns the scenario and the main character into an engaging game with death that delays Nat Ackerman’s fate....

Exploring Timeless Themes in Milton’s Paradise Lost

Introduction My favorite assigned reading of the week was Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” I enjoyed it so much because of its rich language, vivid imagery, and thought-provoking themes. The epic poem’s significance lies in its exploration of the fall of man, the nature of good and evil, and the complexities of...

Good and Evil in Faulkner’s Sanctuary, Morrison’s Sula, and A History of Violence

Introduction The theme of confrontation or determination of the true nature of good and evil is common in literature and cinema. Many authors have tried to find the most expressive images and plots to convey the complex dynamics of these concepts. Moreover, today’s perception of good and evil may differ...

Ethical Dilemma in Speaking Against Social Injustice Explored in Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime

Introduction In Trevor Noah’s memoir, “Born a Crime,” the ethical dilemma of speaking out against social injustices when benefiting from them is a recurring theme. Noah navigates this complex situation through his experiences growing up in apartheid-era South Africa (Noah 2). On one hand, silence can imply complacency, promoting systems...

Mortality in Dickinson’s Because I Could Not Stop For Death and The Sky Is Low—The Clouds Are Mean

Introduction American poet Emily Dickinson was renowned for her original and avant-garde writing style. Dickinson’s poetry is praised for its unique form, capitalization, and punctuation. She descended into profound intellectual and emotional depths using succinct, evocative words. Emily Dickinson’s poems “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and “The Sky...

Gender Dynamics and Rebellion in Susan Glaspell’s Trifles: Plot, Character, and Theme

Introduction Susan Glaspell’s one-act play Trifles examines gender dynamics within the context of a murder investigation. This essay will dive into the understanding of plot and character, showing how these elements contribute to the development of the play’s central theme, which is the rebellion against oppressive gender norms. Trifles emerge...

Mark Twain’s “The Lowest Animal”: Humor as a Critique of Human Nature and Society

Introduction Renowned for his satirical writings, Mark Twain wrote “The Lowest Animal” as an exploration of human behavior through the lens of humor. The use of Twain’s humor in Twain’s writing operates paradoxically as a source of entertainment and a platform for serious critique of society. The author skillfully combines...

Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”: The Role of Community in Overcoming Oppression

Introduction What is worse than being oppressed? The victims of the oppression are oppressing it. The story by Zora Neale Hurston, called ‘Sweat,’ focuses on Delia Jones, a hardworking washwoman, and her abusive husband, Sykes. The background for the story is that it is set against the backdrop of the...

Joy and Reflection in Milton’s “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso” Poems

Introduction The quest for joy and contemplation, as embodied in John Milton’s paired poems “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso,” offers a vivid exploration of two contrasting perspectives on life and the pursuit of happiness. Celebrating Joy in “L’Allegro” “L’Allegro,” with its exuberant celebration of joy and delight, was my favorite reading...

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...

Last Stop on Market Street by Peña: Themes, Writing Style, and Impact

Introduction Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña is a heartwarming toddler’s book concerning a young boy named CJ and his grandmother (Nana) as they embark on a bus ride across the town. Notably, the book was published in 2015, and it is a children’s literature genre,...

Grief as an Internal Constraint in Katherine Mansfield’s “The Fly”

Introduction In “The Fly,” Mansfield explores human experience, delving into internal limitations, notably grief. The narrative reflects on the enduring impact of personal loss, illustrating literature’s ability to dissect the complexities of emotional constraints in the human condition. This essay will explore specific textual details illustrating how grief becomes an...

Feminist Analysis of Power in “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

Introduction In William Carlos Williams brief tale “The Use of Force,” the narrator, a physician, is summoned to examine a sick child, Mathilda Olson. The child resists the doctors attempts to identify her illness, refusing to open her mouth to be examined (Williams). What ensues is a tense and violent...

Applying Hercules’ 12 Labors to Modern Personal Development Challenges

Thesis Statement The ’12 Labors of Hercules,’ a thought-provoking story from Greek mythology, is instructive and can be applied in many ways today. The topic of the study is the timeless nature of the narratives about Hercules’ feats and what insight they provide today. After comprehensively researching selected relevant sources,...

The Changing Perceptions of Native Americans in Mary Rowlandson’s Memoir

Introduction It is hard to disagree that many literary works’ themes or concepts can be interpreted in various ways, especially when their authors avoid directly indicating specific ideas or attitudes, preferring to use literary devices and techniques. For example, in her 1682 memoir, Mary Rowlandson describes her experiences after being...

“Hunchback Madonna” by Chavez: A Story of Devotion and Transformation

Key Themes and Main Ideas in the Story A short story under analysis is “Hunchback Madonna,” written by Fray Angelico Chavez, a Hispanic American priest, historian, novelist, and poet. It addresses Mana Seda, an old woman passionately dedicated to serving her countrymen and their response to her assistance, compassion, and...

The Impact of Technology on Family Dynamics in Ray Bradbury’s The Veldt

Introduction It is important to note that Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Veldt’ is an insightful exploration of the intricate dynamics of the Hadley family in a technologically advanced environment. The story takes place in their futuristic home, where the story analyzes boundaries between reality and imagination in the nursery. Bradbury uses...

The Transformation of C.S. Lewis Through Grief and Loss

Introduction Grief and loss of a loved one is an experience that significantly affects a person’s worldview, forcing them to rethink one’s own beliefs. For C.S. Lewis, the death of his wife, Helen Joy Davidman, was a turning point in his life, forcing the writer through many emotions and contributing...

Colorism in Toni Morrison’s “Sweetness” and Its Impact

Introduction The short tale “Sweetness” by Toni Morrison sheds light on colorism’s pervasive effects on people and their interpersonal interactions in the United States. Students can investigate the themes of colorism, self-esteem, and relationships in the novel using the academic essay “Colorism and the Afro-Latinx Experience: A Review of the...

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,...

Moral Absolutism vs. Cultural Relativism in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Understanding Cultural Relativism and Ethical Absolutism Moral absolutism and cultural relativism are ethical understandings of social behaviors and actions. Moral absolutism holds that universal codes of conduct must be adhered to regardless of context. In particular, a moral absolutist believes that right and wrong are immutable and cannot be excused...

Analysis of Characters in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Introduction In his short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Washington Irving uses a variety of figurative devices to represent the depth of his characters’ feelings and the setting where real and supernatural themes are properly intertwined. The personification of birds and the environment underlines the unique nature of Ichabod...

The Play “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare

I intend to focus on the master-slave relationship in the history of drama and colonialism in The Tempest. The reason for selecting this area is that it is extensive and explanatory because, unlike other genres, it was written to be understood and appreciated without the opportunity to re-read it. My...

The “Merchant of Venice” Play by Shakespeare

The play “Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare is a well-known play that often features in professional and amateur theatrical performances. The play is expansive, and reading through all of it often makes the overarching plot escape in the details. Summaries of the play are available for performers to understand...

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,...

Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”: Themes and Importance of the Book

Introduction Fahrenheit 451 is a metaphysical novel written by Ray Bradbury. The book was first published in 1953 by Ballantine Books in America. The fiction is set in an unnamed city at an unidentified time and reflects Bradbury’s agitation in the McCarthy era. The McCarthy era was characterized by brooding...

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...

Monster Theory Applied to Beowulf

Monsters are legendary creatures characterized by grotesqueness, supernatural powers, and the desire to bring harm and suffering to people. The main difference between monsters and other mythological creatures lies in the sociological aspect that characterizes them. Monsters are essentially transgressive, that is, they violate traditional ideas and social norms. Monsters...

The Historical Novel “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo

Les Miserables is a historical novel that was written by French novelist Victor Hugo in 1862. The novel talks about a life of a person named Jean Valjean, who had been arrested for stealing a loaf of bread from his sister. When Valjean was taken to court, he was sentenced...

Analysis of “8th Duino Elegy” by R. M. Rilke

Begun in 1912 but completed only after the First World War, Rilke’s elegies are deplorable and tragic in their reflection of the search for a broader truth than is known to a man. “8th Duino Elegy” is dedicated to displaying the difference between the existence of a human and an...

“On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City” by Alice Goffman

On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City is a book by Alice Goffman that presents research on a Black neighborhood in Philadelphia. The book is based on stories told by locals, mostly a man named George Taylor, although it is a pseudonym, and the author’s personal experiences. Since...

Racism and Discrimination in Smith’s Poems

Racism and racial disparities are among the significant issues in the world today. The social concern goes back to the enslavement period when white supremacy was a lifestyle. Although the issue has lessened with time, racial disparities are still evident in many sectors such as the justice system, film and...

Virgil and Protagonist in Dante’s The Divine Comedy

Introduction The Divine Comedy is one of the most brilliant works of the great Italian poet and thinker Dante Alighieri. This is his last work, which reflects the poet’s worldview. The poem consists of three parts: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise – and describes the state of the soul that has...

The Spirit Catches You, and You Fall Down and Social Intercultural Issues

The Spirit Catches You, and You Fall Down depicts the tale of Lia Lee, an epileptic Hmong kid whose sad death highlights the risks of a lack of cross-cultural dialogue in the medical sector. The book spends a significant amount of time detailing Hmong history. Hmong people were expelled from...

“Road to Perdition” by Max Allan Collins: Case Study Analysis

Summary The author of the book is Max Allan Collins, an American mystery writer. The author is known for the style, namely graphic novels, which, with the help of pictures, immerse the reader into the atmosphere. In addition, when reading Max Allan Collins’s books, it is hard not to notice...

The Iliad by Homer: Interpretation in Art

In the Iliad Homer tells the story of how the murderer was able to repent and remember when he still had a soul. Achilles is presented in the book as an evil that ruined many sons. King Priam sent his son Hector to be the city’s guardian but Achilles killed...

Review of “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

The rationalistically conceived Frankenstein, written as if for the glory of thought, science, and its limitless possibilities, ends with a deeply pessimistic conclusion. Interference in the secrets of nature does not lead to good; the scientist’s thought encounters internal resistance. The cognitive possibilities of man turn out to be much...

The Book ‘Ethan Frome’ by Edith Wharton

A Scholarly Summary of the Literary Aspects The narrative keenly illustrates a broken social institution and an apparent disconnect of emotions. Scholar Li (116) depicts Frome’s life as a domestic misfortune characterized by death and a sense of love insecurity. She describes Ethan as a desperate person who is anxious,...

The Relationship Between Relatives in Sam Shepard’s Play “True West”

The study of literary works can provide valuable insight into how relationships between people are formed. This also implies explanations of the background and circumstances that affect the dynamics of building relationships. This work explores the changing relationship between two brothers in the work Sam Shepard’s “True West.” A rivalry...

The Book “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini

The story of The Kite Runner begins in the pre-war Afghan city of Kabul in the 70s, where there were children who did not know what shelling and explosions were. A favorite pastime and, at the same time, a very serious matter for all the residents were kite competitions (Hosseini)....

Emily Dickinson’s Poems and Topic of Death

Many poets are excited by the theme of death, seeing it as an existential transition from one state to another. For some poets, as can be seen, death is an emotional blow. Emily Dickinson embraces and admires death and views him as a romantic guide, whereas Dylan Thomas is desperate...

José Olivarez’s Talk on Race, Identity and Gender

José Olivarez discusses his family, music and poetry, and race and identity. As a child of immigrant parents, the poet describes himself as white-presenting and an outsider to white culture. He says, “as a Mexican family, my family always had more in common with black families” (“José Olivarez”). The poet...

Gulliver’s Travels by Swift: A Literary Analysis

Swift was a figure of the Enlightenment Era, covering almost the entire first half of the eighteenth century. That time has entered the history of humanity as a time of progress and reform, the time of the dawn of human self-consciousness. Many Enlightenment thinkers defended the ideas of freedom and...

Brown’s Novel “Clotel, the Presidents’ Daughter”

Historical facts prove that there was the enslavement of African descendants in Europe and America. As it portrays, blacks could always face discrimination and be exposed to harsh living conditions. The novel Clotel, the presidents’ daughter by William Wells Brown tends to relate this discrimination in his narrative. The novel...

Style of “Kubla Khan” Poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Poetry has always been used as a form of stylistically constructed literature to convey the message in an artistic yet firm manner. Kubla Khan is one of those poems that makes you apply all senses in analyzing the poem. Reading through it, I found that I could feel, smell, and...

Louis Simpson’s “The Battle” and Stephen Crane’s “War Is Kind” Poems

Introduction Wars have taken many lives of people and have inspired poets to write about the battlefields. Louis Simpson’s “The Battle” and Stephen Crane’s “War is Kind” describes how the war has affected people’s lives. “War is Kind” ironically describes the violent actions and indifference towards human resources. Likewise, “The...

An Analysis of the Play and Production of Hamlet

Summary Hamlet is a classically orchestrated play that applies all the literary styles to elaborate on an ethical dilemma. The play and its production explore how vengeance can become a dangerous mission if emotions clouds judgment (Ibrahim 1). The author intended to elaborate on human philosophy by depicting their typical...

Themes of Violence in “The Lottery” Story

In the short tale, The Lottery, violence is portrayed as a plea to tradition and social order. The narrator shows that while the people seem to be keepers of tradition, the irony associated with their devotion is their inability to remember its details. That is the reason why “no one...

“Araby” by James Joyce Is Not a Love Story

Compared to his other words, James Joyce’s “Araby” seems almost simplistic, with a touching yet fairly straightforward story of a boy falling in love with a girl living across the street being the main plot. However, while the love story is placed at the forefront and emphasized strongly, the true...

“Doctor Faust” by Christopher Marlowe

This word is found in the work of Christopher Marlowe “Doctor Faust”. The story of the scientist who sold his soul to the devil and was ruined by him is known to us thanks to Goethe. In his interpretation, Faust is a real Renaissance man, a powerful mind obsessed with...

The Problem of Entitlement: The Question of Respect

The appreciation of literary works is a complex endeavor, which requires the adoption of an unbiased approach to this task complemented by the focus on positive aspects instead of solely highlighting the drawbacks. This topic is thoroughly examined by Steve Almond, whose article “The Problem of Entitlement: The Question of...

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...

F. G. Lorca’s “Norm and Paradise of the Blacks”

Published under a poetry collection in 1940, Federico Garcia Lorca’s poem, Norm and Paradise of the Blacks, seems to take apart that era’s contemporary, techno-industrial civilization. This piece of poetry symbolizes the chaotic, hostile, materialistic, and dehumanized version of New York City. This depiction rightly reflects the poet’s experience of...

Virtues in “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe

There are so many different opinions of what is important in a man’s life. Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe describes the faith of an optimistic, self-reliant man using his intelligence to survive. From the various scenes in the novel, Crusoe stands out to be so celebrated by the readers for displaying...

Human vs. Nature in Crane’s “The Open Boat” Story

Dramatic Story “The Open Boat” carries many philosophical ideas. The story is based on the author’s personal experience during his life. During the story, sailors have been wrecked and tried to escape on the high seas, after which not all of them survived. During the story, the characters go through...

Purpose of The Vase of Clay Story by Jean Aicard

The Vase of Clay is a profound and ambiguous work by Jean Aicard. In order to understand the message and purpose of the narrative, it is necessary to delve a little deeper into the plot. By this phrase, I mean the need to feel the imagery the writer communicates to...

“The Great Gatsby” by Scott F. Fitzgerald

“The Great Gatsby” by Scott F. Fitzgerald is one of the defining books for American society. In the novel, the author raises many social issues and carefully describes the way of life of that era. Moreover, since the plot of the novel is set in the “roaring twenties”, the writer...

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...

Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Lottery’ Critical Analysis

Introduction The Lottery is a widely known short story written by Shirley Jackson. The narrative revolves around an ancient tradition of randomly choosing a member of the village and stoning them. The story provides provocative insights into the themes of conformity and social wrong. The current paper attempts to critically...

“The Pomegranate Seeds” Story by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Who? Pluto How would you describe this character? Why? Physical Appearance The character is dark, tall, and strong. Pluto wants somebody else to do his tasks. Feelings Feelings of loneliness and caring. The character is cunning. Attitude A negative attitude He is the king. The character from “The Pomegranate Seeds”....

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

Introduction Contemporary American literature is largely dominated by white male authors. These authors are limited in their empathy and imagination by their own experiences and inherent privilege that comes with being on the top of the social hierarchy. Therefore, they were unable to authentically portray the lives, thoughts, and experiences...

“Walden” a Book by Henry David Thoreau

The life of a person has always been filled with worries and apprehensions, the majority of which do not actually play any important role. Henry David Thoreau provides a brilliant explanation of this argument in his book Walden, or, Life in the Woods. The thing that motivates the author to...

“Children of the New World” by Assia Djebar

Introduction The book Children of the New World by Djebar is an insightful source of information regarding the social position of women in Algeria. Importantly, the impact of female activism on the setting in the country has been unrecognized and underappreciated. The book exhibits the efforts and sacrifices made by...

Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ In-Depth Analysis

Introduction Reading tragedies, people usually want to express their personal opinion about the essence of a tragic hero. It is possible to state several different definitions which are going to be correct about the main character in tragedies. Most tragic heroes are the main characters of a play who want...

A Good Man Is Hard to Find by F.O’Connor

The ideas of good and evil are considered to be crucial during an extended period. So many people find it very difficult to distinguish where true good or true evil may be. Those, who want to learn more about these two issues, have to read such wonderful work by O’Connor,...

Dehumanization and Eugenics in Mexican Gothic

Introduction Historically, minor races such as Blacks have faced a lot of inhumane experiences in the US. At one time in North Carolina, a 20-year-old black woman was about to be sterilized. This woman was a single mother to one child, and they lived together at O’Berry Center. During this...

A Critical Analysis of Gender Dynamics in Glaspell’s ‘Trifles’

Introduction The character of Minnie, who has endured years of violence at the hands of her husband, John Wright, is followed in the play “Trifles.” After watching him purposefully twist the neck of her cherished canary in front of her, Minnie killed her husband. This became her pivotal moment, although...

American Dream in Babylon Revisited Story by Fitzgerald

One of F.S. Fitzgerald’s most influential works, Babylon Revisited, has the pursuit of pleasure and the “American Dream” as its central theme. The primary character, Charlie, has a tragic backstory, which the author detailed together with his historical period. The story is considered autobiographical since the author established parallels between...

The Glass Menagerie by T. Williams: An Analysis

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, set in 1937, explores the ideas of escapism, unfulfilled dreams, and responsibility in a family struggling financially. The author’s intention behind writing the play was to demonstrate the difficulties of accepting reality through symbolic interactions between the characters and their internal struggles. The play’s...

Symbolism in the “Ghost” Story by Jason Reynolds

The story Ghost by Jason Reynolds tells the story of a boy named Castle who grows up in difficult times for him. His family almost fell apart due to the fact that his father is a prisoner and his mother is practically on the verge of poverty. Thus, the author...

“The Library of Babel” by Jorge Luis Borges

Introduction Jorge Luis Borges is a talented writer and a gifted personality who has created many wonderful and influential literary works. Perceiving the library in the context of his multifaceted picture of the world, Borges wrote a significant work, “The Library of Babel.” This narrative focuses on the description of...

Dickinson’s Because I Could Not Stop for Death Poem Analysis

Countless poets have pondered on mortality and the afterlife in their writing. The plot of Emily Dickinson’s poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death is centered on the narrator’s journey towards immortality, accompanied by Death. Previous research has suggested that the poem explores the speaker’s movement from life to...

Perspectives on a Global Issue: Charles Baudelaire’s Poem “Albatross”

Introduction The concept of finding one’s place in the world has been addressed in various poems. For example, the classic theme of the person and the crowd is presented in the Charles Baudelaire poem Albatross in the traditions of both romantic and symbolic art. Eugenio Montale also touches on this...

Fascinating Whirlpool of Themes in “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti

Introduction Even in a children’s book, the reader can identify deeply philosophical topics for oneself, so Christina Rossetti’s poem Goblin Market (1862) under the guise of a fairy tale contains deep ideas. The first theme seems more superficial since the reader can notice it even with a shallow reading. The...