6011 samples of this type
Introduction Ancient Greek poets, including Homer, frequently explored themes of genuine patriotism and unity with their homeland, exemplifying the spiritual anguish experienced by their contemporaries through the heroic characters of epic poetry. Homer’s poem “The Odyssey” is no exception: in this work, the author describes the return journey of the...
Introduction Poetry often serves as a mirror through which societal norms and practices are reflected. “My Last Duchess,” written by Robert Browning in 1842, when the Victorians began influencing society both culturally and politically, is primarily regarded as a theatrical monologue, given that the speaker talks to an imaginary audience...
The Significance of the Title “In the South” by Salman Rushdie is a short story about two older men, Senior and Junior, sharing their life stories. It describes the lives of two elderly Indian men who are similar yet distinct from one another. Rushdie examines the issues of identity, family,...
Introduction James Baldwin is considered one of the most significant figures in American culture. Many factors influenced the writer’s formation, providing him with specific experience and preparing him for what he considered his vocation. His work raised essential themes such as racism and oppression that America at the time did...
Introduction The influence of “One Thousand and One Nights,” also known as “Arabian Nights,” is a collection of stories attributed to anonymous authors and an uncertain date. It was crucial for the development of modern literature, and this influence was acquired from the strength of the work as a literary...
Introduction Oppression, control, and the lack of freedom of expression have influenced people throughout the centuries. Women, people of color, immigrants, and anyone persecuted for something they cannot change in themselves have continued to fight against such powers. Literature often centers on such heroes, presenting their often tragic but sometimes...
Introduction The book Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee paints a vivid picture of imperialism and the use of colonial troops to rule over oppressed peoples. The book examines how imperialism affects both the oppressor and the oppressed and raises significant issues regarding the ethics and morality of such...
Introduction Things Fall Apart is a novel by the young Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe about Nigeria’s distant past and the tragic times of African colonization. Recreating the story of a courageous and strong Okonkwo, who embodies the best qualities of a warrior and fighter, the writer set out to protect...
Introduction Literary instruments play one of the most critical roles in a literary work. They perform not just a descriptive function but also contribute to creating a particular atmosphere and transmitting the central conflict of the work. As part of this work, the analysis of the works “Hills Like White...
Introduction “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor follows a Southern Gothic style. Such an approach can be considered a trademark of the author. Her short tales involve a blend of divinity and macabre. The short story has a quite remarkable protagonist named Hulga. The character is an intellectual who falls...
Introduction The Meditations is a philosophical book comprised of Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ journaling on the essence of using Stoic philosophy in governing the country. The book is structured into twelve chapters, each devoted to analyzing different stages and aspects of his life. The book’s overall purpose is to articulate the...
Introduction The poem “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Sarah Teasdale and the short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury share the same name and similar ideas and concepts. Ray Bradbury even used the poem by Sarah Teasdale to illustrate the main ideas of his short tale....
Introduction Reality and appearance are different, although they tend to be interpreted as the same, as people perceive reality with their senses and form its appearance in their minds. Two short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Black Cat, have something similar, and both are connected...
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...
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...
Introduction The themes of isolation and secrecy effectively manifest in the two selected stories. In “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Mr. Hooper becomes socially isolated when wearing a black veil (Hawthorne 2). The author uses this item to symbolize the minister’s sins, which he wants to keep secret. In “The Fall...
Introduction Since L. Frank Baum introduced Oz in 1900, and generations of readers have lost themselves in the enchanting fantasy realm he created. Oz dazzles as an imaginary world due to its intricate details, which make it feel like a complete universe with its natural laws. Baum achieved worldbuilding mastery...
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...
Introduction Literary works are an effective tool for revealing unique topics that the authors want to pay attention to. Of particular interest for the study are the relationships between different peoples and what aspects they are caused by. Hence, in the short story Yellow Woman by Leslie Marmon Silko, the...
Introduction The theme of “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs is the consequences of meddling with fate, and this theme is intricately woven into the elements of the story — character, setting, and plot. This central theme resonates deeply throughout the story’s intricate characters, setting, and plot interplay. The story...
Summary of The Tartarus of Maids The Tartarus of Maids is a short story by Herman Melville from his collection Tales of the Square. The story centers on an unnamed narrator who visits an isolated farmhouse on a waterfall’s banks. This farmhouse is inhabited exclusively by women who work tirelessly...
Introduction Social issues are often the subject of analysis by famous writers, mainly due to the comprehensibility and proximity of such themes to the ultimate reader. This essay critically compares three works written in different time, historical, and cultural frameworks. The first is A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, written...
A short fiction story by Nadine Gordimer questions the authority of a white man in Africa. An African landowner and head of a regional party, Marais Van der Vyver, has killed his Black worker. Even though it might appear unacceptable in today’s culture, it is consistent with the image of...
Introduction The role of the narrator is significant for a story, as the way this role is executed can either make or break a narration. There are various narrators, and one in Jazz is rather unique. The story employs first-person peripheral narration, which creates a sense of first-hand witness recalling...
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...
The concept of gender is a significant theme in Virginia Woolf’s 1928 novel Orlando. In her classic work, Woolf examines the idea of gender identity and the fluidity of gender roles. The novel’s protagonist, Orlando, is a young English nobleman born in the Elizabethan era and lives through several centuries...
The genre of horror short stories popularized by Edgar Allan Poe is aimed at triggering readers’ judgment about truth and imagination. In his works, the writer often referred to the theme of insanity, central to the short story under the title “The tell-tale heart,” originally published in 1843. The narrator...
This dissertation is fundamental and very informative research that explores the representation of the topic of racial identity in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. Since the author also compares this short story to three significant African-American novels, it is possible to say that this source is helpful in identifying the...
Introduction Hamlet by Shakespeare is a brilliant piece of classical literature that is immortal in its ability to be always relevant. It tells a tragic story about the young prince of Denmark, who is tortured by nihilism and vengeance for his father. Throughout the narrative, prince Hamlet encounters numerous challenges,...
Introduction Their Eyes Were Watching God is written by Zora Neale Hurston and published in 1937. This story is about Janie, whose life journey is challenging, and shows the girl’s struggle with building the life she wants. Although Janie wants to find love, she is influenced by her grandmother Nanny...
Introduction Feminism is becoming increasingly important in the modern world and its study is of considerable significance. Hence, spreading awareness on this topic in the literary works can be considered highly effective. Two pieces that will be analyzed in this paper are “Leaving home” and “Undue influence”. Feminism in “Leaving...
Introduction The Taming of the Shrew is one of the most famous comedic plays in English literature. The story revolves around the conflict between representatives of two different planets, the sons of Mars and the daughters of Venus. The main character, Kate, is the headstrong eldest daughter of a wealthy...
Introduction The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries reflected a patriarchal system, where the functions of a woman were motherhood and household duties. Gender and class roles were determined, as a rule, by men. Jonathan Swift, as a satirist, reflected the leading positions of misogyny, almost without hiding it. However, his work...
Desdemona, Emelia, Cassio, and Iago arrive at Cyprus after crossing the sea. Iago designs methods to use Cassio’s ladies’ pleasing qualities against him during the demonstration of his courtesy. Iago frequently mentions webs and how they ensnare Cassio and Othello. Cassio arrives, breaking the news of Othello’s marriage and lavishing...
Introduction Life in the late Middle Ages had numerous characteristic aspects to it. By analyzing the characters of The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, readers may sometimes identify common attitudes and experiences of that time. In The Canterbury Tales, three characters satirically embody corresponding medieval life aspects: religion’s perception through the...
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 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...
When it comes to the story of the Sirens in Homer’s The Odyssey, the first mention of them comes from the goddess Circe. She warns Odysseus that upon returning from the Underworld, he will encounter creatures bewitching sailors with the sweetness of their song. Circe notes that there is no...
The short stories The Mark of Cain and Compassion are dramatic plots that relay the family lives of the characters. These stories are realistic fiction and demonstrate the struggles and twisted relationships between people. The Mark of Cain, told from the perspective of a woman, recounts her romantic and sexual...
In the short story “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” written by Ernest Hemingway, the varying values of people are discussed. They are attributed to different generations, whose struggles are unique partially due to the perceptions of old and young people concerning what problems are. Therefore, Hemingway sheds light on the theme...
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Tolstoy is a novella presenting a chronicle of the illness and death of a judicial official Ivan Ilyich, preceded by his life story. Through the description of how Ivan Ilyich experiences the approaching end, Tolstoy conveys the message of spiritual salvation. In The Death...
Introduction For many centuries, literature has been a crucial part of society as a means of education and a lens through which society’s conditions are seen and analyzed. Many literary theories have been formulated to answer the how and why of literature and its connection to society. Stougaard-Nielsen (2019) notes...
Introduction In the Buddha’s Words presents a work of detailed examination of Buddha’s teachings left in the Nikayas. The reading focused on chapters that center around Buddha’s teachings about people’s happiness in the present and future life and the concept of rebirth. The interpretation of Buddha’s teachings for ordinary people...
Introduction The short story “Runaway” by Alice Munro focuses on the two main protagonists Clark and Carla, which are a husband and wife and owners of a small horse ranch in rural Canada. The couple have a stringent relationship but remain together, despite Carla’s resentment of her husband and attempt...
The essay focuses on a short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, during the analysis of which the main themes of the work and the author’s attitude to them are established. In the center of the story is the unnamed main character, on whose behalf the story is...
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...
When examining and analyzing this week’s readings, I was impressed by the power of words spoken by the authors. Both Douglass and Hochschild presented strong insights into the meaning of the American dream and the proclaimed principles of liberty and justice to different populations. The context for the selected quote...
Geoffrey Chaucer uses Canterbury Tales to describe different professionals and their perceived stereotypes. Skipper is one of the many characters who narrate their tales as the pilgrimage journey progresses. The pilgrimage journey brings together people working in different industries. Therefore, it presents a perfect opportunity for the author to expound...
Introduction Returning to the completed writing and considering its primary characteristics is necessary for creating a comprehensive understanding of the work. My chosen novel, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, is an intriguing piece that regards the subjects of surreality, human alienation, and betrayal within the story of Gregor Samsa. The...
Theme I don’t mean that he had traded on his phantom millions, but he had deliberately given Daisy a sense of security; he let her believe that he was a person from much the same stratum as herself—that he was fully able to take care of her. F. Scott Fitzgerald...
We may distinguish both true and false needs. “False” are those which are superimposed upon the individual by particular social interests in his repression: the needs which perpetuate toil, aggressiveness, misery, and injustice. Their satisfaction might be most gratifying to the individual, but this happiness is not a condition which...
How does this story reflect the challenges put forward by the first wave of feminists? The first wave of feminism refers to the women’s movement against the societal expectations on the role of women in the middle-class and upper-class women in the 18th century to the 20th century. It was...
Introduction The present paper dwells upon production of the play by August Wilson entitled Fences. It is necessary to note that the play is often seen as a valuable “portrayal of the social and psychological effects of discrimination” of African Americans as well as their ways to address the issues...
Introduction Poe’s story, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” features a man who plans and murders his elderly next-door neighbor. The story rushes into the action, leaving the reader with no time to get to know the characters or learn about their relationships with the environment. Although the male protagonist of story adaptations...
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...
Jonny Cordero’s 2017 book “I Fought the Law, and I Won!” is a semi-autobiographical work that contains fiction elements. The plot of the author’s work was mainly based on his life events. The main topics are relationships within a fractured family, the effects of divorce, being apart from loved ones,...
Introduction From the very beginning of Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, the readers understand that Elizabeth Bennet is a person with a high standard of integrity. Nevertheless, it seems more of a burden for her because life is majorly disappointing to Elizabeth when she sees other people’s behaviors....
Michel de Montaigne was a French Renaissance writer who developed the essay as a literary form and wrote some of history’s most enduring and significant articles. Michel de Montaigne was an academic who devoted his entire career to criticizing intellectual hubris. In his major opus, the Essays, he reached out...
When poetry and prose are compared, it is sometimes difficult to find common ground in tone, theme, and syntax. However, for Ashley Hope Perez’s “What Home Is” and Alice Walk’s “The Flowers,” which are a poem and short story, respectively, the connection can be built in terms of these three...
Introduction The works of Sunjata and Hamlet have been revered for centuries, each inspiring generations of readers and viewers with their captivating stories and characters. Sunjata is a 13th-century epic poem from Mali, written by an anonymous griot, and Hamlet is a famous tragedy from the late 16th century by...
The story Patriotism by Yukio Mishima reflects the ideas of loyalty and sacrifice portrayed with consideration for human feelings and relationships. The events described during the scene are not unambiguous, as they reflect several perceptions of the main characters. At the same time, the story plot represents the direct path...
Introduction The “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” calls readers on a heart-wrenching journey through the life of Frederick Douglass. This memoir is about Douglass’s years in slavery and his resolution to escape freedom. It was published in 1845 and played a significant role in winning the minds and...
Introduction It is important to note that the key themes of betrayal and trust, family and relationships, as well as pride and prejudice, emerge in many works of literature. The given analysis will focus on “Oedipus Rex” and “Fences,” which do not seem to be linked in any way. However,...
Introduction Social broadcasting is a hotly debated subject since it can be argued that it is both an advantage and a curse for this generation. Most individuals believe that digital mass media has devastated and destroyed every moment of the physical human association at a surprising speed and that it...
Introduction Literature is one of the important kinds of art, causing a strong impact on people and making them think about certain things. It also helps writers to convey their messages and speak about problems that are topical for them. At the same time, as against other arts, literature does...
Introduction In the tragedy “Hamlet,” a special character causes much admiration and compassion, yet is a very controversial figure. This is Ophelia, daughter of the royal adviser Polonius, who can be called the embodiment of femininity in the traditional sense because she is beautiful, sweet, and uncomplaining (Shakespeare). However, Ophelia...
It is important to note that ancient texts provide insight into how humans viewed divinity, authority, and the world as a whole. By comparing the Tale of Sinuhe with the stories and heroes of Greek mythology, it is possible to see differences in regard to two aspects. These are related...
“She would have been a good woman,” The Misfit said, “if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” – Flannery O’ Connor. Literature has been a source of knowledge and a means for the author to convey the moods and problems of the time...
Essay Summary In the essay under analysis, the author examines the play Oil by Ella Hickson through the lens of postcolonial ecocriticism and such concepts as environmental activism, place, and borrowed time. The writer introduces the playwright and briefly describes the play, its structure, and style, giving an example of...
Jean-Paul Sartre dismisses the understanding of humanism that fails to acknowledge the importance of individual choice. Based on the rejected philosophy of humanism, people may take others’ credit for their personal accomplishments since they share humanity, thus, making others’ achievements their own. He critics the previous understanding of the concept...
Introduction The topic of discrimination on various grounds, including racial ones, is not new. People who differ in skin color and culture often become outcasts in society. The very existence of a divergent person gives rise to a societal conflict. Shakespeare’s Othello deals with such a confrontation, showing the viewer...
Female characters who played a prominent and crucial part in events occur in the books of different times regardless of the real position of women in society. The authors gave them extraordinary powers, strength, and influence on others’ actions and decisions. For instance, Wealhtheow from Beowulf demonstrated how the Germanic...
The name of the protagonist from Sherman Alexie’s story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” is Jackson Jackson. His family nickname is Jackson Squared. He is an Indian man who grew up in Spokane and moved to Seattle. He describes himself as “an effective homeless man” (Alexie 2). The protagonist’s...
Gambling addiction has been haunting people for years. It is too difficult to give up the opportunity to make easy money because it seems to every gambler that his day will come and he will win a substantial sum of money. This craving for an easy life without worries and...
Introduction In the short story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie, cultural imperialism is one of the central themes. This term generally refers to the process when one dominant culture spreads and absorbs the values, beliefs, and lifestyles of smaller communities. For instance, when the prevailing American...
In “From He to She in First Grade,” Frankel tells the story of a child’s gender transition. The book is written from the perspective of the child, who is in first grade and has recently decided to start living as a girl. The book chronicles the protagonist’s experiences during the...
Her statements are so vague and evident that they are almost meaningless, except for expressing a general philosophy of resignation. The fact that she cannot recognize them as cliches show how little time she spends thinking about her beliefs. Just as Mrs. Hopewell seems to want to change the image...
Roald Dahl is one of the renowned authors. Dahl was named after a Norwegian scientist. Roald spent his boyhood in Oslo, Norway. His father died when he was four. Roald Dahl: Life Dahl’s initial school was Llandaff Cathedral School. Roald finished his education at Repton. Roald became Shell Petroleum Corporation...
Joy Kogawa’s Obasan covers the ways of coping with trauma by detailing different Japanese-Canadian characters’ responses to the years of internment and prejudice. In the early 1940s, thousands of Japanese Canadians were forced to move from British Columbia to Alberta to work on farms, providing labor for more than 60%...
Glaspell’s proper dramatic debut was her second play, Trifles (published in 1916), which genuinely revealed her range as an artist. Written at the request in a short time, in cramped circumstances, it is surprisingly devoid of any traces of its forced birth. The author uses emotion manipulation technique to play...
The Importance of Being Earnest belongs to Oscar Wilde’s famous high-society comedies. The author, breaking the canons of entertainment theater, brings to the stage a satirical mockery of the mores of his contemporary bourgeois society and invites the audience to laugh at the surrounding reality. Wilde, a lover of passage...
Kazuo Ishiguro’s story A Family Supper is a prime example of how the bulk of the words can hide deep meanings and subtexts. In this work, the author uses the essential components of the artwork, including setting, tone, and means of expression. All of these elements, mutually influencing each other,...
Introduction 1001 Nights have several translations, many of which Western specialists make. The author of the collection is unknown, and it is unclear which short stories were included initially and which appeared in later versions. Most readers in Europe and the United States are familiar with Scheherazade’s tales through Western...
Blazing the trail for a new philosophy is always a challenge; however, the task becomes excruciating when the idea in question is as unpopular as the concept of feminism at the dawn of its development. Edna St. Vincent Millay was one of the few American poets who managed to skewer...
The novel A Good Man is Hard to Find was first published in 1953, and this work perfectly captures Flannery O’Connor’s style and writing technique. Her atmospheric writing does not leave anyone indifferent. Flannery O’Connor in “A good man is hard to find” uses literary elements such as description of...
Elie Wiesel’s “Night” deserves to be listed among the most poignant and emotionally devastating novels in recent history. Rendering the turmoil and suffering of people mercilessly persecuted for their race, “Night” represents its characters with due humanism and regard for their complicated past. However, apart from the generational trauma of...
Introduction Justice is a quite vague concept that is perceived and utilized by people differently. Due to its ambiguity, it sometimes leads to misunderstanding and dissonances. Annette Baier explains that men and women perceive the world divergently and have varied values, which leads to considerable differences in their attitudes and...
Introduction Destiny is something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing. In addition, destiny can be potentially characterized as the unknown and inevitable future or a predefined condition and life path. Someone can think that destiny is unavoidable that has to happen, but, to...
Family is among the most important elements of a person’s life. From one’s birth to the time a person chooses to have their own children, family support and connection help one get through difficulties. However, in some cases, dysfunctional relationships or problems of one family member can burden the others....
The account by Erik Larson of the catastrophic hurricane that hit Galveston in September 1900 is a riveting investigation into what caused this storm to be so destructive. With between 6,000 and 12,000 fatalities, the Galveston hurricane is still regarded as the greatest natural disaster in American history. Despite his...
The theme of death and revenge is multifaceted in Shakespeare’s works, as it is a classic strand of 16th- and 17th-century poetry. It is worth noting that revenge occupies a special place in the results because of its versatility and innocence. For Hamlet, revenge is an entirely new way of...
Despite the seeming glamor and wealth, the character of Great Gatsby is deeply and inherently tragic. Striving to bury his deep discontent with his life in an attempt to recreate the past, he refuses to acknowledge that the people around him have changed. Furthermore, his pursuit of the material wealth...
Who is Cameron Sullivan? Cameron Sullivan was one of the many returnees from the Vietnam conflict. Like many other former soldiers, Sullivan returned with what he and some other soldiers derisively referred to as spoils of war. In his case, they were a piece of a wooden trap removed from...
Krutch describes the beauty of snowflakes and crystals with delight and admiration. He describes their diversity and forms and says that only with a microscope he manages to understand what beauty means by looking at crystals. They capture his spirit and amaze his imagination, and it is not for nothing...
Introduction Literature has undergone several dynamic shifts as a field relating to how information is conveyed and structured in a written piece. Character choice is a vital step in narration as it determines the length, style, tone, and literary devices used. In essence, in any work of literature, the relationships...
Stella passing for white in The Vanishing Half is an act of conformity. The term refers to behaving in accordance with some standard or authority. In the narrative, Stella acknowledges the power that the white population had in the novel which reflects the discussed concept (“Conformity”). She decides to escape...
The gods and their relation and hierarchy with humans present one of the main themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh. This essay will focus on the gods in the story and explore their nature and motives. In the story, gods are described with a close resemblance to humans, and their...
Introduction ‘On The Run’ is a book released in 2014 by Alice Goffman; it is the most potent piece of ethnography. The narrative of how it came to be is almost as fascinating as the story at the center of the literature. This is a description of some of the...
Tim O’Brien’s memoir If I Die In a Combat Zone narrates his journey months before his deployment into the Vietnam war, combat experience, and journey back to America. He started when he graduated from college in 1968 and received a summer draft notice, but he was reluctant to go due...
The Narrow Road to the Deep North recounts the tale of Basho’s actual excursion through Japan. It additionally tells the account of better places in Japan and a portion of its set of experiences. It is the narrative of Basho’s excursion toward truth, disclosure, and edification. When creators need to...
Both “The Iroquois Creation Myth” and Bradstreet’s poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband” share a common theme of the strength of the love of a woman. The latter literary work focuses on how a wife can love her husband to the extent that they seek to preserve the bond...
In her work “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” Deborah Tannen discusses the difficulties of conversation between a married man and a woman. Her point of view, supported by evidence, research results, interviews, and other researchers’ studies, is shown. The author explains the different relations of men and women to “small talks,”...
The book “Goodbye Columbus” is one of the world’s best-known literary works. The themes raised in it – first love, the pursuit of one’s dream, and the formation of one’s identity – have a universal character and have remained relevant throughout the decades. The book’s main character leaves home to...
Introduction Shakespeare’s famous tragedy The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark presents the story of Hamlet who seeks revenge against his uncle Claudius that killed Hamlet’s father for the Dutch throne. In this regard, at first sight, it is quite clear that Hamlet represents a hero full of wisdom which...
The short story A&P is centered around the main character named Sammy, who is displeased with his current life, including his job and the people around him. As a teenager, he realizes that he wants a more adventurous life because he is living in a highly conservative and quiet town...
The Stranger is an essay written by Georg Simmel in 1908 in which the author explores the sociological meaning behind the term and the concept of the stranger. In his explorations, the author studies the concept through different lenses of philosophy, economy, and through his relations and position in the...
The theme of language as a vital aspect of identity is prevalent within Shailja Patel’s “Dreaming in Gujarati”. Patel, from a Kenyan-Gujarati background, outlines how her languages, as well as those of her father, interacted with her perception of herself and how she had been observed by others. Patel recalls...
Many different works have been written about the images of Satan since this character is ambiguous. So, the British poet John Milton sees him in his way and the Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov in a slightly different light. Milton reflects on the reason for the disobedience of the first couple...
Writers have tackled the theme of tragedy and loss for as long as there was literature itself, contemplating the many different aspects of this hard yet omnipresent experience. In this respect, Alice Elliot Dark’s “In the Gloaming” is hardly a ground-breaker, as it is definitely not the first piece of...
Introduction Literature serves as a mirror of society, capturing events in a fictionalized form; the purpose of literature is to inform, educate, and connect people. It enables individuals to express their emotions and thoughts; this catharsis improves individuals. Reading literature allows people to connect personally and discover meaning in life....
Introduction In The Cosmopolitan Canopy, Elijah Anderson (2004) presents the concept of a “cosmopolitan canopy,” a place where individuals set aside their diverse backgrounds and differences to communicate in more civil and cosmopolitan ways. He argues that people from different racial, ethnic, and class groups, engage in folk ethnography, whereby...
Violence is the intentional use of physical power to threaten or cause harm to oneself or another. The essay features How to Read Literature like a Professor by Foster Thomas, The Things They Carried by O’Brien Tim, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, and Mallam Sile’s works to illustrate the theme...
Introduction Pride and Prejudice is a romantic comedy novel by Jane Austen during the Regency era in England. It is a romantic story that follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, who is the dynamic character of the narration. She learns about the aftermaths of hasty judgments and notes the...
“The Open Boat” is a story written by Stephen Crane about a crew on a boat that is sailing through a storm towards a lighthouse. The men courageously try to overcome the waves that at any moment can overturn their boat. Evidently, if that happens, all of them will die...
Introduction Native Son is a story by American writer Richard Wright, which was written in 1940. The story is about Bigger Thomas, a growing black man who existed in absolute lack in a bad neighborhood in the southern part of Chicago. Without apologizing for Bigger’s violations, Wright presents an inextricable...
The story The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson tells the reader about the unusual and challenging fate of a woman and her family who the Native Americans capture after a tribal raid on a town. Mary Rowlandson describes her life and everything that happened around...
Introduction It is important to note that Margaret Atwood’s book titled Oryx and Crake is a post-apocalyptic story with a heavy focus on the preceding events, which are deeply reflected in the current trends in areas, such as biotech, corporate power, and the erosion of democratic norms. The plot explores...
Lupke, Christopher. “Bridge Essay: Modern Poetry as a Global Phenomenon.” A Companion to World Literature (2020): 1-7. The essay by Christopher Lupke provides an insight into the history of poetry and the way different styles from different parts of the world contributed to the formation of modernism in poetry. The...
Rodman Philbrick’s work Freak the Mighty is an interesting example of a novel for young adults. According to the plot, two very different guys meet in the book. Max is a silent, shy, and clumsy giant. Kevin is small, quick-witted, and terminally ill. They reacted differently to what was happening...
Introduction William Blake, a native of London, is one of the significant figures in poetry and the fine arts of the Romantic era. His literature is refined and full of meaning: he grew from rebelliousness and a spirit of rebellion into a creator with ideas of forgiveness and self-sacrifice. Blake...
Numerous books exist in the world, presenting to readers various aspects of life. One of the most renowned literary works is the epic The Odyssey that represents the fascinating stories of Odysseus and his son Telemachus (Homer, 1996). While both characters go on complex journeys, Telemachus’s quest reflects the search...
Superman is a monumental character in the DC Comics universe. He may or may not like it, but it is impossible to deny his contribution to world culture and influence on generations of readers and viewers alike. Superman has had a significant impact on popular culture and is a role...
Contentment and happiness might be found in front of people rather than in elaborate hopes. “How I Met My Husband,” a short story by Alice Munro, illustrates the infatuation of Edie, a fifteen-year-old girl, for Chris Watters, an itinerant pilot who comes offering paid rides in a close-by fairground. Edie...
The idea of beauty has always been important to human society. People use specific standards to consider someone more attractive than others and provide them with privileged status. At the same time, failure to meet dominant standards might result in exclusion, isolation, and loneliness. Thus, beauty is one of the...
In his article, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” Peter Singer focuses on a topic that is essential for the whole world. The author considers famine, refugee crisis, and ways to combat these issues from a philosophical point of view. Singer takes a comprehensive approach to the problem since he introduces assumptions,...
Introduction Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is one of the most classic and exemplary works in the tragic play’s genre. The greatest poet skillfully and masterfully revealed in his creation the theme of love and freedom of choice, the problems of anger, revenge, and unforgiveness, as well as the piece of...
Introduction The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written by Alex Haley, is the story of a young African American boy’s rise from racial oppression to political activism. The cover features three portraits of Malcolm X in various stages of speech and concentration. The traumatic childhood of one of America’s most influential...
Ballad of Birmingham Ballad of Birmingham is a relatively short poem written by Dudley Randall in 1963. The poem covers a wide list of controversial subjects, including violence, regret, justice, equal rights, love, death, and hopes. Randall narrates about a small girl asking her mother if she can join a...
Introduction “Parsifal” is the last of Richard Wagner’s operas, which is considered the most beautiful and, at the same time, the most enigmatic of his works. Its creation occurred during almost all of the composer’s conscious life. While working on Lohengrin in the late 1840s, learning the legend of Parsifal...
The main character of the Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet, is one of the most famous female characters in world literature. Heatedly condemning gender, social and cultural stereotypes, Elizabeth is a main figure of disobedience and pride. However, given the social mode of 19th century England, other models are available...
William Shakespeare, an English poet, and playwright wrote “Sonnet 116.” It was most likely written in the 1590s, during English literature when sonnets were famous, although it was not published until 1609. Although Shakespeare’s sonnets were not well received during his lifetime, “Sonnet 116” has become one of the most...
In the novel “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess, the narration is conducted on behalf of a difficult teenager Alex. He and his friends rob, rape, and arrange brutal reprisals. At the same time, he describes all the actions in an ordinary tone, as if nothing is happening. During one...
Trying to adapt the format to a traditional theater seems ridiculous, game-moving through different landscapes, clever avoidance of trackers, and genre demands when production and audience are trapped. How simulating the heightened tension is commonplace for a limited number of people time? How the main message and theme are delivered...
“Beowulf” is one of the perfect examples of a heroic epic. The poem describes the ancient Germanic legends dating back to pagan times. The action of the poem takes place on the shores of the Baltic Sea, and its plot is borrowed from Germanic mythology. Apart from having a great...
James Baldwin had a significant contribution to U.S. culture and literature. A collection of ten essays called “Notes of a native” by James Baldwin was first published in 1955. The papers mainly cover racism in America and describe the author’s personal experience of growing up in such a discriminatory environment....
James Baldwin is a novelist, publicist, playwright, and human rights defender. Born to a priestly stepfather, he was the oldest of nine children. Baldwin never knew his father and partly suffered from it. Nevertheless, he followed in his stepfather’s way and helped him in the church until he graduated from...
Irony can be a powerful instrument for a poet aiming to reflect on the current state of humankind. Although some of the most notable poems were written more than two centuries ago, the poets’ deep understanding of culture remains highly insightful. The movement from religion to science always has concerned...
Thesis John Updike uses language as far more than a narrational or beautifying tool in his short story “A&P”; instead, he employs linguistic tools such as metaphors and colloquialism to enrich his characters and provide a riveting analysis of the many social trends at war in 1960s America. Introduction John...
Introduction Humor in literature and art can be characterized as a kind of tendency, the desire to evoke a laughing reaction from the audience. Initially, it seems that the humorous presentation of information, the description of comic situations, is aimed at entertaining the audience, arousing positive emotions in it, and...
Introduction Although Odyssey is an Ancient Greek poem, it is interesting to read even nowadays, when people got used to twisted plots. There are several basic topics in the poem, several of which are still actual for a modern person. The first topic is free will, which is reflected through...
English literature has existed from the beginning of time, developing spontaneously regarding forms of writing from different eras and periods. Realism and romantic periods originate from grouping literary works according to specific time frames exhibiting certain features. The periods help in understanding various characteristics of literary works according to the...
Introduction Gender equality has been a revolutionary topic in the past centuries. As a teenager, Benjamin Franklin used the pseudonym “Silence Dogood” to speak on behalf of a widowed mother and offer some observations regarding women’s rights (Arch 222). In 1722, he published a series of anonymous satirical essays, expressing...
The inevitability of the life cycle and procreation has been the subject of several interpretations of “Rapunzel’s” moral. Other versions of the narrative emphasize the conflict between the young and the old. Rapunzel is imprisoned in a tower in the midst of the forest by the old witch at one...
In “My life as a Muslim in a West’s Grey Zone”, Laila Lalami discusses the treatment of Muslims not involved in terrorist organizations in the West. She explains that Muslims who do not support the actions of ISIS are referred to as a grey zone. However, the attitude towards this...
The genre of children’s books might appear to be rather unsophisticated and plain to the uninitiated. However, on closer inspection, the world of children’s literature will reveal that it has no boundaries for imagination and, therefore, can stretch across the themes and subgenres hat no other type of literature can....
No one can doubt that women can perform different roles in society. On the one hand, females can follow a simple strategy and become deceptive sex objects. One can state that individuals use their genders as a leading force to achieve the desired outcomes and manipulate people. On the other...
Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as a lady who influences her husband’s decision-making negatively because she is stronger, ruthless, decisive, and ambitious than the husband. In the entire play, the theme of ambition is demonstrated well and the character with a lot of determination comes out as the wife. The husband proves...
Introduction “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” one of the first works to be associated with the name of William Shakespeare, doubtlessly is more than a story with a moral. It serves to illustrate the common laws of life, which work on human beings even without their understanding of them. In fact,...
“The Princess on the Pea” is one of the shortest and most well-known classic fairy-tales, and its plot may seem quite simple to some. I believe that there are two ways to answer the question why it was so important for the royal family to find a “real princess”. First,...
The fight against the segregation disease turned out to be successful for the US’s people of color. However, at the time of the debut of A Raisin in the Sun in 1959, the movement for the rights of black people led by Martin Luther King had not yet won its...
