The Play “The Taming of the Shrew” by Shakespeare

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...

Loss of Sense of Reality in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”

Introduction Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper is a haunting first-person narrative that tells a story of a twenty-six-year-old woman who is suffering with postpartum depression. The storyline is relatively simple: a nameless woman is put in an attic of an isolated country mansion by her physician husband to help her...

Richard Cory by Robinson and Death, Be Not Proud by Donne

The essay will compare two poems, namely “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson and “Death, be not proud” by John Donne. Mays (2019) suggests that poetry varies as much as the individuals who create and interpret themes. Essentially, the theme selected for the analysis is identity position. The poems’ genre...

The Short Story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara

Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” is a short story, written in 1972 and published as a part of a collection called “Gorilla, My Love”. The story is told from the point of view of a black girl in a poor neighborhood. The story touches on the themes of childhood, social...

The Novel “Emma” by Jane Austen

Introduction Jane Austen’s book titled Emma is a novel focusing on romantic misunderstandings and youthful hubris. Initially published in 1815, the book entails events in the fictional Highbury country village that explores the difficulties and concerns of women during Georgian-Regency England. The book is a comedy that highlights social status,...

Medieval Life Through “The Canterbury Tales” Characters by Chaucer

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...

Gulliver’s Travels by Swift: A Literary Analysis

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

Love in Traditional and Modern Literary Works

Love is a popular theme in literary works because it has attracted writers and poets since ancient times. As a rule, in their works, authors reflect the ideals of love prevalent in their contemporary societies. Therefore, as society changes, so do its views of love and its representation in literature....

Exploring Monstrosity in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

Introduction Some of the notions that people have always tried to define are good and bad. For example, when thinking about what can be associated with good things, words like kindness, care, and generosity come to mind. And when thinking about bad things, the word monster comes to mind. However,...

The Story “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison

In the story “Recitatif,” written by Toni Morrison, the audience has to make an assumption on the main characters’ race and class while having limited information for it. However, when one of the girls, Twyla, reflects on their differences, in the beginning, she mentions that it is typical for people...

“One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia

Introduction The historical fiction novel One Crazy Summer, written by Williams-Garcia, touches upon the topics of racial discrimination in America. The author provides the readers with the opportunity to learn about changing social times and how people in different states of America experienced racism. The novel also discusses the Black...

Money and Wealth in Paul’s Case by Cather

“Paul’s Case” One of the main themes in “Paul’s Case” story is money and wealth. The author describes the protagonist as a representative of the middle class. However, the social and economic situation does not suit Paul, and he wants more. At the same time, Paul’s neighbors are townspeople, those...

Atmosphere of “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

Introduction James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues” makes a reader thoughtful of the major issues many people have to face in their lives. Family, challenges, failure, recovery, and every person’s stamina are addressed in this literary piece. Due to the limits of the form, the author has to choose every...

Symbolism and Morality in Hawthorne’s ‘Young Goodman Brown’

Symbolism in the story The introduction of symbols throughout the story is a literary technique frequently used by various authors. By incorporating particular signs and objects into the surrounding environment, it becomes possible to allude to specific details that specify the characters’ traits or their behavior, leading to a better...

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

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

“Sonny’s Blues and Sticks” by James Baldwin

Sonny’s Blues and Sticks are interesting stories that move a lot of audiences across the world. Although different authors wrote them at different times, their narrations have numerous similarities though there are also evident differences. Sonny’s Blues is a personal narration that describes the challenges experienced in a family. The...

Themes in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ Short Story by Gilman

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...

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

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

Analysis of Rachel Pemberton in “Adeline Mowbray”

Rachel Pemberton appears in Adeline Mowbray as a strong female character, Quaker minister, and a devoted teacher providing intellectual education and spiritual guidance for Adeline, a vulnerable victim of social protest and emotionally abusive parenting. Minor characters like Mrs. Pemberton contribute their lessons of modern life to the nineteenth-century novel,...

“Their Eyes Were Watching God”: Story Analysis

Introduction “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a story by Zora Neale Hurston that captures the essence of society’s impact on relationships. Gender roles and identities define how individuals conceptualize love. Behavioral expectations and societal norms affect people’s worldviews and determine how they relate to each other. People’s perception of...

The Central Theme in “The Open Boat” by Crane

Introduction The Open Boat by Stephen Crane is an endurance tale about four people who have survived a disaster and are now working as a team to locate any piece of land they can discover while only traveling in a tiny boat on the ocean. Nature is on their tail,...

Gender Norms in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

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

“One-Dimensional Man” by Herbert Marcuse

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...

“The Pomegranate Seeds” Story by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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

Feminism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman

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...

“Free Ham” by Bertino Marie-Helene

It is almost scary how people—in everything they do—are driven by hidden motivations inside them of which they are not even aware. The unconscious—the pivotal concept in psychoanalysis—is comprised of repressed feelings that shape people’s behaviors; specifically; dysfunctional behaviors. The story by Bettino titled “Free Ham” provides a lot of...

National Identity in “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri

In different cultures, there are many beliefs connected with names. It is believed that a name given to a newborn child, to a large extent, predetermines all his future life. At the same time, an attitude towards a name given to a person is different in various countries. In Western...

“The Kite Runner” a Novel by Khaled Hosseini

Definition of friendship from the novel Friendship is the mutual attachment and mutual affection that people who are friends share. In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, readers can see different levels of friendship. For example, friendships between Baba and his sons, Baba and Khan, Hassan and Amir,...

The Pursuit of Freedom in “Mansfield Park” by Jane Austen

Jane Austen authored several novels in the course of her literary career but “Mansfield Park” is by far her most relevant work of literature. One critic observes that most of Austen’s books are characteristically “vulgar in tone, sterile in invention, imprisoned in the wretched conventions of English culture, and without...

“The Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison

Introduction The Song of Solomon is a novel by Toni Morrison that tells the story of Macon “Milkman” Dead III, a young African-American man growing up in Michigan in the mid-20th century. The book follows Milkman’s journey as he discovers his family history, explores his own identity, and grapples with...

Fear and Guilt in Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart Story

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...

Rhetorical Devices in “The Monkey’s Paw” by Jacobs

“The Monkey’s Paw” is a short and famous horror story written by William Wymark Jacobs. Thus, foreshadowing is one of the stylistic devices the author employs to create a unique atmosphere in the text. For instance, Sergeant-Major Morris says the paw’s first owner wished for death (Jacobs, 1902). This fact...

Gilgamesh and Homer’s Achilles as Epic Heroes

In many aspects, Gilgamesh and Homer’s Achilles, the main figure of the Iliad, are similar. Achilles is a demigod, like Gilgamesh, born of the goddess Thetis and the human Peleus (Homer 10). Hector, the Trojan prince, is defeated by him in single combat, demonstrating his strength and combat prowess. Additionally,...

Symbolism in “Young Goodman Brown” by Hawthorne

The use of symbols by Nathaniel Hawthorne in “Young Goodman Brown” highlights his disapproval of the Puritan religion and the hypocrisy of its adherents. This paper examines how Hawthorne uses symbolism in the narrative and how much he criticizes the Puritan church for its hypocrisy and perversion of faith. Hawthorne...

“The Library of Babel” by Jorge Luis Borges

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

Irony at the End of The Story of an Hour

Introduction One of the primary elements of The Story of an Hour, written by Kate Chopin, that has not only made the short story popular but also has highlighted an important metaphor is the ending. Namely, after the joy Mrs. Mallard feels when finding out about her husband’s death, she...

Plato’s Sixth Book of Republic: Divided Line

Introduction Plato’s sixth book of Republic describes the philosophy of the Divided Line. His allegory divides the world into two unequal parts: visible and intelligible. These categories are divided further into two, thus creating a line of the world containing four sections. While the first realm consists of images and...

Resilience: “Legends Are Made, Not Born”

Introduction Resilience is the capacity to bear and overcome difficulties in one’s life. Every individual is faced with challenges on their path, be it the loss of their loved ones, interpersonal struggles, or an inability to function within their society. Discussion Resilience is a quality and an ability that helps...

Cultural Perspectives in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”

Introduction Things Fall Apart is a novel that depicts the traditional life of Nigerians in the pre-colonial eastern part of the country. People living in the villages of Umuofia and Mbanta have self-government and a developed system of communication, relationships, and values. The author Chinua Achebe depicts the arrival of...

“Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams: Analysis

The attachment to illusion and their inability to embrace reality is reiterated in every character in “Glass Menagerie.” Among the three leading ones, the propensity toward wishful thinking and the inability to meet reality is particularly distinctively emphasized in Amanda. Remarkably, her version of an illusion is substantially different form...

Michel de Montaigne’s Wisdom in Essays

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...

The My Mother’s Secret Novel by J. L. Witterick

Introduction My Mother’s Secret is a fiction novel based on a true story during the Second World War when the Germans invaded Poland. The story involves two families saved from Nazi brutality by a brave woman and her daughter. Franciszka and her daughter Helena lived a simple life, minding their...

The Novel “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald

In Chapter 1, “Gender, melancholy, and the whiteness of impersonal form in The Great Gatsby,” Greg Forter observes two main points. The first is that Fitzgerald’s feminine expressiveness is connected to Gatsby’s creative responsiveness. However, the author also finds a connection between Gatsby’s ethnicity and Fitzgerald’s ethnicity (Forter 51). At...

Carnival, Memory, Identity & The Dragon Can’t Dance by E.Lovelace Review

According to the Russian theorist Mikhail Bahktin, a specific type of holiday is optional in all historical festivities. The most crucial is an emerging force preserved in it and contributes to the flight from the capture of “official culture,” such as the state, the church, or other suppressive systems. In...

Writing Style of Amy Tan in “Mother Tongue”

Introduction It is important to note that the author uses the strategies of logos, ethos, pathos, and kairos to convince the reader of the arguments in the essay. At the beginning of the essay, the author uses ethos because she immediately states that she is not a researcher of the...

“Ordinary Men” by Christopher R. Browning: Analysis

Introduction Ordinary Men, written by Christopher R. Browning, is a book about actual past events. It is a story about Reserve Police Battalion 101 of the German Order Police, responsible for round-ups and mass extermination of Jewish people. Peer pressure and obedience to authority are the most well-known reasons for...

Arguments in the “Fortress America” Book by May

Introduction Fear has been an influential factor in America throughout its history and has manifested itself in a variety of ways. Fear may have never been more pervasive than during the tremendous political, social, and cultural transformations that followed World War II (Spears). Fears of atomic attack, communist subversion, crime,...

Critical Thinking Applied to Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Proponents of the chaos theory hold that despite the randomness of any action, there is an organized pattern behind them. Consequently, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk gives a story of a narrator who is seemingly trapped in an apparent disordered series of domino effects. As he moves from a corporate...

Madness of Ophelia in “Hamlet” by Shakespeare

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...

The Role and Impact of Gertrude in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”

Introduction Gertrude is the mother of the protagonist of the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. She is the widow of King Hamlet of Denmark, the protagonist’s father, and the new wife of Claudius, the new king, brother, and murderer of the protagonist’s father. Her role in the work is significant...

The “Candide” Work by Voltaire: A Close Analysis

The actions of Candide can be explained by underlying aspects of his devotion to Pangloss. Although not apparent in the story, this essay will demonstrate that what Pangloss tells Candide shapes his worldview and behavior. When Candide first meets Pangloss, he stays with his German uncle; it could be said...

The Goal Book by Eliyahu Goldratt

Introduction The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement was published in 1984 by Eliyahu Goldratt, with the latest edition being released in 2004. Goldratt uses the story to explain the interrelated management concepts essential in strategic planning and operation management. Alex Rogo is the protagonist in the story, as it...

Mrs. Mallard in “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin penned the short story “Story of an Hour” in 1891. The story’s protagonist is Mrs. Louise Mallard, diagnosed with heart illness after learning that her husband, Brently Mallard, perished in a train accident. Even though Mrs. Mallard finally dies from her sickness, her character growth throughout the narrative...

Compare and Contrast Essay: Magical Realism

One of the most popular genres of fiction is magical realism. Magical realism is an artistic method in which supernatural elements are incorporated into a realistic world picture. A striking example of the works of this genre is the works of Nikolai Gogol, The Nose and Mikhail Bulgakov Master and...

A Comparison of the Poem “Beowulf” With the Screenplay

Introduction The Old English poem “Beowulf” is a monument of late origin. Radical reinterpretations of the story include Robert Zemeckis’ feature film, Beowulf. This film does not claim complete plot similarity to the original narrative but is a new work based on the famous epic poem. The film and the...

The “A Separate Peace” Novel by John Knowles

A Separate Peace (1959) novel tells the story of a teenage student’s maturing at a preparatory school during World War II. In this context, the novel’s setting and plot were greatly influenced by the author’s (John Knowles) personal experiences at Phillips Exeter Academy, where book and the author’s real life...

The Key to “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell

The Primary Message of the Story Susan Glaspell’s story, A Jury of Her Peers, explores a mysterious murder in Dickson County. The short story illustrates gender roles and their significance in the twentieth century, with Martha Hale as the lead character in the novel. The primary message communicated in the...

Is Shakespearean Hamlet’s Madness Feigned?

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

Patriarchy and Masculinity in Things Fall Apart by Achebe

Introduction The central theme of Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe is the clash between traditional African society and the innovations brought by British missionaries. However, this opposition is not the only one in the book since the whole story is built on contrasts that allow the reader to understand...

Hemingway’s View in “Hills Like White Elephants”

Ernest Hemingway’s short story Hills like white Elephants was written in 1927. A man and a young woman talk, enjoy a drink and gaze out across the Ebro Valley as they wait in a Spanish train station. However, each figure in Hills Like White Elephants has hidden messages, ideas, and...

The Main Theme of “The Epic of Gilgamesh”

The Epic of Gilgamesh ponders on the matters of friendship, identity, courage, and pride. Its main character, Gilgamesh, wants to build a legacy for himself at the start of the epic: he wants to perform extraordinary acts so that he can be renowned. This desire pushes him, eventually leading to...

Alienation in the Works of Hemingway and Faulkner

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

The Short Stories “The Cadian Ball” and “The Storm” by Kate Chopin

“The Cadian Ball” is a prequel to the short story “The Storm,” which takes place at a Cajun party made for finding marriage suitors. Calixta is described in “The Cadian Ball” as the most beautiful young woman at the party. Moreover, readers discover her passion for Alcée, who seems the...

Batalla’s “Mexico Profundo” Book Content Analysis

This article talks about the contents of the book Mexico Profundo. The central part of the content is how, during the time of civilization, Mexico made every effort not to change its culture and not become like European or American countries. Under the onslaught of the national system, the indigenous...

Moral Judgment: The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood

Introduction I agree that we must be cautious when passing moral judgment when. Reading the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is accurate in terms of Offred, the Commander, the Commander’s wife and the Angel, when examining the decisions and actions they take. However, universal laws of human morality...

Roald Dahl: Biography Main Points

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...

Gregor’s Behavior in “The Metamorphosis” by Kafka

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a true classic of fiction of the early twentieth century. However, it is underestimated because of the abundance of symbols that many readers do not understand. The novel was written in 1912 and implied as a part of a compilation called Punishments, along with...

A Transformation in “Trifles” Play by Glaspell

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...

Identity Development in Yukio Mishima’s “Sound of Waves”

Introduction The Sound of Waves is a fishing love story in the style of the poem about Daphnis and Chloe. Yukio Mishima focused on the story of noble heroes with strong and invincible characters. Consequently, the novel’s key theme is cognition of oneself and the world around these individuals through...

The Victorian Age Through the Prism of Satire

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...

Orientalism and Perception of 1001 Nights Stories

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...

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King Analysis

Introduction Greek poets set the groundwork for dramatic literature. Scholars and critics alike believe Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus the King to be the pinnacle of his achievements as a writer in ancient Greece. A crucial and divisive issue in Sophocles’ day is explored in the play: The Gods’ will versus man’s...

Lightman’s “Great Clock and Temple of Time” Chapter

Human lives are inextricably linked with time measurement – people count their age, daily routine, and separate seasons and days. The chapter from Lightman’s (1993) Einstein’s dreams, dated June 18, 1905, devoted to the Great Clock and Temple of Time, raises the question of how measuring time changes human perception....

“The Cask of Amontillado” Analysis

“The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It narrates the tale of Montresor, a man who takes revenge on his friend, Fortunato, by luring him into a wine-tasting excursion and then trapping him in a wine barrel to die. The story is often seen as...

Annette Baier’s “The Need for More than Justice”

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...

The Impact of Technology in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

One of the most well-known pieces of classical literature is Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour. One of the most evident historical observances that could be made about the story is the telegraph, which plays a great role in the plot as well (Chopin). It is possible to interpret...

“Sundiata” by Niane and “The Odyssey” by Homer Review

The heroic epic that has been saved today represents stories that interested people many years ago. Sundiata and The Odyssey are epic poems from different cultures and eras – 13th century West Africa and 8th century Greece respectively. They have few historical events, but in a significant way, they are...

What Is Destiny? Literary Works Answer

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...

The Battle with Grendel’s Mother in the Beowulf Poem

The monster’s mother is one of the three main antagonists of the Beowulf poem, along with Grendel himself and the dragon: different versions have referred to her as both a “female monster,” a “warrior-woman,” and even “the monstrous bride from hell.” This paper examines the episode of the battle between...

Amy Tan’s “A Pair of Tickets” Review

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....

Themes of Knowledge and Family in Shelley’s Frankenstein

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

Speaker in “Homage to My Hips” by Lucille Clifton

The poem Homage to My Hips by Lucille Clifton has a very interesting speaker. I imagine her to be a strong, confident woman who is proud of her appearance and admires her body immensely. She is about 32 years old, and, in my imagination, she has a beautiful name that...

Gabriel in James Joyce’s “The Dead”: Character Analysis

A part of James Joyce’s “Dubliners,” “The Dead” tells a story of a highly conflicted protagonist who struggles to embrace change and especially the urgency, to be honest with himself about his integrity. Set in 1910s Dublin, the narrative addresses the complexity of Ireland’s politics and the conflict between unionists...

Use of Personification in a Poem to Pass a Message to Readers

Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Because I could not stop for Death,” and John Donne’s “Death be not proud” have personified death from different perspectives. Personification is an imperative figure used for a long time in literature to enable the audience to connect with the subject described (Sigvardsson 559). It includes giving...

The Evaluation of Susan Glaspell’s Trifles

Today, family abuse is a severe problem affecting numerous people throughout the world. Women from developed nations face the problem, meaning that the population of developing countries suffers from the issue even more significantly. That is why there emerge many non-profit organizations that aim to reduce the prevalence of the...

Character Analysis in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice

Shylock – the hero of W. Shakespeare’s comedy The Merchant of Venice – is a Jewish pawnbroker. Shylock lends money to the merchant Antonio on the security of a pound of meat from his chest and seeks to execute an agreement concluded between them in court. Plays about Jews were...

Evil in Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Introduction An author’s main objective while composing a literary work is to communicate a specific message to his audience. Factors such as historical occurrences, political ideologies, and global economic status are among the factors that influence an author’s message. One such work written at a historical time described as the...

Fate in Beowulf and Shakespeare’s Macbeth

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

Def Poetry: The Last Poets- “Take Your Time”

The poem’s main message is to show that people lose their identity and more individuals are becoming faded behind mink coats and alligator shoes. Human progress brings many positive aspects, but it also ruins the traditions that people have been building over time. When bad luck happens, we remember that...

Selfishness and Individualism in O’Connor’s “A Good Man…”

Introduction “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is a Southern gothic narrative that reflects the realities of the American South in the 20th century. According to the literary theory of cultural studies, the author’s background significantly affects their writing, and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is a...

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

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

“To Live in the Borderlands Means You” by Anzaldúa

To Live in The Borderlands is an eight-stanza poem published in a 1987 semi-autobiographical book Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldua. The work investigates the meaning of mixed heritage and its implications on one’s self-identification. The author explores her understanding of being a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual individual through...

“The Colloid and The Crystal” Book by Krutch

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...

The Novel “The Hour of the Star” by Clarice Lispector

Introduction The story of Lispector’s main character, Macabea, is told through an additional perspective of the sophisticated S.M. Rodrigo. The contrasting viewpoints on life and principal values consequently provide alternative realities for the reader. Most importantly, the narrator’s judgment and telling of Macabea’s story contribute to the development of a...

“Barbie Doll” by Piercy and “Girl” by Kincaid

Introduction Literature is characterized by a set of characters used by the author to convey their message. While each character has unique features, their levels of influence differ. The protagonist is the main actor in literature, who is often opposed by an antagonist. The protagonist makes crucial storyline decisions, largely...

Tim O’Brien’s Memoir “If I Die in a Combat Zone”

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...

European and Russian Worlds in Dostoevsky’s “The Gambler”

Russian literature has always been focused on describing people’s deep feelings and emotions linked to particular events. Trying to make readers understand all peculiarities and nuances, the authors described the smallest details of the setting and motifs influencing the main characters. At the same time, much attention was given to...

Grendel and Medea Literary Characters’ Comparison

Grendel and Medea are different characters who appeared from the pen of different authors in different periods. However, they are united by one crucial detail — the monster’s nature. From this detail, a whole complex of similarities grows, such as hermit, rejection by others, savagery, and inability to accept oneself....

Symbolism in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Poem by Coleridge

The Plot The story begins with a young man getting stopped by an old Mariner on his way to a wedding with two of his friends. The young man, referred to as the Wedding Guest, “cannot choose but hear” Mariner’s narrative, even though he is anxious to get to the...

“Great Ideas Why I Write” by George Orwell

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

“My Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion

Summary of the Narrative The book “My Year of Magical Thinking”dives into memories of Joan Didion’s life with her husband John and their daughter. She becomes fixated on a phenomenon she refers to as magical thinking and consistently reviewing the events leading up to John’s death’. She consistently reads and...

“Life on Mississippi” by Mark Twain

Devouring works written by renowned authors; people tend to forget that the actual lives of the writers might have been even more exciting than the fiction that they have created. The personal journey of Samuel Clemens, globally known under the pen name of Mark Twain, is in every way just...

Modern Fantasy in the Book Charlotte Huck’s Children’s Literature: A Brief Guide

Modern Fantasy is a chapter from the book Charlotte Huck’s Children’s Literature: A Brief Guide written by Barbara Kiefer and Cynthia Tyson (McGraw-Hill Education, 2018). This chapter of the book focuses on the theme of the modern fantasy genre of literature, the types of fantasy literature for children, and whether...

Tobias Wolff’s Memoir “This Boy’s Life”

This Boy’s Life is a story of a young guy growing up struggling with his problems and fears, misunderstanding, and condemnation of others. Notably, Tobias Wolff stays focused on his desire to reinvent himself, to have a different kind of life compared to the one he is living, and to...

“All Aunt Hagar’s Children” by Edward P. Jones

The short story “Young Lions” by Edward P. Jones addresses the subject of social belonging, relationship with society, and violence. Caesar, being the main character and symbolically given the name of one of the greatest rulers of the Roman empire, finds his way in life by stealing people’s lives along...

Achilles Life as a Son, Friend, and Warrior

Introduction Achilles enjoys a legendary status in Greek mythology due to his bravery on the battlefield. His ancestry played a significant role in his development into one of the most powerful soldiers of the Trojan War. He possessed extra toughness and invulnerability alongside his demigod status since his parents were...

The Essay “A Small Place” by Jamaica Kincaid

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

Novels Remain a Valuable Form of Entertainment and Art in Our Current Society

Written stories have been the source of public entertainment for as long as the very concept of written language has existed. However, as the pace of global community development increases, the fascination with novels and other long-form storytelling types seems to have been subsiding. Due to the increased time pressure,...

The Character of Yvain in “The Night of the Lion” by Chretien de Troyes

Introduction Chrétien de Troyes’ The Knight of Lion is an Arthurian tale about the heroic exploits of a gallant knight named Yvain. In several Arthurian stories, chivalry plays an important role in propelling the plot forward and providing context for the knights’ and the court’s organizational structures. Yvain’s actions and...

Book Recommendation System (Content-Based & Collaborative Filtering)

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

Portrayal of Women in Southern Literature

McHaney, Pearl Amelia. Representations of Women in Southern Literature. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature. 2019. The book deals with the portrayal of women in southern literature, looking at the roles they adopt in different literary works. These roles range from rebels, commonly associated with southern women in the nineteenth century,...

The Glass Menagerie Play by Tennessee Williams

Notably, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a tragic and largely autobiographical play that raises crucial questions of love, loneliness, and personal freedom. The story tells of a family where the oppressive but very charming mother, Amanda Wingfield, tirelessly terrorizes her mature children, Tom and Laura. It is essential...

Class and Racial Ideologies in “Bastard Out of Carolina” by Allison

Introduction In Bastard Out of Carolina, the author renders and challenges major stereotypes on identity through the harrowing account of the narrator, Bone. She builds a portrait of a brave, traumatized girl considered illegitimate by the State and who endures repeated abuse without recourse. Mythological positions about poverty, sexuality, and...

The Short Story “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

People use symbols to represent various ideas through the same subjects or events. Symbolism is a common literary device that aims at creating an indelible impression on the reader (Severson). Its importance is the possibility to convey hidden meanings and provoke critical thinking and creativity. Edgar Allan Poe uses multiple...

“The Lost Letters of Pergamum”: An Evaluation

The Lost Letters of Pergamum genre can be described as an epistolary novel loosely based on historical context. Longenecker claimed that his story explores “what might have happened during the final year in the life of a man named Antipas” and the “dynamics of friendship, goodness, virtue and honor” of...

Literary Analysis of Jackson’s The Lottery Story

Summary Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery is one of the most well-known and culturally significant short stories in the history of American literature. It provides an insightful and horrifying look at the comfort people take in passively accepting horrifying events as long as they are part of the accepted stability. Set...

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: Analysis

William Shakespeare and his works occupy an honorary place in world literature. At the same time, the play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, briefly referred to as Hamlet, is one of the most famous. The plot reveals complex themes of revenge, mortality, deception, madness, and other issues. The...

“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the monster is the creation of Victor Frankenstein that was assembled from old body parts and unknown chemicals that come together and make a live creature from a spark. Looking quite menacing and dangerous, the monster enters life as a blank slate, with a newborn...

Causes of Violence as Depicted in Literature

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...

Cinderella’s Love Story by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm

Introduction The Cinderella Tales are one of the most popular types of fairy tales known today. The most popular ones seem to be Charles Perrault’s Cinderella and Aschenputtel by the Brothers Grimm, although both versions are essentially different. For example, the Grimm story is known for its cruelty, while Perrault’s...

A Variety of Themes in “Candide” by Voltaire

Introduction According to historical accounts, Voltaire wrote Candide around the year 1758. At that point, Europe lived in the fallout of the 1755 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Portugal. In art and philosophy of the time, the concept of optimism prevailed, implying that God remains benevolent to humanity. While working...

Feminist Ideas in the Works of Angela Carter

Throughout history, fairy tales have served a variety of purposes; however, the earliest examples represent the common beliefs and values of specific groups. After becoming a literary genre, fairy tales started to include various social classes, leading to changing ideologies. The Bloody Chamber, the collection of re-written stories by Angela...

Motives of “A Dream Called Home” by Reyna Grande

Reyna Grande was born on September 7, 1975, in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, in difficult social and financial conditions. Today she is a famous author living in the United States and has received numerous awards and prizes for her books and novels. Grande, along with her siblings, grew up in poverty;...

Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”: Analysis of the Plot

A plot is a series of events in a story. The plot in the short story “A Rose for Emily ” is well–developed. A plot must be chronological or non-chronological; chronological means the events happened in order of their occurrence. Non-Chronological implies that there were regressions into the past from...

Theme and Word Choice in “The Monkey’s Paw” by Jacobs

Many have desired a magic stick at least once in their lives, but few understand the luck of it remaining a fiction. The short story The Monkey’s Paw by William Wymark Jacobs tells the reader about an ordinary family granted the possibility to change their life but bitterly regretting it...

Righteousness and Innocence: The Lamb by William Blake

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...

The Story of Telemachus in “The Odyssey” by Homer

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...

“Cathedral” by Raymond Carver and “The Management of Grief” by Bharati Mukherjee

The common theme of “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver and “The Management of Grief” by Bharati Mukherjee is the misinterpretation of people’s feelings and perceptions by representatives of different population groups. Its general idea is the impossibility of understanding each other without walking a mile in their shoes. As a result,...

“All Summer in a Day” and “Eveline”: Desire to Return to the Past

The contrasts between the past and the current settings are of special interest to numerous writers, who explored the emotional significance of nostalgia in their works. As the surrounding environment changes with time, many individuals perceive a development in their psychological well-being, which might be drastically impacted by a considerable...

The Age of Reason Through Literature

The Declaration of Independence, created in 1776, is an excellent example of the reasoning approach used by the people of that age. The Declaration of Independence follows a strict structure, introducing the area of concern and developing the creators’ arguments. As such, “The history of the present King of Great...

Mrs. Mallard’s Problem in Chopin’s Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is one of English literature’s most famous short stories. The main character, Louise Mallard, is a young woman with a calm face “whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength” (Chopin 180). Louise is happy to learn that her husband, Brently,...

“Water by the Spoonful” by Quiara Hudes

Water by the Spoonful is a play written by Quiara Hudes. The play narrates to the reader the story of the Iraqi war veteran and the group of drug addicts, including his biological mother. The author of this work raises several acute social problems, trying to address them through the...

Native American Poems’ Comparative Analysis

Introduction Unfortunately, much of human history consists of the events of one group of people conquering another and erasing the culture of the defeated nation, so the latter submit. Thankfully, the latter does not always happen, and sometimes the culture of those who lost replaces that of the invaders, or...

Nevada Harsh Land: Roughing It by Mark Twain

Roughing It was written by Mark Twain in 1872 to present his first-hand experiences from Nevada. He learned to write there and found inspiration that brought his talent to the surface. His adventures and impressions from this city are described in the piece Roughing It. Mark Twain never returned to...

Critical Analysis of Lu Xan’s Madman’s Diary

A Madman’s Diary is a story written by a Chinese author in 1918. The story is divided into two parts – the introduction written by the author serves as a short preface. The second part contains excerpts from the diary the author’s friend led during the exacerbation of his mental...

“Jesus’ Son” and “The Lame Shall Enter First” Comparison

Jesus’ Son, a related collection of short stories named after the lyrics of The Velvet Underground’s song, is often described as one of the most important literary works of Johnson’s generation. It was even included in The New York Times’ Top 25 Best Writings 2006 – a list of the...

Analysis of “Pride and Prejudice” Main Character

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...

Theme of Sexuality from Both Fiction and Non-Fiction Context

Sexuality is a significant aspect of a person. It is never about who he or she has sex with or how frequently they have it. It is basically about one’s sexual feelings, ideas, interests, and behaviors towards other people. Both fiction and non-fiction contexts depict differences in matters of sexuality....

Odysseus’ Encounter With the Cyclops Polyphemus

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

Making Obesity Fat: Crip Estrangement in Shakespeare’s Henry Iv

In the article by Best (2019) in the scene “play extempore” of Henry IV part I, the author, Shakespeare through deconstruction makes obesity fat. Shakespeare in the play put a crippled character to assume the role of a fat person. In the scene, “play extempore,” Prince Henry is supposed to...

Relationship Between the Past and the Present in “Kindred” Novel

The idea that permeates through the novel is one that the past and the present are deeply intervened: often, in more ways than one is accustomed to think they are. These connections are more delicate and intricate, and non-linear: another overarching theme in Kindred is how drastically one’s perception of...

James Baldwin and His Notes of a Native Son

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....

“Beauty and the Beast”: Similar Fairytales in Europe and Asia

Fairytales are universal human creations that exist not only to amuse children but also to amaze adults and transmit the wisdom of distant generations. Indeed, each fairytale is unique in the matter of its characters and details of the narrative. However, certain themes are common for multiple people around the...

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

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

Harlem in “Sonny’s Blues” Short Story by James Baldwin

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...

William Blake’s “Tyger” Poem Analysis

Introduction William Blake’s poem Tyger is one of the most remarkable literary examples of animal imaginary-heavy works that touch on the topics of imagination, religion, and life’s purpose. It remains one of the most famous works in the entire bibliography of the poet, and consecutively has been a subject to...

Alice Walker’s “We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting for”

In the times when social tension reaches its peak and racism continues to shape relationships within the U.S. community, the need for a voice of reason that could represent the plight of those oppressed is strongly needed. Alice Walker’s “We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting for” represents the...