Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”: Human Cruelty

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

Fortunato’s Viewpoint in Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”

The Cask of Amontillado is one of Poe’s most transparent short stories, every aspect of which in the background adds to the ultimate ironic effect. The unity of the short story and the plot is very straightforward. Montresor seeks vengeance on Fortunato for unspecified provocation by including him in his...

“A Raisin in the Sun” Play by Lorraine Hansberry

In the play “A Raisin in the Sun,” several important themes are explored. George Murchison strives towards assimilationism as a way of addressing consistent racial discrimination, while Beneatha sees assimilation as a manifestation of George’s fear of his heritage. Moreover, George sees heritage as “raggedy-assed spirituals and some grass huts!”...

The Poems “We Are Really Cool” and “Malcolm X” by Gwendolyn Brooks

Introduction Gwendolyn Brooks is an important and well-known figure in American poetry of the 20th century. “We are really cool” and “Malcolm X” is one of the greatest poems written by Brooks. She is the kind of author who widely employs syntactic means to express her texts’ significant meanings. In...

Analysis of “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner

The plot of “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner involves Colonel Sartoris Snopes or Sarty, a little boy from a poor family, whose father decides to burn barns of the people he works for. The setting of the story is early spring in rural America in the end of the 19th...

Eliezer’s Image in the Mirror in “Night” by Elie Wiesel

A book called Night by Elie was written out of reflections of events that took place during the Holocaust when many Jewish men, women, and children were killed in what went down as the greatest atrocity in the history of the world. The book is a literary work that puts...

Role of Evil in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

The Three Prophecies and Meaning of Each Prophecies in Shakespeare’s Macbeth occurs in act 1 and act 4. These prophecies play a significant role in advancing the themes of good and evil, treachery and betrayal, loyalty, crime, and violence, which are common in the play. Shakespeare used various characters and...

What Do Hamlet and Oedipus Have in Common?

Hamlet by Shakespeare has similar elements in its plot and main characters with Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. This essay aims to show the common features of Oedipus and Hamlet, the main characters of eponymous plays. Both texts are tragedies; this genre largely defines the main characters of respective works and...

The Story “Everything Is Far from Here” by Christina Henriquez

Separating the mother from her son is one of the most powerful techniques that Henriquez uses to demonstrate the horror of American immigration policy. The confusion and fear of the woman captured by guards are presented vividly and acutely, and the very topic of separation hurts the reader’s consciousness significantly....

The Great Gatsby as a Reflection of American Culture

The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the cult books of the 20th century. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, was the forerunner of an entire literary dynasty of rich personalities with a mysterious past. The novel, which draws the reader into the atmosphere of a continuous holiday,...

“The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice” by Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s Othello is a play about secrets, plotting and revenge. It tells the tragic story of Othello, who is secretly married to Desdemona and how the people around them plot to end the relationship (Shakespeare 6). Rodrigo’s business with Iago involves the latter helping him to woo Desdemona. Roderigo is...

A “Moment of Grace” in the Works of O’Connor

The fiction of Flannery O’Connor is known for its connection to the concept of grace. Its representation is widely discussed and compared to the Christian notions expressed in the Bible (Galloway 13). Nevertheless, there are specific peculiarities in the way the author employs this technique to demonstrate problems. Hence, a...

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...

Shakespeare’s Poem Explication: “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?”

Introduction Shakespeare belongs to the most renowned and ever-relevant poets for English, and his works are rich in themes, innovations, and framings. Those familiar with the poet on a superficial level could say that love is Shakespeare’s forte, and they would not be entirely wrong. Poet has many romantic works,...

The Book “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain

The adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a classic bildungsroman that can be relevant for people of all ages. The main theme of the topic is a moral and social maturation that the main character, Tom, goes through. Being away from society as a child who did not...

“Night” by Elie Wiesel

Night by Elie Wiesel is one such book where the main character is forced to go through hardships in order to become a different person. It describes the difficult life of a Jewish boy who had to experience a horrifying experience of hunger, violence and losing someone he loves. Since...

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman

This paper will analyze the graphic strategies used by Art Spiegelman on page 13 of his graphic novel, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale. This page represents a part of the narration when a father tells his son about his past, so it includes both the current timeline of the story and...

The Connection between the Ancient and Current World Heroes

Rome and Greece are strongly identified with a culture, which credits heroes. The dynasties in ancient times would create their brave men and make them leaders who they believe in. The gallant notion has been passed on to generations through the word of mouth, to a point where it is...

Analysis of “Girl in Translation, Chapter 11 and 12” by Kwok

One of the most key characteristics of chapter eleven revolves around relationship dynamics between various characters. The first major event takes place when some boys, who surrounded Vivian as the center of their attention, show disrespect towards Park. At this moment, Kim observes such behavior and steps to defend him,...

Discrimination in White’s “Charlotte’s Web” and Levine’s “Hana’s Suitcase”

Introduction Human life is surrounded and defined by social issues that happen to people as they attend to their day-to-day activities. As such, authors seek to explore these issues through novels, movies, and other artworks with the intention of understanding or highlighting the underlying principles. Whether in fiction or non-fiction,...

Women in Senegal in Bâ’s “So Long a Letter” Novel

Representing a strictly patriarchal society, where the rights of women are heavily infringed upon, postcolonial Senegal is one of the places where women suffer particularly harsh injustices. In her semi-autobiographical novel, “So Long a Letter,” Mariama Bâ depicts the struggles of Senegal women in a disturbingly vivid and realistic manner,...

“Lusus Naturae” by Margaret Atwood

“Lusus Naturae” by Margaret Atwood describes an unknown creature that everyone renounces at first glance. It is a girl with specific congenital syndromes that make her appearance strange and intimidating. The author uses Point of View (PV) to describe characters and set up a plot in which the main character...

Housewife’s Role in “Woman’s Work” by Julia Alvarez

Women are often required to be good wives, mothers, nurses, teachers, breadwinners, and housekeepers at the same time. All of them deserve gratitude and praise, but women’s work is often invisible. In her poem “Woman’s Work,” Julia Alvarez discusses the domestic role of women and their input in the family....

Connie and Arnold in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates

The fascination with death, darkness, and moral corruption seems intrinsic to the human experience. Macabre areas of life attract substantial attention, especially in works of fiction – Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” belong to this category. The explanations for the phenomenon could be found...

The Poem “Loose Woman” by Sandra Cisneros

“Loose Woman” poem by Sandra Cisneros is the last poem in the collection that presents her vision of herself and women in general. In this poem, it is possible to recognize a woman who speaks about how others perceive her, calling her a beast, bitch, and macha. The main character...

Andie from “Honky” Play by Greg Kalleres

Sexuality Stereotypes One of the main characters in Honky, Andie Chastain, is a young woman whose behavior reflects multiple stereotypes linked with sexuality (Kalleres, 2014). Today, social media researchers are concerned about the harmful stereotype, according to which women tend to lie about rape or sexual harassment (Stabile et al.,...

Grief and Blight in Poem “Spring and Fall” by Gerard Manley Hopkin

Introduction Gerard Manley Hopkin’s poem “Spring and Fall” is centered around one’s perception of death and mortality. The central figure of the writing is a girl called Margaret, who is crying over dead leaves and ordinary seasonal changes. However, the narrator understands that the underlying reasons for such an emotional...

Crane’s “The Open Boat”: The Central Idea and Language

Central Idea The narration centers around the correspondent, the captain, the cook, and the oiler, who are lost in a boat in the middle of the sea after a shipwreck. The central idea of the story is to show the place of a man in the world and to demonstrate...

Comparison and Contrast of the Poems Written by British Romantic Poets

Introduction Romanticism is an artistic movement that united various creators from different epochs and determined the characteristic peculiarities of creative thought of the time. Originated at the end of the eighteenth century in Europe, Romanticism influenced the development of art in its many forms throughout the nineteenth century and beyond....

Justification and Proof that Creon is a Tyrant

Introduction Almost all modern norms and rules of various cultural elements of the everyday life of modern society, especially Western, were formed in ancient Greece. It applies to the fundamental aspects of philosophy, literature, theater, politics, and general storytelling. Specialists and amateurs of these forms of culture should understand such...

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Gertrude

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the most known tragedies in the English literature, while Hamlet himself is an illustrative example of a turbulent mind. His inner thoughts and his attitude towards his father is often at the center of the discussion, but his relationship with Gertrude, his mother, is...

Analysis of “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan

Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” presents a narrative between the author and her mother (470). The story tells of the conflicts and discrepancies between the US and Chinese cultures. The author employs the writing approach to discuss the two cultures since she is convinced that language acts as a powerful tool....

Comparing Two Kinds and Everyday Use

The activity of civil rights activists was one of the indicative marks of the 20th century, which was largely reflected in the literature. A bias against such themes as culture and conflict appeared, and it is portrayed in Two Kinds and Everyday Use. Both of the stories focuses on culture...

Human Weaknesses in Literature: Importance of the Concept

Introduction A challenging task faces writers who want to evoke readers’ emotions and provoke them into thinking about crucial life issues. They need to make readers believe their characters, sympathize with them, and identify with them; otherwise, the audience’s attention will be lost. Joseph Conrad once stated his opinion about...

“Heat” by Joyce Carol Oates Review

The story depicts life as a period, full of torment and fierceness, whereas death is the nonappearance of it, nearly peaceful. Death is energized and claimed in history because of the challenges in life. The depiction of Rhea and Rhonda proves of Oates’ message portraying them as lovely as dolls....

Racial and Cultural Discrimination of Native Americans

Native in the Twenty-first Century In “Native in the Twenty-first Century,” Susan Power discusses challenges she faced as a Native American and emphasizes that natives cannot be silent any longer. She claims that the culture of Native Americans is being forgotten and history is being rewritten by the dominant society...

Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras: The Theme of Vendetta

Hamlet is an outstanding tragedy by William Shakespeare, which is considered an example of skillful language and complicated plot. The play has always drawn the attention of researchers, and even today, litterateurs still analyze its peculiarities. Through his vivid characters, Shakespeare speaks about eternal issues: the problems of doubts, love,...

“The Sixties” by Terry Anderson

The Sixties by Terry Anderson analyzes the impact the decade had on American society. The book does not simply summarize the events of the decade, but places them into a context that today’s readers can easily understand. It discusses major events such as the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War,...

“The Sorrow of War” by Bao Ninh Review

Introduction The book The Sorrow of War is a narration of one of the Vietnamese soldiers who narrowly escaped a massacre that left almost all his colleagues dead. As he went back to the Jungle of Screaming Souls, Kien, the narrator, remembers how his 27th Battalion was obliterated by the...

The Story “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter

“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” is a story about an octogenarian lady named Granny Weatherall. The woman suffers from a fatal disease and the whole narrative describes the process of her dying. The author of the story, Katherine Anne Porter, covers the topics of the strength of women, the dichotomy...

‘Sacagawea’ by Liselotte Erdrich

‘Sacagawea’ is an excellent biography book intended for children. Liselotte Erdrich is a Native American writer, so she shows a deep understanding of the life and values of a Native American woman, Sacagawea, who has become a part of history. This book is marvelously written and reads like a legend...

Shakespeare: “Romeo and Juliet”, the Development of Juliet as a Woman

The style of thinking, reasoning as well as acting changes with time during the process of development. Playwrights have resolved to address the changes or experiences that one encounters during his/her development. For instance, William Shakespeare in his Romeo and Juliet illustrates the process of development through Juliet, the hero...

‘The Friar’ in Canterbury Tales

Introduction The Friar, one of Chaucer’s portraits of what he perceived as a corrupt clergy, can simply be described as a fraud. At a glance The Friar is a religious and pious figure. But a close scrutiny reveals a character different from what he presents to the naked eye. Infact,...

Audre Lorde: The Use of the Erotic

Audre Lorde (2007) argues the insolvency of the statement that abolition of female eroticism illustrates women’s strength and power, while perfunctory eroticism exposes the acceptable weakness and dependence of a woman in Western society. The fictitious nature of the superficial erotic is reviled by the irrelevant emotions and exaggerates itself...

Oral Histories of China’s Revolution by Jicai Feng

The book Ten Years of Madness: Oral Histories of China’s Cultural Revolution by Jicai Feng depicts political situation in China during the period of 1966-1976. The author presents information about the decade in the form of interviews (the book contains about 100 of them). This form of narration both demonstrates...

“Recovering the Sacred” by Winona Laduke

Introduction There is a book I have read recently that impressed me a lot with its content and the way it was written. It is called Recovering the sacred by Winona LaDuke. This book is about some cases when Native Americans took back their traditions, food, and lands. Reclaiming sacred...

“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”: Part Three Analysis

The Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a poem written in the 16th century and has an English origin. It is about a knight serving during King Arthur’s regime; he accepts to fight a mysterious green warrior known as the Green Knight. The fight is scheduled for New Year’s...

Hero’s Journey in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

The concept of the hero’s journey has been a driving concept throughout Western literature for centuries. It is plainly evident in some of our earliest and most cherished stories, such as the legend of King Arthur in his earlier years, and can even be traced through Beowulf, the earliest piece...

Main Ideas of Wordsworth’s Poem “The World Is Too Much With Us”

Introduction The poem has been written in the form of a Petrarchan sonnet, fashioned on the lines of Italian poetic traditions, influenced in its form and meter by the work of Petrarch – one of the famous Italian poets of the early renaissance era. Like a classical Petrarchan sonnet, it...

Analysis of the Character ‘Othello’

Othello is one of the classical literary masterpieces written by William Shakespeare. Known as the dark-skinned Moor of Venice (Encarta Encyclopedia, 2002), Othello is a story of the mighty warrior whose life turned into a tragic downfall as he was corrupted by suspicion and jealousy over his wife Desdemona and...

The Art of Losing by Elizabeth Bishop

Introduction Elizabeth Bishop has often been portrayed as being detached from her poetry, partly because she often takes an exterior view. However, this is merely her artist’s eye coming through as she uses very co0ncrete imagery to convey her meaning and expects the reader to create most of the message....

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

Author’s name: Flannery O’Connor This author has published a number of short stories apart from two novels. Her writing slants towards a compulsive Southern Gothic tradition with a strong narrative pace and most of her writings are based on old Southern styling. The readability of her works derives from the...

Lysistrata: The First Feminist

Almost every joke contains a hint of truth. For this reason, comedy can be the perfect medium to effect social reform. Clearly, Aristophanes understood this concept quite well when he penned his farcical-humored play Lysistrata. Lysistrata focuses on the story of a young woman of the same name who attempted...

William Shakespeare’s “Othello”: Analysis the Play

Iago is no doubt the personification of evil and takes contentment in destroying virtue in him and others. The first and most significant thing we note in Iago is that, in comparison with the other characters of the play, he is highly intellectual and strong –willed. The fundamental attribute of...

“Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor

Introduction A short story collection “Everything that Rises Must Converge” is written by Flannery O’Connor, an outstanding and well known writer. The book is considered to be a special one and combines philosophical and social issues; it is necessary to underline the fact that it was written during the author’s...

Socrates’ Belief About the Pursuit of Truths

Socrates was a Greek Philosopher who has been credited with founding Western Philosophy. He exists in history as a mysterious figure that is only known through the accounts of other people. There are no philosophical texts written by Socrates himself. His life, knowledge, and philosophy are found in the writings...

The Role of Antigone’s Pride in Her Death

The idea of excessive pride plays a monumental role in Greek tragedy. Pride in itself can be seen as a positive attribute, but when it is expressed in arrogance and defiance of fate and the gods, it becomes a fatal flaw that leads to downfall. Aristotle stated, “the tragic hero...

“Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.” by Luis J. Rodriguez

The autobiographical story told by Luis J. Rodriguez in his book “Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.” has been regarded as a masterfully written, trustworthy and honest book. It has received unanimous critical acclaim. The reason for this high appraisal is that the book is an intimate...

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Review

This short story is called “The story of an hour” because it describes with clear detail the occurrences of an hour in its protagonist’s life. Louise Mallard is the protagonist of this story. Her sister Josephine and her husband’s friend Richards got eh news of her husband’s death in a...

The Interactions Between Jerry and Peter in Edward Albee’s ‘The Zoo Story’.

Over the years, society has advanced to such an extent that we all live in a multi-cultural environment that seems to have enough space for everyone. However, with the growth, certain values, beliefs, and standards that have evolved with society have led to greater alienation of individuals within the society....

“When Man Enters Woman” by Anne Sexton

In the poem by Anne Sexton When Man Enters Woman the theme of femininity is vividly described throughout its reciprocal attitude toward a male beginning. In this respect, the author implies too intimate a theme into an art form. A woman is intended by “Logos” to be a way for...

“The Management of Grief” by Bharati Mukherjee

Introduction In her short story The Management of Grief, Bharati Mukherjee describes the feelings of a person, who has lost her family. The author shows how the main character Shaila Bhave tries to overcome this tragedy. Apart from that, she compares her reaction to that of other people, who have...

Analysis of Labute’s Play “The Mercy Seat”

Introduction LaBute’s play The Mercy Seat was one of the first key theatrical rejoinders to the September 11, 2001 assaults. Set on September 12, it disquiets a man who worked at the World Trade Center but was absent in the office while the attack took place – with his love...

F. Scott Fitzgerald “Tales of the Jazz Age”

One of the great novelists of the American literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald has been a success in the shorter form of fiction as well. Fitzgerald’s short story “The Jelly-Bean” in the novella “Tales of the Jazz Age” confirms his literary merit as a successful narrator. An analysis of the short...

Robert Browning: Analysis of Author’s Style, Works’ Themes, and the Symbolism

Robert Browning is now viewed by many literary critics as one of the most prominent English poets and playwrights. Among his most famous works, it is possible to mark out the following ones: “My Last Duchess”, “Sordello”, “Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister” and many others. Yet, the dramatic poem “The...

S. Armand’s Lesson and the Horror Genre

The key element in horror fiction is its ability to provoke fear or terror in readers with a sense of dread, unease, anxiety, or foreboding. A horror fiction may contain highly improbable and unexpected sequences of events that usually begin in ordinary situation and involve supernatural elements; explore dark, malevolent...

“The Spanish Tragedy” Play by Thomas Kyd

The theme of revenge frozen the blood of every person. But only writers in their literary works can present all experiences of the soul of this human vice. A famous English dramatist Thomas Kyd wrote his well-known psychological masterpiece The Spanish Tragedy. By this work of literature, he tried to...

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Is He Insane?

Introduction The issue of insanity has often been uncomfortable, for the average human being as well as for the writer. It often provides a fascinating subject for drama, as has been demonstrated brilliantly by William Shakespeare as insanity plays a key role in Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. In this play, the...

“The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway

The book ‘The Sun Also Rises was published in 1926 and was the first novel published by the renowned Novelist Ernest Hemmingway. The book is also known as Fiesta in some countries because this was the original title that Hemmingway chose for the novel. The Sun Also Rises expounds upon...

Derek Walcott’s “Egypt, Tobago” Poem

The history of writing this poem is not widely known, but it is stated, that it was written in the surroundings of the Egyptian oasis, as such clear and detailed images of the scenery may be attained only after immersion into the atmosphere of the Egyptian surrounding and feel the...

Nora in A Doll’s House: Character Analysis

The literary heritage of Henrik Ibsen counts lots of dramatic works, which appear to be very popular and bringing up the problems of today. Actually, the matters, brought up within his works are eternal. So, the books are really worth reading and analyzing. In Ibsen’s dramatic writings the several storylines...

Past and Present in “Under the Influence” by Scott Sanders

During a lifetime, each person witnesses a large number of events. Whether pleasant or unpleasant, these instances become an inseparable part of the individual’s life. Because of the ability to memorize things, people keep many events in their minds forever, digging them out under various circumstances. Sometimes, one may desire...

The Analysis of “The Philosopher” by Sherwood Anderson

“The Philosopher” by Sherwood Anderson is constructed to portray a certain multitude of paradoxical and unexpected contradictions as well implicitly as explicitly. This story has the ironic contrasts that illustrate the various emotions which are introduced by the philosopher – Doctor Parcival. That is why I would like to analyze...

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...

Mateship in Australian Literature & History

Literature is rather a particular topic to write on because it presupposes that the person who writes on it has a profound knowledge not only of the topic he or she deals with but also has a great amount of background knowledge of a certain country’s history, culture customs, and...

Beowulf: The Classic Hero’s Qualities and Heroism

Introduction It is believed that Beowulf can be considered the oldest existing English epic poem, that was written somewhere around the 7th or the 8th century. Beowulf is about the grand Scandinavian hero known as Beowulf’s expedition to gratis Denmark by killing the monster, Grendel. Later on Beowulf is announced...

Protagonist in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis

Introduction The Death of a Salesman portrays a life story of Willy and his son Biff, their life expectations and hopes. In this play, Arthur Miller depicts contradiction between industrial society and personal values, false dreams and inability to understand and find his place in this society. Willy Loman is...

Comparing Characters from Odyssey, Scarlett Letter, Troy, Hamlet

The topic of this essay is the comparison of different characters from the masterpieces of world literature and movie-making. The heroes from Homer’s “Odyssey”, Hawthorne’s “Scarlett Latter” and movie characters from Hollywood hits “Troy” and “Hamlet” present a real interest for anybody as they display vividly basic features of 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...

Literary Style of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”

The end of the 19th century was marked by a rethinking of the role of women in civil society. It resulted in a movement against discrimination of women in political and economic life. Kate Chopin, an American novelist and short-story writer from St. Louis, was one of the first feminist...

Setting in “Passing” Novel by Nella Larsen

Setting is a critical element of any story and can be used by the author for various purposes. For instance, in Passing by Nella Larsen, this tool is one of the factors creating the mood and helping readers to understand the main message of the author. The whole story takes...

“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston: Plot, Characters, and Main Themes

Introduction The work that will be discussed throughout the paper is Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston. This short story was published in 1926 and, despite nearly nine decades from its first appearance, covers relevant and acute topics. The tale reveals the hardships of post-war marriage through the prism of sexist...

“The Killers” the Story by Ernest Hemingway

Introduction Hemingway’s short story “The Killers” deals with the common for the writer themes of courage, death, disillusionment, and masculinity. The semi-autobiographical narrator of the author, Nick Adams, intends to show his heroism but is disillusioned by the outcome of it. Throughout the story’s development, it becomes clear that Nick...

“Snail” by Langston Hughes as an Inspiration Source

Introduction Poetry is one of the best ways of expressing one’s feelings and emotions, as well as understanding those of others. From ancient times, poets wrote about love and hatred, friendship and rivalry, life and death, and many other topics. Unlike prose, poetry does not relish the opportunity to use...

Punctuation in E. E. Cummings’ “Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town”

E.E. Cummings’ poem “Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town” consists of nine four-line stanzas characterized by a dynamic rhythm and frivolous punctuation. The main theme of the literary piece is the survival of individuality in a hostile world that is biased against uniqueness. The inhabitants of a “pretty how...

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...

“Barn Burning” Short Story by William Faulkner

This is an American story by William Faulkner. It revolves around the burning of barns where this article will major on the burning of the first barn. The themes of this short story are class conflicts, racism, vengeance, betrayal, father influences, etc. The characters of the stories are Sartoris Snopes...

“Kafka on the Shore” a Novel by Haruki Murakami

Kafka on the Shore Telling two entangled stories that seem irrelevant to each other but later on prove intertwined, the book is split into two parts. While the odd chapters lead the reader down the life path of a boy of fifteen named Kafka, the second one narrates the story...

Eliezer and Shlomo: Evolving Father-Son Bond in ‘Night’

How Eliezer’s relationship with his father changes throughout the book? Eliezer and his father Shlomo are the main characters of Elie Wiesel’s novel Night. In spite of the fact many issues associated with the Holocaust and the people living in concentration camps are discussed in the novel, the author pays...

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...

Poems Explication: Works by Rita Wong

Canola Queasy It is not easy to create an educative and interesting eco-poem to support the chosen position and help the reader to understand how unfair or unpleasant human activities may be. In her Canola Queasy, Wong underlines the importance of environmental pollution and human direct participation in it and...

Barbara Kingsolver’s “Knowing Our Place” Analysis

Behind the Writing: Reading the Author’s Mind There comes a time when a person needs to have a place where he or she belongs. When one knows that there is a safe place worth being called home, no matter how far this place might be, one starts feeling somewhat relieved....

Bond Between Eliezer and His Father in Wiesel’s “Night”

The Relationship Between Eliezer and His Father Eliezer is the protagonist of the Elie Wiese’s Night narrative. Eliezer was the son of a Jewish elder called Chomlo (Bosmajian 211). Throughout the novel, Wiese narrates how Chomlo treated his son throughout his life. Similarly, he narrates how Eliezer’s attitude towards his...

“Daughter of Fortune” Novel by Isabel Allende

Patriarchy in the novel Daughter of Fortune The author uses the text to refer to a society where men dominate and have an exercising authority over women and children (Allende 2). The author demonstrates how Jeremy controls Sommer’s household and describes his character as a rigid man (Allende 4). The...

Yusef Komunyakaa’s Poem: Exploring Childhood & Racial Tension

Yusef Komunyakaa’s poem “Blackberries” and Sylvia Plath’s poem “Blackberrying” are two of the many poems that have utilized the theme of blackberry picking as a plot. Both poems belong to distinctly different eras of American History. Sylvia Plath is a confessional poet while Yusef Komunyakaa’s poem is deep-rooted in his...

Religion in Enlightenment Literature: Moliere’s Tartuffe

Introduction Molière’s Tartuffe is a perfect example of the critical yet satirical exploration of the theme of religious hypocrisy in the Enlightenment literature (TheatreHistory par. 1). A symbolic capital of praise and admiration that the play has accrued over the centuries speaks tellingly of its theatrical worth as well as...

“Emma Zunz” a Novel by Jorge Luis Borges

Jorge Luis Borges is a famous Argentine writer, he is well known for his innovative approach and his special view of reality. In his works history, imagination, memories and fiction have equal rights and can all be treated seriously, as if they all were possible. Borges refuses to have an...

The Battle of the Sexes in the Miller’s Tale

Introduction The Miller’s Tale is a humorous story about an old rich carpenter, his wife and two clerks. The latter two keeps seducing the carpenter’s wife in order to get her to bed. Among the various themes in this story is cuckoldry. The term cuckoldry refers to a man whose...

“The Miracle Worker” a Play by William Gibson

Perhaps, one of the most famous works on the subject of disability and the means of people with disadvantages to feel a part of the society, The Miracle Worker handles the issue in a rather delicate and insightful manner, promoting the concept of empathy and cooperation as the primary tool...

Elie Wiesel’s “Night”: Father-Son Relationship Amidst Holocaust Horrors

People can experience a lot of difficulties on the paths to building strong relationships with their relatives. Eliezer and his father Shlomo, the characters of Elie Wiesel’s novel Night, had overcome the horrors of the concentration camp before they found their own vision of relations with God and with each...

Petrarchan Woman in Wyatt’s and Marvell’s Poems

Renaissance poetry has become influential in many ways. While not being followed directly, it has been incorporated in many areas of art and served as a source of inspiration to several generations of poets. A great example of this is Francesco Petrarch, whose poetry of the early Renaissance was both...

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

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

Elie Wiesel’s Exploration of Faith in “Night”: Themes and Reflections

Eliezer’s faith in God was something beyond question. He spent time in devotion to God. He frequently prayed to Him and at times he even cried. This was to show how deep his reverence to his creator was. It was made even more evident when Moshe questioned his faith and...

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea: Captain Nemo’s Changes

Captain Nemo is a sea researcher, inventor, and owner of the “Nautilus” submarine. This character is the embodiment of a true hero, courageous, decisive, and fair. Aronnax, a French naturalist, is a participant of the marine expedition organized for the capture or destruction of an unknown creature of gigantic proportions...

“Cosmopolis” a Novel by Don DeLillo

The story of Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo is about the final day in the life of Eric Packer, a billionaire financial trader. The story is set in 2000 on “A Day in April” as delineated before the beginning of part 1 of the story (DeLillo 3). The novel opens with...

Theme of Little Red Riding Hood: Comparing the Versions of Perrault vs Grimm

Are you wondering about the theme of Little Red Riding Hood? This Little Red Riding Hood analysis essay compares how the themes of this story differ in the versions written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and by Charles Perrault. Read on to learn this fairy tale’s genre, setting, symbolism, and...

Exploring Themes of Desire and Identity in Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby”

There is irony in the paper, Desiree’s Baby. It is evident in the reading that there are some instances where the irony comes out clear. It was unheard of to have two people from different races in a sexual relationship. It was common for people to have sexual relationships; this...

“I Dwell in Possibility” Poem by Emily Dickinson

Introduction Authors usually have unique personalities that make them stand out more than people from other professions. They either live controversial lives or die mysteriously and leave people wondering what makes them prefer these lifestyles. Emily Dickenson has a strange history that surpasses the mysteries of Shakespeare and other ancient...

“Divine Comedy” and “Confessions”

Just like any other religion, Christianity had a period when it was to pave its way through the doubt and rejection of the people in order to gradually win more and more followers. The intent to move on from one religion and set of beliefs to another always comes along...

Theme in Henry James’s “Daisy Miller”

“Daisy Miller” is one of the most remarkable novellas written by Henry James in 1878. In his novella, James focuses on the opposition in visions typical for the Americans and Europeans living in the 1870s. From this point, “Daisy Miller” addresses the question of the morality based on certain social...

Mathilde in Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace”

Introduction Fiction writing is one of the most intriguing pieces of art in literature. Characterization is one of the integral parts of fiction writing. Characterization uses description to create characters that stick in mind. Therefore, when developing a character, the author needs to describe in detail his characters to a...

Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”

Introduction In the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, Flannery O’Connor focuses on the lack of the ‘good’ aspects that are supposed to lead to ‘grace’ among human beings. The author shows the frailty of human beings and how they lack in spirituality. The story is presented through...

Change in the “Disgrace” Novel by J. M. Coetzee

Thesis The most prominent theme in J. M. Coetzee’s chef-d’oeuvre novel, Disgrace, change. The author sets the scene for events in the book in post-apartheid South Africa at a time when a variety of changes are occurring, thus affecting the characters in the story and the overall outcome in numerous...

The Role of Evil in Elie Wiesel’s Novel “Night”: A Deep Dive into Themes

Various reasons why Moishe was not believed and whether modern journalism has eliminated the problem of complacency In the novel “Night” Moishe, the Beadle warns the residents of Sighet that all was not well in the world and that they were in a lot of danger. Moishe’s warnings went unheeded...

Elie Wiesel’s “Night”: A Profound Exploration of Faith and Suffering

Children normally are the centerpiece of society. They are treated with love and lots of affection as they are the originators of joy in the families. At this tender age, a child is meant to learn the ways of society which in most cases constitute the norms and virtues of...

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

Summary Authored by Anne Fadiman, the book, The Spirit catches you and you fall down, unfolds the drama of clashing epistemologies. The book narrates a story of a “family whose second youngest daughter (Lia Lee) struggles with illness having been diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy” (Guerrero, Laughrea, McVicker, & Bradley, 2002,...

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...

Manley Pointer in Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor

“Good country people” is a short story by Flannery O’Connor, a prominent American writer. It is imperative to mention that it can be regarded as one of the most interesting works by the author, and is considered a masterpiece by some. It has a broad range of interesting characters, but...

American Literature: Harlem by Langston Hughes

This poem illustrates the occurrence of a dream. It is not just the ordinary dream that occurs when one is sleeping but rather a practical dream or a life goal. This dream seems to be of much importance to the dreamer. The dreamer does not really tell us what exactly...

Who Is More Human in the Frankenstein Novel by Mary Shelley?

Introduction As lightning crackles and illuminates the murky recesses of human endeavor, one must ask: Who exhibits the very essence of humanity—is it Victor Frankenstein or his grotesque creation? In Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” the delineation of what it means to be human is often blurred, teetering between the bounds of...

“A Promised Land” by Barack Obama: Critical Evaluation of Presidential Insights

Introduction The book “A Promised Land” by Barack Obama is a memoir of the 44th President of the USA and documents his experiences from 2009 to 2017. It keeps account of the President’s history from his early years, campaigns, and during his presidency. This review will analyze the book’s contents...

Sumerian Culture and Values in “The Epic of Gilgamesh”

Background The Epic of Gilgamesh is a poem that tells the story of the great king Gilgamesh, the culture of the Sumerians, and their religion, among other things. Sumerians valued ideas such as marriage, power, good morals, revenge, and pleasure. They expected their heroes and leaders to be of good...

Grotesque and Satirical Elements in One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Introduction In humor, grotesques describe something horrifying, ugly, and distorted. It often refers to art or images intended to be shocking or disturbing in nature. On the contrary, satire is humor that uses irony or sarcasm to ridicule someone or something. It usually targets political leaders, celebrities, or other public...

Family Dynamics in World Literature: Love, Conflict, and Societal Pressures

Introduction Although the family is often idealized as an unbreakable bond filled with love and support, literature provides a more nuanced perspective. The literature’s perspective exposes the complexities and challenges inherent in familial relationships. The literary works selected for this essay delve into the intricate dynamics of family, demonstrating how...

White Wolf’s Role in Systemic Oppression and Identity in Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience

Character Analysis: Description, Motivations, and Conflicts Besides the main character, White Wolf is the most interesting person to discuss in “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience” by Rebecca Roanhorse. He is elusive, ever-changing, and complex, perfect for representing Jesse’s interactions with the outside world. While he is introduced as a...

Symbolism and Realism in William Howells’s “Editha” Short Story

Introduction William Howells’s story “Editha” has a central theme of war and related issues such as patriotism and personal ideals. The primary literary devices used in the story were symbolism and realism, so the appropriate examination of the war and included notions, such as patriotism, is seen. The main actions...

How James Baldwin Creates Meaning and Argument in “Sonny’s Blues”

Introduction James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” was initially released in 1957 and is renowned for its moving representation of the difficulties of being black in the United States. Set in 1950s Harlem, this short story focuses on the lives of two brothers, an algebra educator and a jazz artist. The narrative...

Industrialism, Identity, and Emotion in D.H. Lawrence’s Odour of Chrysanthemums

Introduction D.H. Lawrence’s short story “Odour of Chrysanthemums” explores the depth and complexity of human experience through the plight of its central character, Elizabeth Bates. At its heart, the story is about the search for meaning and connection in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving. Lawrence’s use of...

Ambiguity and Hidden Ideologies in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery

Introduction Among the most renowned short stories in the nation is Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery. The narrative follows the residents of an unnamed village on the morning of June 27th as they participate in the annual lottery. The story’s beginning implies a somewhat positive feeling of anticipating an affair that...

Hamlet’s Point of No Return: The Role of Revenge, the Ghost, and Broken Relationships

Introduction Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, explores the psychological unraveling of its titular character, Prince Hamlet. Throughout the play, Hamlet faces numerous instances that push him closer to a point of no return. This essay studies the pivotal events in Hamlet’s life and examines the turning points that lead...

Human-Nature Connection in Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf Translation

Introduction Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf shows readers how humans and humans can interact with the environment. The epic poem is written in Old English and tells a story about the famous hero Beowulf. Seamus Heaney’s version not only captures the spirit of this text but also adds his poetry...

Emotional Complexity and Cultural Identity in “Hell-Heaven” by Jhumpa Lahiri

Introduction In the short story “Hell-Heaven” by Jhumpa Lahiri, the characters and their actions spoke to me in a profound way. The story revolves around the narrator’s family, particularly her mother, Boudi, who falls in love with Pranab, a foreign student taken in by the family. However, Pranab falls in...

Sir Gawain’s Chivalry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Why Sir Gawain Is a Chivalrous Knight Sir Gawain, the main character in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” is frequently seen as a chivalrous knight because he follows the principles of chivalry. His behavior in the story shows his dedication to chivalrous values like honor, allegiance, and bravery. Nevertheless,...

The Interplay of Fate and Ambition in The Rocking-Horse Winner and Oedipus the King

Introduction Literature, mythology, and cultural stories have often depicted the themes of fate and ambition as interconnected. Ambition can be defined as the desire to achieve a particular goal, while fate is a predetermined course beyond human control (Mallah 5). Two literary works, D.H. Lawrence’s The Rocking-Horse Winner and Sophocles’...

War’s Impact on Innocence and Identity in “Empire of the Sun” by Ballard

Introduction Often described in terms of its political and historical consequences, war exerts a profound and personal impact on individuals, particularly those caught in its tumultuous wake. Beyond the visible scars and demolished landscapes, war insidiously alters the psychological and emotional fabric of those it touches. This transformation is acutely...

Racial Identity and Societal Pressures in “White Lies” by Natasha Trethewey

Introduction The poem “White Lies” delves into the topic of racial identity and the societal expectations associated with it. This text is filled with various images and meanings hidden behind childhood memories. The innocent little lies that the heroine tells are a serious social problem in a world where people...

The Role of Father-Son Bonds in Night by Elie Wiesel

Introduction Night by Elie Wiesel is a powerful memoir describing the author’s Holocaust experiences. The fragmented story represents Wiesel’s loss of faith and trust in humanity because of the horrors he witnessed in German concentration camps. However, the text also emphasizes the importance of family relations and support. Although the...

Resilience in Oedipus and Hamlet: A Comparative Analysis of Fate and Endurance

Introduction The concept of resilience is usually defined by literary characters’ ability to face and overcome difficulties. Sophocles’ Oedipus and Shakespeare’s Hamlet are iconic figures whose personalities have been studied for generations. In the field of tragic literature, they demonstrate strong resilience under challenging circumstances. The plot of the stories...

The Complex Father-Son Relationship in “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden

Introduction The work under consideration, “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden, is a highly acclaimed and poignant short poem about the relationship with his father. The author conveys the depth and complexity of his perception and shares it with the reader through symbolism, imagery, and enjambment from a narrative point...

Taylor and Turtle’s Bond in The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

Introduction Every person needs to grow up with a sense of belonging to a family or community, a perspective deeply supported by the nurture theory of human development. In The Bean Trees, the author explores the importance of family and emotional support systems for those who are facing hardships. A...

Sympathy and Imagination in Wordsworth’s and Smith’s Poetry

The Theme of Sympathy in The Old Cumberland Beggar by William Wordsworth Wordsworth’s poem touches on the theme of sympathy through the image of the old beggar. With no wealth and money, this man makes the audience pity and worry about him. The image is intensified when the narrator introduces...

Southern Culture and Family Drama in “Why I Live at the P.O.” by Eudora Welty

Introduction “Why I Live at the P.O.” is a classic short story by Eudora Welty that wonderfully captures the nuances of small-town southern life in the United States during the early 20th century. The story is narrated by Sister, who has moved to the local post office after a series...

Analyzing Racial Expectations in University Settings in ZZ Packer’s “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere”

Introduction Universities are often seen as bastions of meritocracy and social mobility, where students from diverse backgrounds come together to pursue academic excellence and achieve upward social mobility. ZZ Packer’s short story “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” provides a powerful critique of race expectations in university settings. The report examines the experiences...

Symbols in Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”

Introduction “Hills Like White Elephants” is a short story written by Ernest Hemingway. The story takes place in a train station in Spain, where an American man and a woman are waiting for their train and having a conversation about a crucial issue in their relationship. The story is considered...