Women by Alice Walker. Analysis of the Poem

Alice Walker is a multifaceted author, excelling in both prose and poetry, and her works are deeply influenced by her experience as an African-American woman. She is very concerned with women’s plight and rights and explores the topic in most of her bibliography. While one may be more familiar with...

The Metamorphosis of Gregor Samsa and His Family

Introduction The Metamorphosis is one of the best-known works of German-language writer Franz Kafka. Originally titled as Die Verwandlung, the short story was first published in 1915. Since its publication, The Metamorphosis received a lot of attention from critics and readers, fascinated by the surreal and tragic story of an...

Irony in “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl

The irony, a literary device that provides a clashing of the choice of word and its intended meaning, features prominently within Roald Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter. The utilization of irony in its various forms is often a component of allowing a work to illuminate the complexities and contradictions of...

“Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover

Introduction Education is not just about learning things at school; it is about creating one’s own identity and values, even if they contradict those of other people. I believe that this is the purpose of Tara Westover’s writing her book, Educated: A Memoir. In the novel, the author recounts her...

“Waiting for Godot” by Beckett

“Waiting for Godot,” a play written by Samuel Beckett, postulates the idea that a human being’s life is wholly dependant on chance, meaningfulness and the futile reliance on ‘Godot.’ The two characters in this story, Estrogon and Vladimir, have evoked pity in me as they wait for hope to arrive....

Themes, Literary Devices, and Relevance in Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder”

Introduction Bradbury wrote many short stories and books as a fiction author. Most of the author’s stories are science fiction, explaining scientific phenomena, nature, and technology. “A Sound of Thunder” is an intriguing short story involving time traveling to the past. Many people today would like to know how the...

Theme of Deceit in Shakespeare’s Othello

Deceit and lies can be one of the most distracting factors in human life despite one’s accomplishments. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough, to be honest,” the play Othello by Shakespeare accurately depicts his words. Othello is a storyline...

“The Epic of Gilgamesh”: Archetypal Elements

Introduction The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the most important literature pieces that partly created the foundation for the art existing currently. Moreover, multiple archetypal elements can be derived from the poem, both regarding the rivalry and friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu and the epic as a whole. In...

“Paralytic” by Sylvia Plath: The Lesson of Compassion

Humanities is an interesting batch of disciplines, as it studies what seems obvious – people themselves and what they create. However, it appears that both subjects are complex, and there is no definite way to interpret them. The sheer variety of art expressions shows not only how talented the creators...

Power and Powerlessness in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

The Marxist theory plays a critical role in displaying how the nobles gain control of the social, economic, and political aspects of society and its impact on the lower class. Besides, Marxism suggests that human beings’ motivation stems from the social struggle between the upper and lower class. William Shakespeare’s...

“Learning to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglass: Rhetorical Methods and Techniques

Introduction Literary works are a unique form that allows the reader to fully convey the palette of emotions, experiences, and properties that the writer sought to put in the texts. For this purpose, authors tend to use various artistic techniques to capture and transform the audience’s attention, but most importantly,...

Gender Roles in Medea – Stereotypes & Resistance

Euripides Euripides lived and worked in the 5th century BC; he was a tragedian whose plays won prizes at that time and appeal to the readers of nowadays. The tragedian challenged the gender ideology accepted in his society, which attracts many scholars even in the 21st century AD. The author...

Analysis of Hamlet’s Second Soliloquy

Soliloquies are widely used in the play, as Hamlet cannot freely express his emotions and share the thoughts that are rooted in his inner drama. Therefore, soliloquies have become unique masterpieces, as the great playwright designed them to represent the painful evolution of all the struggles that took place in...

Abigail’s Responsibility for The Tragic Events in Salem

There are many evil characters in the play The Crucible, but Abigail Williams is the most prominent. Not only is Abigail unkind and malicious, but the character will get what she wants regardless of the consequences. Despite being a pathological liar, Abigail will try several options to achieve her ambitions...

The Importance of Legends for Humanity

Myths and legends are an important part of human culture that has historically shaped the way people perceive the world around them. Legends describe events that are believed to have occurred in the past, but the focus is placed on the narrative and characters rather than historical accuracy. While it...

“The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury

Introduction The onset of the 21st century has brought on unimaginable and unprecedented leaps in commercial technology which has been woven into the very fabric of society. If 20 years ago few adults, let alone children had a cellphone, and 10 years ago, social media was a fun gimmick, both...

Ernest H. Griffin’s “The Oasis: Africa”

Throughout world history, wartime has always been considered as the darkest and most dooming time for the world community. However, modern textbooks are not capable of expressing the actual feeling of terror and trembling fear people lived through during those years. To bring modern generations closer to their ancestors’ history,...

Greek Concept of the “Therapon” in the “Iliad” by Homer

Introduction The Greek concept of “Therapon”, as one of the central in the Ancient Greek culture, plays an important historical and cultural role in the “Iliad” by Homer. On the whole, the Ancient Greece contributed greatly to the development of the world culture of today, and the above mentioned concept...

Love and Madness in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”

The tone of drama is usually dictated by its beginning so that the reader can anticipate the ending reading the first scenes of the play. This tendency seems inapplicable to Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, in which the atmosphere of chaos, spontaneous love, and madness is established in the introductory scenes, which...

A Good Man Is Hard to Find Analysis: Essay Example & Summary

Are you about to write A Good Man Is Hard to Find theme essay? Then, make sure to check this sample out! Here, you’ll find the story’s summary, moral lesson, themes, and other aspects of the analysis. Keep reading to get some inspiration for your A Good Man Is Hard to Find thesis! ...

Symbolism in “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings” by Marquez

Symbolism is often employed in literature to represent, signify, and express ideas and qualities that differ from their literal sense in real life. As a literary device, symbolism can assume various forms by using abstract ideas to give an object a more vivid and deeper meaning by the use of...

Features of Post-Colonial Literature

Introduction The post-colonial literature which is also referred to as the new English literature is an art of writing that specifically targets issues to do with the process of decolonization or the freedom of people that had been previously subjected to colonial rule. These modes of writing also try to...

The Greek Mythology and Myths

Introduction Greek mythology refers to a collection of legends and myths as used by the ancient Greeks in reference to their heroes and gods. It is also taken to mean the nature of the world, as well as the genesis and importance of the Greeks rituals and cult practices. In...

Social Disapproval in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

Introduction Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein raises a number of social issues such as the disapproval of the female gender in society. The social class, as depicted in the novel, is split along gender lines that marginalize women as a result of the existence of a predominant patriarchal structure. Also, a...

Literary Elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”

Introduction Gilman used her own personal experiences in her first marriage and postpartum depression as the inspiration for The Yellow Wallpaper, a story that details the deterioration of a woman’s mental health when she is a rest cure on a summer estate with her family. The unnamed narrator’s obsession with...

The Theme of Mental Illness in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Poe

Edgar Allan Poe wrote The Tell-Tale Heart in 1843. It is a short horror story depicting the murder of an old man by an unnamed person, the story’s narrator. The narrator shows signs of paranoia, mania, and auditory hallucinations. The setting is a house where both characters live, while most...

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

Introduction Robert Frost was born in 1874 in San Francisco, California, which is a surprising fact to many people. Although he lived in small apartments throughout the city during his first 11 years, Frost is more commonly associated with the natural scenes of the New England countryside that is used...

Gender Roles in The Tempest

Gender Roles in The Tempest: Essay Introduction The works of William Shakespeare have received a lot of attention throughout history. His works have been analyzed by themes, line by line, or the characters he invented. His works can be interpreted one way or another, and as such, Shakespeare seems to...

The Corruption of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald

Introduction “The American Dream” is one of U.S. literature’s most popular and cutting-edge themes and a common symbol of American prose and poetry. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a vivid example of a literary work that explores the American dream, its corruption through materialism, and the...

John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud” Poem Analysis

John Donne is often considered as one of the most remarkable literary figures of the Elizabethan age. ‘Death Be Not Proud’ is regarded as his most widely accepted religious poem. A closer examination and analysis of his religious poems reveals that Donne broke away from the conventional Elizabethan traditions and...

The Failure of American Dream in Death of a Salesman

‘Death of a salesman, written by Arthur Miller portrays the real life of a typical American middle-class man who dedicates most part of his life to a private company. The central character in the play, Willy Loman, and his wife fail to understand the real pulse of society. He is...

The Themes and Relevance of Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” Short Story

Introduction Connell’s classic short story, The Most Dangerous Game, is a gripping account of the perils people play. The story follows Rainsford, a hunter who abandons his planned hunting trip and ends up shipwrecked on an island home to General Zaroff – an insane man who hunts humans for sport....

Postcolonialism and Poetry: “Civilization” by Oodgeroo Noonuccal

The world continuously changes, and the reality existing today differs from the past significantly. However, this past was the main factor that impacted the evolution of society and its acquisition of specific features and shapes that can be seen nowadays. All events, choices, and policies of previous epochs imprint on...

“I Stand Here Writing” by Nancy Sommers

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

Light and Dark Imagery in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”

Joseph Conrad, a Polish writer, was born in the Polish part of Ukraine, in the epoch of imperialism. Most of his writings clearly highlight these issues as well as the bridge between Victorian values and the most progressive modernist ideas. Although the main characters of “Heart of Darkness’ face a...

Absurdity in “The Metamorphosis” and “The Stranger”

Just like The Metamorphosis by Kafka, The Stranger by Camus is characterized by existentialism, humanity, and alienation. Learn about absurdity in The Metamorphosis and The Stranger from this essay sample. Absurdism in The Metamorphosis and The Stranger: Essay Introduction The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and The Stranger by Albert Camus...

“Night” by Elie Wiesel: Eliezer’s and His Father Relationship

Are you looking for essay examples on Elie Wiesel and his father relationship? Look no further! Here, you’ll find out how their relationship changes throughout the novel. Keep reading to gain some inspiration for your essay on Night by Elie Wiesel.  A change is as good as a rest, and...

Animal Imagery in The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga depicts a metamorphosis of a poor son of a rickshaw, Balram Halwai, into a wealthy entrepreneur. The novel contains a wide range of metaphors and symbols: the images of animals are one of the most popular literary devices used by the author. Animal images...

Why Markus Brutus Is a Tragic Hero

Introduction William Shakespeare doubtlessly is on the list of the world’s greatest tragedy authors; for many his name is the first to associate with this genre. However, due to the depth and multidimensionality of Shakespeare’s creations, it is not necessarily possible to identify a certain character in his play as...

The Analysis of Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare

Introduction The chosen poem for the current work is Sonnet 18 written by William Shakespeare, and it was first published after the death of the author in 1609. The cultural context around the composition is enigmatic since there is no particular person to whom the poem is devoted. Some scholars...

Allegory in “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Faith is Goodman Brown’s young wife; they have been married for three months. She is believed to symbolize his spiritual faith, and her pink ribbons are mentioned by the author as a symbol of her innocence. At the end of the story, when Goodman comes back to the village, he...

What Is a Definition of “Hero”?

Introduction The word “hero” is associated with different views and definitions. The application of this word in various situations or settings is a practice that many people pursue without thinking deeply or analytically. Fictional stories and fairly tales are known to portray courageous individuals or characters who manage to overcome...

Crisis of Masculinity in Hamlet

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is among the most famous works of William Shakespeare. Written between 1599 and 1601, it focuses on the story of Prince Hamlet, who struggles after losing his father, King Hamlet. The work has been heavily studied by literary critics and scholars because it...

How Tennessee Williams’s Life Influenced His Work

Introduction Tennessee Williams is considered one of the most successful American playwrights of the mid-1900s. Ben Brantley’s summary on ‘A Century of American Theatre’ states that “by the mid- 1950s, “the burden of American drama rested mostly on the shoulders of two men, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller.” In the...

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee: Feminism and Gender Prejudice

Introduction Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird explores the racism and racial prejudice that negatively affected the black community and the Justice System in Maycomb. A wide range of key elements of gender criticism can be observed in the literature, where the whole notion of gender is demonstrated to...

Reality vs. Illusions: Death of a Salesman Analysis Essay

Introduction Death of a Salesman takes place in 1949, four years after World War II has ended. America is enjoying a postwar economic boom, but the war has caused a shake-up in American society, changing the way people view business, leisure, themselves, and others, making the American way of life...

Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis

“Death of a Salesman” is one of the most significant works by Arthur Miller. In this play, Miller concentrates on the life of the middle class people-presented through the Loman family. The play is basically drawn by the conflicts between its protagonists. Biff and Happy are the two siblings in...

Quotes from “Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie

“Inside our house, each family member existed as a separate paragraph, but still had genetics and common experiences to link us.” When Sherman Alexie began to learn reading, he discovered the usage of paragraphs in writing. He understood that it was “a fence that held words…that worked together for a...

Ophelia and Gertrude in Hamlet by Shakespeare: A Comparative Analysis

Introduction Composed by William Shakespeare circa 1600, “Hamlet” is a tragedy that delves into friendship, madness, and revenge themes. This article comprehensively explores Ophelia and Gertrude in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” It will do so by conducting a meticulous examination of their respective characters and an analysis of pertinent passages from the...

“They Shut Me Up in Prose” Poem by Emily Dickinson

In the poem, “They Shut Me Up In Prose,” Emily Dickinson speaks to the idea that the forces and powers that push to confine and hold can bring out freedom for ourselves instead. The main theme is overcoming originality or the concept that creativity will prevail despite limitations imposed by...

English Enlightenment Through the Perspectives of Defoe and Swift

The Age of Enlightenment occurring in the 17th and 18th century England and Europe remains one of the most prominent periods of history and development in human civilization. This period was chosen along with the respective works and their authors because of the changes that occurred in the literary space...

Shakespeare’s “King Lear” Play: A Long Analysis

Introduction The works by William Shakespeare are characterized by tragic humanism and both internal and external conflicts. His plays can be considered the pinnacle of the evolution of English drama that significantly influenced the development of world literature and culture. In this regard, Shakespeare’s King Lear embodies the main attributes...

“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe Through a Psychological Lens

Introduction Literature is a unique kind of art that has always been used by people for various purposes. It helps authors to discuss particular ideas and emotions or attract the public attention to a particular issue. In most cases, texts touch upon eternal concepts, such as love, hatred, or relations...

“A Rose for Emily”: The Plot Analysis

“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner is a mysterious and exciting story that tells about the life of a woman who, at first glance seems unremarkable, but is fraught with the mystery of the murder. Although the story’s events seem to be presented in chronological order, some digressions and...

Three Little Pigs: Analysis of Three Different Versions

The story about the three little pigs is a very popular story that served as a basis for numerous fairy tales created all around the world in different languages, and the most varied interpretations. Its value is hard to be underestimated as it teaches a lot of important lessons concerning...

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Jo and Amy’s Analysis

Summary The novel Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott, illustrates the struggles, difficulties, and characteristics that influence the lives of young women in society. Two characters that have been illustrated as ambitious and persuasive yet struggling to fit into the norm of society at the time are Jo and...

Houyhnhnms and Yahoos in Gulliver’s Travels by Swift

The Houyhnhnms say that the Yahoos, a name given to us by them, are savages, animals who lead useless lives. They teach that the Houyhnhnms are the masters, and they train us, send us away, or keep us near to work for them, picking crops and eating wild animals and...

“The Myth of the Latin Woman” by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Your Last Name “The Myth of the Latin Woman” is a memoir essay written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, and it reveals the challenges Hispanic women have to go through due to their identity. The author recalls her own childhood while describing how different life was for her compared to the...

“Lineage” by Margaret Walker

Margaret Walker was an African American poet and writer who wrote on a level comparable to such well-known names as yesterday’s Langston Hughes or today’s Gwendolyn Brooks, but her name is often not recognized outside of academic circles. Coming out of the oppressed South into the North for her university...

Contrast of the Blake’s Poems “Infant Joy” and “Infant Sorrow”

Introduction The poems by William Blake are vital for their contrasting value. The features in such small poems which are described in the Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience correspond directly to live. Two poems from these compilations are Infant Joy and Infant Sorrow respectively. These poems are under...

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: What Does the Title Mean?

“Pride” and “Prejudice” are both depicted as qualities that each character needs in proper balance. “Pride” and “Prejudice,” are potentially dangerous qualities that Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet must overcome or avoid if they are to build a successful life together. Although Mr Darcy is often referred to in the...

Totto-Chan’s The Young Girl at the Window: Japanese Culture and Learning Through Curiosity

Author Background Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s outstanding autobiography, The Young Girl at the Window, vividly describes the author’s journey from early life to adulthood. The author of this captivating story, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, is followed as she reflects on her school years and navigates transitions while coping with the pressure to succeed academically....

The Short Story “The Mortal Immortal” by Mary Shelley

Introduction In the short story “The Mortal Immortal” Mary Shelley talks about the burden of immortality on the example of a young man Winzy, who accidentally drank the elixir that gives eternal life. The protagonist, driven by the desire to marry his beloved, works for the scientist Cornelius Agrippa, who...

Critical Analysis of “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

Introduction The man’s endeavors to get by in the unpleasant cold and his dog’s simple surrender show nature’s indifference in light of human misery. In To Build a Fire, London utilizes literary devices such as symbolism, setting, and character portrayal to make the topic of the work through the formalist...

Monologues in “Things I Know to Be True” by Bovell

“Things I Know to be True” is a family drama written by Australian author Andrew Bovell. Geordie Brookman and Scott Graham staged the play and showed it in the UK and the USA, where it became a success. An abundance of literary and dramatic devices, as well as special effects,...

Homer’s Portrayal of the Gods in The Iliad

Introduction The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer. It seems to have originated based on legends about the Trojan War, and the main character of the poem is Achilles. Dramatic pictures of war, fights of heroes alternate with pictures of peaceful life and with scenes of...

“Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children” by E. Taylor

Edward Taylor’s poem ‘Upon wedlock and death of children’ shows the poet’s grief after losing his children. Apparently, the piece was written for personal use only, considering the emotional attachment he develops in the poem. In the beginning, the poem appears to be happy and uplifting. For instance, the poet...

“My Son the Fanatic” by Hanif Kureishi

Introduction “My Son the Fanatic,” written by Hanif Kureishi, is a short story, which explores the issue of a father-son relationship and the issue of religion and cultural identity. The father, Parvez, is one of the main characters of the story. He is an immigrant from Pakistan, living in London,...

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

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

Conflict in “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings” by Márquez

Introduction The concept of conflict in literature denotes the ideological confrontation of the sublime and the low, good and evil. In general terms, a conflict in a literary work is a struggle of opposing forces: multiple heroes, the central character of the work and nature, or the hero with oneself....

Loyalty as a Source of Tragedy in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”

Introduction Being a thematically intricate and unbelievably nuanced work, Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” incorporates a plethora of ideas. However, of all concepts that the play embraces, the one of loyalty seems to be particularly persistent and ubiquitous throughout the narrative. Although vengeance and the corruption of power are usually regarded as the...

Women in Voltaire’s “Candide“ & Moliere’s “Tartuffe“

Introduction Gender inequality and patriarchy are common societal characteristics in human history, problems that were well-established in social norms in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when Moliere and Voltaire wrote Tartuffe and Candide, respectively. In Tartuffe, Moliere highlights the patriarchal hierarchy and the subservient nature of women in French society...

Literary Analysis of “The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich

Louise Erdrich received the wide critical acclaim of her literary works alongside with the popularity among ordinary readers. Her first novel Love Medicine, published in 1989, depicted the lives of the Native Americans of Chippewa tribe on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. The significance of the book is defined by...

The Play “Blood Relation” by Sharon Pollock

Introduction Blood relation is an epic play that revolves around the life of Lizzy Borden. Lizzy is perceived to have killed her parents in an unpredictable maze of circumstances that Pollock (the playwright) explains were beyond her (Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia 2). This paper analyzes blood relations by responding to its...

“The Wind-Up Bird and Tuesday’s Women” by Haruki Murakami

Introduction The story’s central themes are the routine and monotony of human life, conveyed through the narrator’s behavior and symbols. The plot does not describe extraordinary events or essential incidents. The story’s primary focus is to describe the thoughts, relationships, and perceptions of the main character’s life. Thus, monotony is...

Dahl’s “Lamb to the Slaughter” Story and Hitchcock’s Film

Introduction It is quite common for initial literary works and their further film adaptations to have a number of differences in plots and characters’ behaviors. Such a situation refers to the short story “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl and the short film Lamb to the Slaughter by Alfred...

The Revenge Theme in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play driven by revenge, with many of the main characters falling victim to it. There is no denying that revenge is a powerful feeling that can completely dominate and destroy a human’s life. One of the most common justifications for revenge is the pursuit of justice...

Analysis of “A Fixed Income” and “Valediction” by Sherman Alexie

The two stories selected for the discussion are “A Fixed Income” and “Valediction”. A “Fixed Income” highlights the plight of minorities in the United States through Sherman’s experience at McDonald’s. He explains that most of the employees at the restaurant are blacks and Latinos. Moreover, these workers are college graduates...

Analysis of the Short Story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

Introduction The Necklace is a philosophical short story by Guy De Maupassant written in the third person limited point of view. The story narrates the life of a charming yet over-ambitious woman, Mathilde Loiselle. The poorness of Mathilde’s home and clothes brings her sadness, anguish, despair, and intense disappointment for...

“Harrison Bergeron”: The Fear of Socialism

“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut is a short dystopian story that explores the notion of equality. However, the author takes the dystopian genre to an extreme length by portraying all the characters as handicapped, which makes no one superior in this piece. Overall, as “Harrison Bergeron” is based on a...

Analysis of Identity Dilemmas in “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu

Introduction From a cultural standpoint, the problem of self-identity has established several controversies. Culture shapes how and if people prioritize such characteristics as modesty, personality, courtesy, and confidence. On the other hand, identity, as a common phrase, refers to one’s concept of self that stems from any type of ownership...

The Role of Women in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”

Introduction In Arthurian literature, women certainly played important roles. They repeatedly and constantly prejudiced the protagonists of such stories in countless ways and also held a strong sway over the occurrences in the story and, accordingly, over the story line as well. In her work, To the Glory of Her...

Portrayal of Racism in Forster’s ‘a Passage to India’

Outline The following paper discusses portrayal of racism in ‘passage to India’ by bringing the relationship between the concept of racism and the contents of the novel. The analysis focuses to establish whether the content of the novel establishes at any point either resistance to racism, or it submits to...

“Paradise Lost” by John Milton

Paradise Lost is an epic poem written by John Milton which discloses the well-known biblical story of Adam and Eve. This book was originally written in 1667 in 10 books. There were a lot of authors who created their works based on this masterpiece and they reflected their vision of...

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...

Female Authors: Struggles and Contributions

Introduction Historically, writing, authorship, and scholarship was a male-dominated field, something that continues to persist this very day. For generations, it was men that were writers, defining history, culture, and literature. Until the 20th century, it was very uncommon for women to be writers, especially recognized as professionals in this...

“Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior” by Panttaja

Introduction Modern advances in psychology allow us to take a fresh look at fairy tales known to everyone from childhood, finding new meanings and interpretations that differ from the usual ones. The moral of the story is much more contradictory, complex, and ambiguous than the usual interpretation. In the article...

The Chapter “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan

“A Pair of Tickets” is the final chapter of Amy Tan’s book The Joy Luck Club in which the author shows readers the importance of self-identification and reunion. This chapter is a reflection of the personal experience of Amy Tan, who, like Jing-Mei Woo, an immigrant girl who traveled to...

Sentiments in “Windsor Forest” Poem by Alexander Pope

Introduction Alexander Pope is one of the most renowned British poets who glorified his native land and his people. He is specifically famous for the use of heroic themes and imagery that made his works successful during his lifetime and still popular in modern times (Fairer and Gerrard 114). One...

The Theme of Nature in Mary Oliver’s “August”

The “August” is a poem included in Oliver’s third collection, American Primitive. In this collection, we see the author entering the perspective of an “Other”, following the Native American beliefs. In this collection, Oliver can be seen doing the narration by transforming into other life forms, usually an animal. This...

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

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

Oedipus and Hamlet: To Be Resilient, or Not to Be?

Introduction A famous quote attributed to Confucius says, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall,” and teaches people the main principle of resilience against all obstacles and struggles. Being resilient means keeping a positive outlook on life, never giving up, and carrying...

Pride of Oedipus in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

Oedipus is the main character of Sophocles’ tragedy titled Oedipus Rex, a book recognized as one of the most important in Ancient Greece. Oedipus is a complex character who has both virtues and negative traits, one of which is “hubris,” the Greek word for pride. Eventually, hubris expressed by Oedipus,...

When I Die by Merritt Malloy: A Poem Analysis

Merritt Malloy is an American poet whose works have been recognized by many people and even become considered legendary. She is the author of an epitaph poem called When I Die. The epitaph means that the work was written in honor of the memory of someone who once died. In...

“How I Met My Husband” Narrative by Alice Munro

Introduction How I Met My Husband is a short story by Alice Munro published in her collection Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You in 1974. The short story was written to show various contemporary issues that happen in marriage, relationships, and common points of interaction such as work (Kumar...

The Story “The King of the Bingo Game” by Ralph Ellison

In “The King of the Bingo Game,” Ralph Ellison presents an unnamed protagonist, an African American man, whose life is characterized by economic and social struggles. In particular, the black man makes tireless efforts to survive, while at the same time, seeking recognition in an environment that is hostile to...

Margaret Atwood’s and Gloria Steinem’s Views on Pornography Comparison

Introduction The role of pornography in modern society should be considered as the topic for debate because of the controversial nature of this subject. Women’s ideas regarding the concept of pornography are important to examine and discuss in detail because of the prevalence of males’ views in this field. In...

Feminism in “The Mill on the Floss” by George Eliot

George Eliot, as a moralist emphasizes what makes a woman, an object of sympathy while keeping in a traditional line of interpretation, and this is what has made Eliot to be considered among the greatest creators of woman characters. The Mill on the Floss (1860) tells the story of a...

“Jason Who Will Be Famous” by Dorothy Allison

The story under the title “Jason Who Will Be Famous” was created by Dorothy Allison, a feminist writer whose primary topics of interest are poverty and abuse. The theme of this narrative, as the title implies, is a dream of fame. However, Jason, the main character, does not anticipate his...

Xenia Hospitality in Iliad and Odyssey by Homer

Introduction According to the Greek culture, Xenia is an ancient concept of friendship and hospitality. The ancient culture translates Xenia as an aspect of institutionalized friendship rooted in exchanging gifts, acts of generosity, and reciprocity. Iliad and Odyssey books portray the theme of Xenia throughout the journeys. Acts of generosity...

The Poem “The United Fruit Company” by Pablo Neruda

Worker rights are a contemporary issue whose depth and importance were similarly relevant in previous centuries. Pablo Neruda utilizes his poem, ‘The United Fruit Company; to satirize the actions of Latin American leaders in the twentieth century, specifically as they associate with foreign international corporations. Their suppressive actions favoring imperialistic...

Betrayal and Deceit as Depicted in the Play “Julius Caesar” by Shakespeare

In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the tale is built on a foundation of betrayal and deceit. There are several instances throughout the play in which significant characters are either directly involved or are the victims of enormous betrayals. The most atrocious acts of treachery and dishonesty are...

“Celia’s Song” by Lee Maracle: Analysis of Novel

The manner in which the women organized in the face of adversity is highly descriptive of their character. Upon hearing the abominable news about Shelley, Momma was able to keep herself as cold-headed as possible in such a situation. This inspired a similar state of mind in other women: despite...

“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara

Introduction “The Lesson” is a short story written by Toni Cade Bambara in 1972. It narrates a story of a woman, Miss Moore, trying to tell a group of children from a poor neighborhood in New York about the problems of American capitalism, which makes people unequal. The plot is...

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

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

Existentialism in Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”

In Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the titular character leads a life defined by superficiality and conformity, only to confront the emptiness of his existence on his deathbed. Through Ivan’s story, Tolstoy explores existentialist themes of the search for authenticity and the human condition. As Jean Wahl notes...

The Role and Significance of Women in “Beowulf”

Introduction Beowulf is a poetic text in English literature depicting the events of a heroic man in the 6th century. Beowulf primarily focuses on the heroic deeds of male characters. The poet characterizes male heroism with courage, strength, loyalty, and generosity. However, in-between the lines, the plot has female characters...

“Lottery” by Shirley Jackson: Marxist Criticism, Characters, Style, and Tone

Literary Criticism In this part of the literate, the paper will analyze Marxist criticism. Marxism focuses on social institutions, class, and the social orders in society. The story of the lottery attacks ideology and social order in the town. Based on the Marxism concept, the story reinforces fear in the...

“The Red Dress” by Alice Munroe

Introduction “The Red Dress” is a short story by Alice Munroe, published in 1946. The tale is told from the point of view of a young girl who goes to high school and lives with her mother, who sews outfits for her daughter. The purpose of this paper is to...

An Analysis of “Tragedy Oedipus the King” by Sophocles

Introduction Poets of ancient Greece laid the foundation for the development of drama. In this regard, the tragedy Oedipus the King is a prominent exemplar of ancient Greece’s literature, which is considered by many scholars and critics as the summit of Sophocles’ attainments. The play poses one of the most...

Paper Books and E-Books in the Modern Society

Introduction During the recent years, the opposition between paper books and e-books has become quite topical. Numerous people nowadays argue about whether it is more comfortable to use a printed book or a digital device for reading. Although an increasing number of people choose e-books over paper ones, printed editions...

“Blackberries” by Ellen Hunnicutt and “Blackberries” by Leslie Norris – Comparison

The same title ‘Blackberries’ combines two stories written by Ellen Hunnicutt and Leslie Norris. The mention of berries is not accidental because the image of the berries goes through each story. The following essay will be devoted to comparison of these stories and finding the differences and similarities between them....

“Because I Could Not Stop For Death” by Emily Dickinson Poem Analysis And Explication

Introduction Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death’ expresses the writer’s perception of death. The writer focuses mainly on the construct of life after death. The setting of the poem reflects the contexts in which death draws near, and the writer puts these circumstances as genial and...

Comparison: The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad

The attitude towards death in the epic literature symbolizes the wish of people of those epochs to be heroic, ready to sacrifice their lives for the holy aims. Even literature of different epochs represents comparatively similar attitudes towards death. The Epic of Gilgamesh touches upon people’s nature profoundly and still...

“All Shook Up” a Book by Glenn Altschuler

Music can help people in times of trouble; as a soundtrack to their lives, it has the power to change them. In his book All Shook Up: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America, Glenn Altschuler tells a story of how the ‘1950s rock ’n’ roll craze changed the American society...

“To Build a Fire” by Jack London: Human Frailty vs. Nature

Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” is regarded as one of the most brilliant examples of the naturalist movement. London tells a story about a man who freezes to death. The author reveals the idea that humans are too self-assured or naïve if they think they can conquer...

“Birds without a Nest” by Clorinda Matto de Turner Literature Analysis

Clorinda Matto de Turner has recounted the misfortunes that befell the Yapangui family in Killac, Andean, in the late 19th century in her novel, “Birds without a nest: A story of Indian life and priestly oppression in Peru”. Just like the other Indian families, the Yapanguis also have to endure...

Human Nature and Faith in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Introduction: Identifying Universal Themes in the Story In Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” the universal themes of human nature and faith present themselves throughout the narrative. Analyzing the Presence of Two Key Themes The theme of human nature is evident in how the villagers treat...

Roald Dahl’s “Lamb to the Slaughter”: The Character of Mary

Is Mary a Good Spouse? At the beginning of the story, Mary has that plume of the perfect wife waiting dutifully for her husband. She looks at her watch to “delight herself with the thought that with every passing minute, the time is approaching when he will come” (Dahl 1)....

Feminism in “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott

Abstract This essay focuses on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women as a feminist novel and explores the representations of feminisms in the text. First, I argue Little Women is a novel that presents writing as feminist practice from a Künstlerroman perspective, which highlights Jo March’s subversive feminism in the time....

Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’ – Cultural Conflict and Family Bonds

When Dee, an intelligent young African-American woman, visits her childhood home in the Deep South, the story’s first-person narrator, Mama, explains her relationship with Dee. As Maggie and Mama, Dee’s sister and Mama’s younger daughter, get ready for the visit, the story begins. Maggie dresses into a new outfit as...

“How Wang-Fo Was Saved” by Marguerite Yourcenar

Introduction In the story “How Wang-Fo Was Saved,” Marguerite Yourcenar addresses the nature of beauty and truth. He tells the story of a Chinese artist, Wang-Fo, who was imprisoned and later saved by a kindhearted monk. Wang-Fo’s experience in prison changed him profoundly; he came to realize that his obsession...

“Paper Menagerie” Stories Book by Ken Liu

Ken Liu’s paper titled Paper Menagerie has employed different themes in its story. It has deployed the theme of connection, resentment, culture, prejudice, love, and struggles. Resentment is clearly shown when Jack, who is happy in his childhood, tries to reject his tradition and embrace the American lifestyle immediately; he...

“The Lottery” a Short Story by Shirley Jackson

For the success of the writer’s intention, a number of literary devices play a decisive role. One of those devices is the narrative point of view, a term used to define the perspective, or the point from which the narrator of the literary piece views everything that takes place in...

Time and Immortality in Shakespeare’s Sonnets: An Analysis of Sonnets 60, 64, and 65

Introduction Time plays a significant role in the literary works of William Shakespeare. On the one hand, it is a notion that impacts the characters within the plays, while on the other hand, it affects the world through much deeper processes. The Shakespearean sonnets are particularly important when examining the...

Symbols and Themes in “The Things They Carried”

Introduction “The Things They Carried” is a collection of short stories written by Tim O’Brien. Through storytelling, O’Brien addresses the themes of war, memories, and redemption. The story itself is based on O’Brien’s recollections of his experience serving in the army during the Vietnam War (1). The author describes the...

Theme of Money in “A Doll’s House” by Ibsen

Introduction The play entitled A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen, shows a few days of the life of one married couple: Nora and Torvald Helmer. Several themes can be identified in this play, including love and marriage, deceit, gender roles, reputation, and money. This paper will focus on the...

“To Build a Fire” by Jack London: Analysis

Introduction Literary works provide different perspectives on various aspects of life. For instance, Jack London’s short story To Build a Fire illustrates an individual’s fateful relationship with nature by describing how the main personage perceives the surroundings of his journey. London’s story is unique due to the use of literary...

Relationships in “The Merchant of Venice” by Shakespeare

Introduction The Merchant of Venice is a play written by William Shakespeare during the 16th century. The characters in the play demonstrate virtues of friendship, love, and hate. Shakespeare highlights typical examples of true friendship and romantic love in the play. The theme of love mainly revolves between Bassanio and...

Shelley’s Frankenstein as “The Modern Prometheus”

“Frankenstein,” Mary Shelley’s famous novel, which she wrote when she was just eighteen years old, continues to captivate people all over the world. This narrative still speaks of the present world two centuries after Shelley’s “Frankenstein” first came to life, and its importance cannot be overstated. In Shelley’s work, scientific...

Setting & Themes of Raymond Carver’s “After the Denim”

The short story “After the Denim” begins with an elderly couple Edith and James Packer getting ready to go to bingo. When they get there, they notice that a young couple is sitting in the seats they used to occupy. The Packers have been unlucky that day and James is...

Values in Native American Oral Literature

Literature emerged as a way for people to describe what they held dear and what constituted a significant part of their lives. Many nations developed their art to convey their values and reflect their worldview, and Native Americans were no exception. Indigenous people had established their oral traditions before Europeans...

“The Love of My Life” by T. C. Boyle Critical Analysis

“The Love of My Life” is a fictional story by T. C. Boyle, an American short story writer, and novelist. The narrative presents the dramatic events in the lives of the two young characters, China and Jeremy, whose irresponsible behavior forced them to make a cruel life-changing decision and question...

Ian Mcewan’s Atonement: Structure and Narrative

Introduction Ian McEwan’s Atonement is a novel about the young girl’s tragic mistake, her adult life in the shadow of that mistake, and her attempts at atonement. The author uses a mix of classic and postmodern techniques to make a statement about atonement, the relationship between life and fiction, the...

The Theme of Duality in Literature

The theme of duality is a common topic for many literary works, including Shelly’s Frankenstein, Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The main idea of duality is to underline the worth of opposition that exists in society and human relationships. As a rule,...

Humanism in “Macbeth” and “Romeo and Juliet”

Introduction English Renaissance marks a period in the history of artistic and cultural transformation between the late fifteenth and early seventeenth century. It is linked to the European Renaissance that is considered to begin in Italy at the end of the fourteenth century. The transformation that English society and culture...

The American Dream Concept in “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros

Introduction The House on Mango Street is the novel by Sandra Cisneros, the famous American author with Mexican roots. The plot of the novel is based on such well-known concept in the philosophy as the American dream, which means a strong commitment to achievement of better life and the pursuit...

“Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens

The novel Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens is considered to be one of the most significant and sophisticated works of world literature. The style of the novel is predominantly semi-autobiographical while the author managed to reflect his personal experience and expectations concerning time and people he met. The analysis...

French Revolution and Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”

Charles Dickens is believed to be one of the most prominent writers of the so-called Victorian Era. He is renowned for his style, creation of unique and unforgettable characters, but the overwhelming majority of literary critics focus attention on his social sensitivity because undoubtedly, the authors works often concentrate on...

Harper Lee’s Life and Its Reflection in To Kill a Mockingbird Novel

Introduction Harper Lee, a reclusive American novelist born on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama, is renowned for her seminal work, To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee’s life experiences notably influenced the themes and characters of her masterpiece, which stands as a poignant reflection of the societal injustices prevalent during her...

“The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke: Poem Analysis

The poem The Soldier was written by Rupert Brooke in 1914 to communicate his thoughts and emotions at the beginning of the First World War. In this idealistic poem, the poet paints a picture of patriotism for England as the country that nurtured him. It is a sonnet that contemplates...

Women in Literature

The History and Importance of Women’s Literature Literature was one of many spheres in which women were a minority in representation in the 17th century. The tradition of women’s literature was ignored by society for centuries. Women writers were not considered profound creators. Their novels were perceived with significant opposition....

The Short Story “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin

Introduction Tom Godwin’s “The Cold Equations,” initially published in August 1954, is a widely distributed, contentious, and oft-reprinted work of science fiction. Science fiction is often defined as the literature of ideas, but the ideas behind “The Cold Equations” depend on one’s assumptions about the genre. If one approaches the...

Feminism in “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath

Introduction The Bell Jar is an autobiographical novel by Sylvia Plath, published in 1963. The prototype of the main character is Plath herself, who reflects on her experience of being married to Ted Hughes and her way as a female writer. The novel, which tells the story of nineteen-year-old Esther...

Dreams of Indigenous People in The Marrow Thieves Novel by Dimaline

Introduction The novel, The Marrow Thieves, was authored by Cherie Dimaline and published by Cormorant Books Incorporated on April 15th, 2017. The story focuses on a bleak future in Canada in which most people are no longer able to dream, and indigenous romantics have to escape their routine. The antagonist,...