The Role of Poetry in Shaping Character and Identity: Insights from Kipling and Hughes

Introduction With its rhythmic cadences and profound metaphors, poetry has long been a vessel through which humanity explores the depths of emotion and experience. The distillation of complex human feelings into verse offers a unique lens through which life can be understood and appreciated. Rudyard Kipling’s “If” and Langston Hughes’...

Gender Power Dynamics in Susan Glaspell’s Play Trifles

Personal Reaction to the Play Reading the play Trifles, I was struck by the way the male characters, such as George Henderson and Henry Peters, dismiss the women’s observations and opinions. One observation of the site of the crime that both men and women see but interpret differently is the...

Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”: Poetic Sincerity in Life’s Fleeting Moments

In Andrew Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress, the speaker’s sincerity is evident through the usage of various poetic devices, including rhyme scheme, rhythm/meter, word choices, key images, tone, and mythological and religious allusions. Andrew Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress poem’s argument is that life is short and fleeting, and therefore...

Appearances vs. Reality: Maupassant and Blake’s Literary Techniques

Introduction Appearances can often be deceiving, and both Guy de Maupassant in The Jewelry and William Blake in The Chimney Sweeper explore this theme through their works. Maupassant uses a surprise ending to reveal the unsavory reality behind the conventional wisdom, while Blake employs a more subtle approach with the...

Gender Criticism and Social Expectations in Wilde’s, Corso’s, and Browning’s Literature

Disclosing Social Topics in Read Literature Gender criticism in modern times challenges people’s traditional notions of what constitutes masculinity and femininity. At the moment, the question of sexuality is quite tricky and multifaceted, and it is beyond the binary categories. The modern approach to this issue is more critical, as...

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: Racial Injustice in Southern Literature

Introduction Harper Lee, a highly regarded American author, occupies a significant place in the history of literature due to her seminal work, To Kill a Mockingbird. The work has received critical acclaim due to its insightful examination of racial injustice and ethical development in the Southern region of the United...

Love and Imperfection in Hawthorne’s “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “The Birth-Mark”

Introduction Hawthorne’s adept craftsmanship in American Romanticism transcends mere storytelling; it is a meticulous exploration of the human psyche, dissecting the intricacies of relationships and exposing the repercussions of unbridled passions. In “The Minister’s Black Veil” and “The Birth-Mark,” Hawthorne’s narrative scalpel dissects the very fabric of love, laying bare...

Young Love and Harsh Realities in The Love of My Life by Boyle

Introduction The concept of love has both troubled and inspired humankind since time immemorial, appearing in numerous forms and often leading people to act irrationally. Thomas Coraghessan Boyle’s “The Love of My Life” is a profound exploration of young love, its passion, and the shocking implications that can occur when...

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

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

Loss and Purpose in Dylan Thomas’ and John Milton’s Poetry

Introduction Literature raises a large number of different topics that are relevant to people’s lives. However, the topic of life becomes especially difficult and exciting for many. In many cases, it affects the most vulnerable parts of the human soul and causes complex emotions that not everyone is ready to...

An Emotion of Great Delight: Self-Care, Identity, and Resilience in Tahereh Mafi’s Novel

Introduction “An Emotion of Great Delight,” by Tahireh Mafi, is about a Muslim-American adolescent, Shadi, as she navigates a range of contradictory emotions. Mafi vividly depicts life in the United States, where discrimination, fear, and desire cast a shadow over the Muslim community via masterful storytelling. Through the protagonist, one...

Dual Interpretations of the Mysterious Figure in “Young Goodman Brown” by Hawthorne

Introduction In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Young Goodman Brown,” the figure encountered by Goodman Brown in the forest can be interpreted in two different ways, each signifying distinct motifs. One is a literal embodiment of the devil or malevolent forces, and the other symbolizes internal conflicts with temptation and sin....

Harper Lee’s Legacy: Southern Roots & Timeless Injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s Background American author Harper Lee, well known for her iconic book To Kill a Mockingbird, drew heavily from her own experiences growing up in the South of the country. Born in Monroeville, Alabama, on April 28, 1926, Nelle Harper Lee grew up in an era where racial segregation...

The Transformative Power of Kindness in Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”

Introduction Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is a compelling exemplar of a short story that delves into profound themes surrounding morality, kindness, and the intricacies of human thoughts and emotions. Through a masterful interplay of literary devices and narrative choices, O’Connor weaves a tapestry that challenges...

Anton Chekhov’s “Lady with a Lapdog”: Gurov as Anna’s Metaphorical Lapdog

Introduction In Anton Chekhov’s “Lady with a Lapdog,” the title seems to be a straightforward reference to Anna, the female character who is frequently seen with her Pomeranian pet. However, upon closer analysis, it becomes evident that the ‘lapdog’ in the title may also represent Dmitri Gurov, the male protagonist...

Social Lessons in Literature: Themes of Resistance, Gender Roles, and Marriage

Introduction While literature is considered a form of art, its content is equally important as it allows the readers an opportunity to experience different emotions and look at life from different perspectives. Furthermore, writers can use the connection established with readers through literature to convey important ideas or provide social...

Personal Freedom and Societal Constraints in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Introduction Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” unravels the intricate layers of human emotion and societal expectations, presenting a poignant exploration of the pursuit of personal freedom. Through the experiences of Mrs. Louise Mallard, the narrative delves into the complexities of grief, liberation, and the constraints placed on individuals...

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

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

Cultural Oppression in “River” by Sherwin Bitsui and “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

“River” by Sherwin Bitsui Description of the Work: Themes and Stylistic Characteristics “River” by Sherwin Bitsui incorporates themes such as violence, brutal colonization, the killing of Indians, and their systematic oppression. The context of the poem’s creation comes entirely from Bitsui’s personal experience of the brutality and violence he describes...

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

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

Character Development and Power Dynamics in Faulkner’s Barn Burning and Butler’s Bloodchild

Introduction This analysis delves into character development within two compelling narratives, Barn Burning authored by William Faulkner and Bloodchild by Octavia Butler. Both stories explore intricate character interactions set against distinct backdrops, shining a spotlight on the dynamics of power and relationships. The characters in these stories embark on transformative...

Repression and Liberation in Paula Vogel’s “Indecent”

Introduction Paula Vogel’s “Indecent” explores the complex relationship between societal expectations and human impulses while also exploring the negative effects of suppressing these desires and their freeing potential. The relationships between the individuals inside the play’s plot serve as a microcosm for the larger investigation of these subjects. This article...

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

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

The Role of Pecola Breedlove’s Perspective in The Bluest Eye by Morrison

In Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, Pecola Breedlove’s point of view is to be analyzed as the core element of fiction. It is important to note that Pecola’s perspective is clearly a dominant one alongside Claudia’s; however, her focal point does not displace the other characters. The intent is to...

The Struggles of Self-Acceptance in Akutagawa’s “The Nose”

Quote and Question In “The Nose,” by Akutagawa, Zenchi Naigu suffers from an abnormally long nose controlling his determination of self-value and the communitys views. The passage from Akutagawa that best captures his anguish is, “And what he feared, most of all, was that the word ‘nose’ would come up...

The Legacy of Chinese American Men in Kingston’s China Men: Resilience and Contributions

Introduction In Maxine Hong Kingston’s novel “China Men,” the author celebrates the legacy of Chinese American men, specifically through the story of Ah Goong. Kingston portrays Ah Goong as a strong and resilient figure who overcomes numerous challenges in his life, ultimately contributing to building foundational elements of the United...

The Enduring Relevance of Shakespeare: Timeless Themes and Cultural Impact

Introduction Shakespeare truly does still matter. More than four centuries after his death, his works resonate with contemporary audiences worldwide, embodying universal themes and exploring timeless truths about human nature. His mastery of language, profound understanding of human emotion, and insights into the human condition are as relevant today as...

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

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

Subcategories of Classic Literature: Fables, Myths, Legends, Folktales, and Fairy Tales

Introduction The various categories within classic literature encompass a wide array of narratives that have endured through generations. These stories frequently carry a moral or instructive message, granting us a window into the principles and convictions of diverse societies. This paper will delve into some of the most prevalent subcategories...

Female Character Evolution and Oppression in Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper and Chopin’s The Story of an Hour

Introduction In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” the central characters, the unnamed narrator and Mrs. Louise Mallard, respectively, play crucial roles in illustrating the themes of female oppression and the pursuit of freedom. These characters undergo significant transformations, shedding light on...

Social Class and Family Dynamics in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Introduction For centuries, literature has played an immense role in conveying the acute issues in society. Among the most common themes is social status and the divide between the rich and the poor. One such literary piece is the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams, which...

Deception and Humiliation in “The Miller’s Tale” by Chaucer and “The Other Woman”

Introduction The chosen Fabliau is “The Miller’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer, while the modern story is the one from “The Other Woman” (2014 film). Moral in Fabliau “The Miller’s Tale” is a fabliau from Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales”. In this tale, a carpenter named John, his young wife Alison,...

Rama’s Bravery and Commitment to Dharma in The Ramayana

Introduction The Ramayana, an epic of ancient Indian literature, is a poignant narrative of the life of Rama, portraying his extraordinary bravery and unwavering commitment to Dharma. These two prominent traits are demonstrated throughout the story, underscoring Rama’s character’s moral and spiritual dimensions. Rama’s Bravery and Commitment to the Principle...

They and We: Diversity, Prejudice, and Discrimination Against Minorities in the US

Introduction “They and We: Racial and Ethnic Relations in the United States” is a book that delves into the reality of ethnic diversity and racial discrimination in America. Peter I. Rose explored some of the pivotal issues surrounding ethnic relations in chapters 4, 5, and 6, titled “Dilemmas of Diversity”,...

The Impact of War and Cultural Clashes in Brian Turner’s What Every Soldier Should Know

Introduction The theme of war has always been one of the central topics in the world literature. Thousands of people have witnessed and participated in numerous military conflicts throughout history. It impacted their mentality, psyche, and lives and led to radical worldview changes. At the same time, the soldiers, who...

Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz” Poem Explication

Introduction Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz” explores the recollection of the speaker on a childhood experience centered around a waltz performed with their father. This piece exhibits noteworthy qualities in terms of its linguistic choices, tone, and employment of imagery, which collectively serve to communicate intricate feelings within a...

Flaws in Mental Health Care: Insights from Pete Earley’s ‘Crazy’

Introduction Mental health is one of the most essential parts of a human being. It allows the person to properly function in society and collaborate with others in daily activities: working, learning, and spending free time. However, when a person struggles with mental health, the community quickly rejects them. In...

Olasky’s Defense of the Gospels in “Liar, Lunatic, Lord?”

Introduction In his article “Liar, Lunatic, Lord?” Marvin Olasky addresses the atheist students who argue against C.S. Lewis’ tripartite divide of viewing Jesus as either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. The students contend that Lewis assumes the accuracy of the Gospel accounts, which could have been written years...

Exploring Spiritual Truths in Mere Christianity: C.S. Lewis’s Use of Vivid Metaphors

Introduction In his seminal work, Mere Christianity, Lewis, a renowned Christian apologist, employs a series of vivid word pictures and illustrations in Book II to elucidate profound spiritual truths, much like Jesus did with his parables. These imaginative analogies serve as guiding lights, illuminating the path to understanding for readers...

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

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

Sita Sings the Blues: A Feminist Reinterpretation of the Ramayana’s Gender Roles

Introduction The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic that describes the interactions of many key characters in mythology. Ramayana is an epic narrative from Hinduism that reveals the traditional ideas of the time about courage and duty (The Ramayana: A South Asian Myth and Text, n. d.). At the same...

“Lazy Lawrence: Teaching Children Perseverance, Compassion, and Hard Work”

The goal of Lazy Lawrence is to offer insightful teachings for children’s future success. The narrative teaches children that spending time on things that will help them reach their ambitions is essential. It teaches children the value of inner drive and the necessity of perseverance in the face of adversity....

Honoring Immigrant Lives Lost on September 11: Stories and Remembrance

Introduction The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, will always be remembered as a dark day in American history. Some experiences frequently went unwritten or were missed among the agony and loss. One story focuses on the immigrant servants who died while working in the World Trade Center’s kitchens on...

Heroic Tone in Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven and Tolkien’s Work

Introduction There’s a feeling I get / When I look to the west / And my spirit is crying for leaving / […] / And as we wind on down the road / Our shadows taller than our soul (Led Zeppelin, 1971). In writing, a tone describes the general mood...

The Theological and Cultural Variations of Flood Myths: Utnapishtim, Manu, Noah, and Nuh

Introduction Traditional myths represent, express, and explore the notion of the people about themselves in their essential qualities and specifics. As a result, the study of myth is crucial to understanding particular communities and human society. The legends of Utanapishtim, Manu, Noah, and Nuh’s Ark are examples of flood myths...

Magical Realism and Its Legitimacy in Fiction Writing

Introduction Magical realism is a literary genre that has become increasingly popular recently. It combines the realistic elements of the everyday world with fantastical and supernatural elements, blurring the line between the two (“Magic Realism | Definition, Authors, and Facts“). It is a common theme in several short stories, such...

Elizabethan Conventions in Hamlet: Laertes and Claudius on Avenging Polonius

The Use of Honorifics: Thou vs. You The Elizabethan conventions are a group of signs in the theater indicating belonging to a specific period. The first thing to point out is the language used by the characters of Hamlet. Laer addresses the King, “That I shall live and tell him...

Inspired by Shakespeare: Adaptations of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Introduction A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays. The comedy-drama depicts the adventures of several young lovers and novice performers who fall prey to fairies. Such work has inspired countless adaptations and retellings, each with its unique take on the story. Among the works inspired by...

Josephine Baker: A Revolutionary Biography for Young Adults

Introduction Josephine is a biography for young adults about Josephine Baker, an African-American actress and singer who came to renown in 1920s France. Josephine Baker is regarded as a notable African-American lady who demonstrated to the nation that she was a civil rights champion, a French spy during World War...

Dee’s Struggle with Family Heritage in “Everyday Use”

Introduction Alice Walker presents several bright characters in the short story “Everyday Use,” but the mother and Dee, her eldest daughter, are at the center of the plot. After returning home, a young woman shows interest in her African heritage – through her actions, she wants to show that she...

Emotional Isolation and Teenage Exploration in ZZ Packer’s “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere”

ZZ Packer’s story “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” tackles the issues of teenage exploration of sexuality, loneliness, isolation, and relationships. The heroine, a young woman named Dina, is struggling to define herself and find ways to build relationships with people around her. Her attention is focused on another girl, Heidi. However, her...

The “Merchant of Venice” Play by Shakespeare

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

Langston Hughes’ Love in “Fantasy in Purple”

Music and poetry are interrelated since many poets have dedicated their poems to various musical genres. This article by Beugre Zouankouan Stephane explores how Langston Hughes expressed his love for Blues and Jazz in his poem “Fantansy in Purple.” The author observes an as close link between the two genres...

The Book “The Oedipus Cycle” by Sophocles

Oedipus cycle is a collection of three Theban plays written by Sophocles, which include Antigone, Oedipus at Colonus, and Oedipus the King (also known as Oedipus Rex). These plays illuminate Thebes’ fate during and after King Oedipus’s reign. The three plays talk about the mythological Oedipus, who married his mother...

The Novel “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms is a novel about war, love, and an individual’s personal growth. The story reveals the actions of the first world war, specifically the stories from the Italian ambulance service and young man and woman Fredrick Henry and Catherine Barkley. After meeting the main female...

The “Preface” by Alice Walker Review

After I read the “Preface” by Alice Walker and the poems at the beginning of Spiegel, I started to think about animal life. I felt ashamed because I had previously loved visiting the zoo and exploring animals living in captivity. Moreover, I realized that confinement is a restriction on the...

Exploring Themes in ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’

Nobility, Elegance and Mystery Around the “Emerald Color” “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is a unique, inimitable work in its structure and content, illustrating a special message and interpretation of color from the point of view of symbolism, hints, and mysterious signs. Thus, the green color in the novel...

Family Pressure in “Encanto” and “Witch Boy” Artworks

Individuals develop certain beliefs and identities from early childhood as a direct influence of the family’s culture, religion, traditions, and rites of passage which shape the family member’s identity. Growing up with specific cultural and societal expectations requires displaying specific skills which must conform to the community and its traditions....

Tragedy and Comedy of Love in British Literature

Introduction Literature at all times tried to find answers to various questions that arise in human life and thus touched on various topics, but the theme of love always remains relevant. In the sonnets, this feeling is shown in a very contradictory and ambiguous way: on the one hand, as...

The Poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodor Roethke

The poem My Papa’s Waltz touches on the intricate relationship between a child and a socially irresponsible father. It is difficult to say whether this work was written under the pressure of one’s negative memories or in impulses of inspiration. However, Theodor Roethke conveyed with precise accuracy the image of...

Genre-Based Perspective of Poem Analysis

Introduction Genre is one of the decisive factors in literature since it predetermines the use of structural, content-related, character-based, and thematic decisions. In this regard, the genre of the sonnet implies the adherence to strict structural rules that allow for the logical development of the message delivered by the poets....

Is Sammy a Hero in John Updike’s Story “A & P”

Although John Updike’s story is extremely short, it is long enough to reveal the character of the protagonist, Sammy, fully. As the narrative moves, the reader can see how the hero grows up – he becomes ready to accept the outcomes of his actions and matures. His cynical attitude toward...

American Labor: “The Mind at Work” by Rose

Introduction The Mind at Work: Valuing the intelligence of the American Worker examines the mental aspect of work, which is sometimes considered mindless. Rose portrays waiters, hairstylists, plumbers, construction workers, welders, and car assembly line employees in vignettes. This academic and sophisticated work reads like a captivating novel. Reading his...

Ethics in Serpico by Peter Maas

Serpico, written by Peter Maas, may be regarded as a classic story of the confrontation between people who violate all ethical norms of their profession and one person who cannot keep silent. Frank “Paco” Serpico was a police officer in the New York Police Department. He became the first policeman...

Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’: A Study of Madness

The genre of horror short stories popularized by Edgar Allan Poe is aimed at triggering readers’ judgment about truth and imagination. In his works, the writer often referred to the theme of insanity, central to the short story under the title “The tell-tale heart,” originally published in 1843. The narrator...

Societal Perception of Men and Women in Literature

The perceptions of the role of men and women in various societies are often portrayed differently depending on the culture. Most instances demonstrate them differently, but there are always some similarities in what men and women are perceived to be. In the previous reading handled in previous classes, different personalities...

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

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

The Poem “Poet’s Obligation” by Pablo Neruda

“Ode with a Lament” uses imagery and metaphors effectively to convey themes of death, sorrow, and brokenness. The speaker compares the woman’s skin to “a bell filled with grapes”, an image of illness that prompts the reader to readjust any presumption of the relationship at hand. In a world of...

“A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold is a passionate and thoughtful account of nature observations throughout a year. In the very beginning, Leopold lovingly refers to the start of the year’s observations as tempting distractions (1). This love for the natural world is vivid in his descriptions of natural...

Montgomery’s “Aunt Olivia’s Beau” and Wilkins’s “A New England Nun”

Social roles and agency of women used to be perceived from an exceptionally shallow perspective by society. However, even in the era when the concept of female agency was virtually non-existent, female writers struggled to shift the paradigm. Although Montgomery’s “Aunt Olivia’s Beau” and Wilkins’s “A New England Nun” feature...

Reflection of Flannery O’Connor’s Biography in “Revelation”

The work “Revelation” by Flannery O’Connor was chosen to analyze the question of historicity or biographical character of a literary work. This work is of particular value for research, as it provides valuable insight into what contribution the writer’s life and past experience make to her future works. Thus, in...

Edgar Alan Poe’s “The Raven” Review

Edgar Alan Poe’s “The Raven” is one of his most mystical and complex poems. It was first published in 1845 and immediately caught readers’ attention with its dramatic and musical tone (Poe 2). This poem narrated the story of a young man who lost the love of his life. In...

Sophocles’ “Antigone” Classical Greek Tragedy

Queen Josaka in Oedipus the King is an excellent example of a character whose faith and beliefs allowed her to live a royal life only to end in pain and grief. Queen Josaka and her husband, King Laus, always paid tribute to the prophets and acknowledged everything the prophets foretold....

Part 3 of The City Always Wins by Hamilton

Part 3 of The City Always Wins by Hamilton has impressed me and had a much greater impact than the previous two parts. One of the reasons is the disclosure of characters from a new side. Unlike the first two parts, in the final one, more tension is observed, affecting...

Women’s Choices in the 19-20th Centuries Literature

“White Elephant Hills,” “Desiree’s Baby,” and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” by Ernest Hemingway, Kate Chopin, and Flannery O’Connor; all address women’s choices in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Women had a terrible situation in terms of their life choices and independence during this period. Instead...

Themes in Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Porter

Introduction Pale Horse, Pale Rider is a semi-autobiographical novella by Katherine Anne Porter that chronicles the story of a young woman, Miranda, who survives the 1918 influenza epidemic and World War I. Miranda is a newspaper columnist suffering from a sense of impending doom and the inability to connect with...

Ulysses in Dante’s The Divine Comedy

In Canto 26 of Dante’s Inferno, Dante and Virgil continue their descent into the 8th circle of Hell – the one that hosts all sinners who deceived those who did not trust them. Here, in the 8th bolgia, where to sit counselors of fraud, they meet the famous Greek hero...

Hamlet by Shakespeare: A Play Review

Introduction Hamlet by Shakespeare is a brilliant piece of classical literature that is immortal in its ability to be always relevant. It tells a tragic story about the young prince of Denmark, who is tortured by nihilism and vengeance for his father. Throughout the narrative, prince Hamlet encounters numerous challenges,...

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” Story by Hurston

Introduction Their Eyes Were Watching God is written by Zora Neale Hurston and published in 1937. This story is about Janie, whose life journey is challenging, and shows the girl’s struggle with building the life she wants. Although Janie wants to find love, she is influenced by her grandmother Nanny...

Theme of Feminism in Brookner’s Literary Works

Introduction Feminism is becoming increasingly important in the modern world and its study is of considerable significance. Hence, spreading awareness on this topic in the literary works can be considered highly effective. Two pieces that will be analyzed in this paper are “Leaving home” and “Undue influence”. Feminism in “Leaving...

Cosmic Horror in Campbell’s and Machen’s Works

Background Cosmic horror is the fear and terror we experience when exposed to things beyond our knowledge, whose reach stretches beyond the limited context of human affairs and exhibits cosmic significance. Fundamentally, cosmic horror is a hybrid of horror and terror, defined by a great fear of external forces and...

Water, Dystopia, and Violence in “The Water Knife” by Bacigalupi

Introduction It is important to note that Bacigalupi’s book titled The Water Knife is an outstanding piece of dystopian storytelling, where the essential commodity for human survival is made scarce. Water is a major source of value for the three key states involved, which include Nevada, Arizona, and California. Due...

Murderous Intent in Poe’s and O’Connor’s Stories

Introduction Many crimes, especially murder, result from betrayal by someone close to or known to the victims. In other words, to be betrayed, the victim must have first trusted the betrayer. Betrayal is caused by greed or selfish motives, which are human nature. Betrayal is a bad experience that destroys...

Happiness in King’s and Le Guin’s Stories

Alexandre Dumas once said in his letters, “Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons” (“Alexandre Dumas Quotes and Sayings”). True joy is impossible without hardships since people can know it only through suffering. The idea of this connection is revealed in “The man...

The Poem “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

The theme of the fullness of life, to which the character aspires and which he sings as an integral component of earthly existence, is one of the main ones in the poem by Whitman. The poet speaks of his desire to leave his mark on the earth and encourages the...

The Short Story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

Introduction To introduce the paper, it is feasible to state that in his short story Sonny’s Blues, author James Baldwin tells the story of African American musician with addiction problems. The author chooses a narrator complete Sonny’s opposition: his nameless brother, who works as a math teacher, follows the rules...

Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’: A Novel Overview

Introduction Many great authors have an admirable talent for using literary devices in ways that make their literary works get implicit meanings. Therefore, only with careful reading, the reader manages to recognize metaphors, allusions, comparisons, and symbolism. The latter, for example, is often especially difficult to identify. In The Great...

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...

Dante Alighieri’s Attitude Toward Popes

Dante was a fierce Guelf supporter and stood opposed to the Popes holding the political power in Italy. In Canto 19 of Inferno he states that the Pope Nicholas III is already in Hell, and he is awaiting the arrival of Boniface VIII and Clement V: And he cried out:...

“Trifles” by Susan Glaspell: Drama Research

It is important to note that the play Trifles by Susan Glaspell is an outstanding piece of theatre and writing which explores critical ideas of feminism and gender identity within the context of historical patriarchal societal structure. The plot highly pertains to women since it is heavily focused on two...

“Fences”, a Playwright by August Wilson

Fences, a playwright by August Wilson, is a modern classic that describes the life of African Americans in the United States in the 1950s and reveals all the challenges and struggles people experienced. The drama won a Pulitzer Prize in 1987, and the combination of an emotionally strong plot, bright...

“Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

Rose for Emily is a novel about the profound tragedy of a woman who cannot come to terms with loss and cope with grief. Emily Grierson experiences her tragedy regularly; she cannot bear the loss. The story begins surprisingly: Emily’s funeral, followed by the narrator’s memories of what this unfortunate...

“Tracks of the Wandering Mind”: Poem Analysis

Within Tracks of the Wandering Mind the author expresses the feeling of a deep longing for something unreachable and different from the surroundings. The protagonist is linking the things they would want to experience and the places they would want to see with trains, and they also mention railways. It...

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

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

Philip Vera Cruz and Mr. Kwon’s Paths

Immigration always leaves an imprint on the lives of various people, although their experiences might differ. Literature about the paths of immigrants has a long tradition. As such, Margaret Pai’s “The Dreams of Two Yi-min” provides a personal narrative of the Korean refugees. It is a depiction of two brave...

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

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

Researching of Verismo in Literature

Introduction Verismo is a special genre and way of thinking widely spread in Italian literature and creative directions in general. This style reflects an authentic, truthful picture of socio-psychological confrontations in relation to the new reality (Virga, 2021). Accordingly, genre writers in their works sought to depict the manifestations of...

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Imaginative Response

I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we’ll never know most of them. But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. Stephen Chbosky Reflections at Dawn In the...

The Power of Love in Siddhartha

Love is a strong emotion that dictates most of a person’s decisions in life. The Siddhartha is a novel by Hesse that narrates Siddhartha’s life in pursuit of happiness and spiritual enlightenment. The story revolves around two main characters, Siddhartha and Govinda, his best friend, who move from one religious...

Euphemism Behind Connie’s Actions as Presented by Oates

Connie yearns for attention, a factor that appears throughout the text. She talks condescendingly about her sister’s looks and claims her mother used to be beautiful. However, despite talking about them in this light, she does not seem bothered by her relationship with her father. In this instance, the character...

Orwell’s 1984 and the Privacy Law in the Netherlands

Introduction The context of the modern Netherlands and Europe, in general, is shrouded in the pathos of protecting personal information. Many people, unfortunately, do not realize that modern corporations can easily use their data, as users of social networks and the Internet are often indifferent to this. The central surveillance...

Issue of Racism in “Growing Up Colored”

Henry Louis Gates is a famous American writer and educator. In Growing Up Colored, he wrote about his childhood as an African American person in the West Virginia town of Piedmont, where people like him were considered to be second-class citizens. Although it may seem to be at some point...

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Reviewed

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of twenty-four short stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the fourteenth century. It is considered a foundational work of English literature that popularized the English vernacular. The individual stories are presented as part of a story-telling contest hosted during a pilgrimage from London to...

Dante’s “The Pilgrim” Poem Review

At the start of the poem, Dante is a middle-aged poet who is lost on his path. “I found myself in dark woods, the right road lost” (Alighieri 3). This right road can be considered to represent God’s path of his life, and since he wandered from it, he is...

Inferno Cantos XVII-XXXIV of Divine Comedy by Dante

Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is one of the most well-known poems in history. It depicts a journey of a soul after death through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Consequently, the examined part – Inferno Cantos XVII-XXXIV – describes the Eighth and Ninth Circles of Hell and provides fascinating insights into...

Achilles in The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer

Achilles was the Achaian army’s best warrior, honorable, strong, and proud. The Iliad is about the Trojan Conflict, but it is mostly about how Achilles’ rage and power affect the war. Achilles’ primary character is vital to the story because of his inactivity or retreat from the combat. He is...

A Positivist-Conservative Reaction by David Bushnell

The chapter The Regeneration and Its Aftermath: A Positivist-Conservative Reaction (1885-1904) of David Bushnell’s book was written in 1993 in the USA. Specifically, in this chapter, the author analyzes the events preceding the Thousand Days’ war in Colombia and the secession of Panama (Bushnell, 1993). The text opens with an...

Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Story Analysis

Before society, dominated by men, started to acknowledge the importance of treating women equally, females were not perceived as intelligent and worthy creatures in many countries. Indeed, the oppression of females is a vast and horrifying process that was especially active in the 1890s (Özyon 115). This topic is discussed...

The Lays of Marie de France Poems Analysis

The Lays of Marie de France (or The Lais of Marie de France) is a prime example of late 12th-century poetry. The twelve romantic poems were initially written in Anglo-Norman, and it is available to the modern reader only in the translated format. However, this does not diminish its significance...

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Poetic Career Development

Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the greatest English poets that has disclosed the language in a unique, unrepeatable way. Unfortunately, some facts about the writer’s biography remain unclear and unknown; however, Geoffrey Chaucer remains in history as a poet, diplomat, courtier, and military servant. Chaucer experienced a bright and interesting...

The Prevalence of Divine in Ancient Greek Mythology

Presumably, everybody can remember an occasion that seems to have been shaped in advance by a certain external force. A seemingly unlikely coincidence, an unexpected ending, an essential sign, or a chance, which an individual needed but did not consider real – many have such or similar experiences. They are...

Female and Male Gender Roles and Sexualities in Feminist Literature and American Nation

Introduction The last two centuries have been and the last 80 years especially can be called revolutionary for Western and global literature, as the female author’s perspective has finally become one of its thematic and genre mainstreams during these times. It was and continues to be a historical age of...

Review of “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

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

“The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett

The Vanishing Half, written by Brit Bennett, is devoted to showing racial discrimination issues through different generations. One of the most illustrative connections with racial prejudices is depicted through the relationships between Stella and Loretta. The first character’s racial identity is questionable because her family is originally black. However, Stella...

Urban Policy in the UK: “From the Right to the City to the Urban Revolution”

Introduction Inspired by the most recent waves of urban struggles and revolutionary, from the Spanish Indignados to the Latin American urban social movements, David Harvey’s Rebel Cities deconstructs capitalism in aspects of capitalist accumulation and urbanization. It makes essential contributions to the understanding of how individuals would conceptualize the city...

Black Boys, Black Men, and Hardship in Poems and Short Stories

Poems Hayden, Robert. “The Whipping.” This poem is about, as the title suggests, the whipping of a little boy by his mother, assumingly, or perhaps other female relative. Violently and relentlessly, she strikes him again and again, seemingly habitually, as the narrator hides away from the cries. Hayden refers to...

The Malcolm X Character in Poems

Brookes, Gwendolyn. “Malcolm X.” This poem is about Malcolm X, as obvious from the title, written soon after his assassination. It seems to be relatively ambiguous in its descriptions of him – “original,” “ragged-round,” “rich-robust.” It acknowledges the influence Malcolm X had on the Black movements, and yet emphasizes that...

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” Biography by Skloot

Rebecca Skloot uses the titles life, death, and immortality in her write-up to portray a range of events that happen through the biography. The life of Henrietta Lacks, her death, and immortality are essential aspects considered in the development of the memoir. Life, death, and immortality are used metaphorically to...

A Poem “The Great Hymn to Aten”

People can trace the development of world religions through various written sources, historical changes, and mentions in literature. The latter source most accurately reflects not only developmental processes or religious rules but their influence and perception in society. For example, the emergence of monotheistic religions is considered the birth of...

Themes in Shakespeare’s “Othello”

There is the scholarly debate about the date when William Shakespeare wrote the tragedy Othello but it can be said that this story is written in the 1600s. This is a sad story about lost trust in friendship, the effect of love, and the meaning of life. In short, this...

Women in “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

The story of an hour, written by Kate Chopin, narrates the story of Louise Mallard, a wife in a typical Victorian relationship who learns that her spouse has been murdered. The period in which the narration takes place unveils the miserable position of women in society, their roles, and the...

The Sunflower: Mistakes That Cannot Be Forgiven

Introduction The book’s exposition takes us to the time of the Nazi concentration camps and tells about Simon and his friends’ life and hard work. Simon, Adam, Artur, and Jozek are Jews who work in a section of a concentration camp where medical waste is thrown out to prisoners. They...

A Life Plan for Dealing with Evil: The Night by Wiesel

Evil has existed since the beginning of the existence of the world and is constantly a part of people’s lives. There are many examples of evil events in history and in the modern world. Their main characteristic is bringing misfortune to large groups of people, as well as their death...

Emily Dickinson’s Poems and Topic of Death

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

Indian History in the “Ceremony” Novel by Silko

The novel Ceremony, published in 1977, is rightly considered Silko’s best work to date. The theme of the one-sided military experience of the Indians naturally merges in the book with the theme of bitterness over the lost land, with the rejection of which all the social rights of the “native...

Description of a Narrator in Bartleby, the Scrivener

The narrator describes himself as a lawyer who is unwilling to think more than necessary to do his work well and live a good and comfortable life. In my opinion, such a view makes his life better and much easier, as he has a very positive attitude toward the world....

“The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Black Cat” Novels by Poe

The novel The Black Cat combines the features of true-to-life horror and mysticism. Realistic events and a series of mysterious, frightening coincidences allow the reader to classify this work as a psychological thriller. The first-person narrative reinforces the oppressive psychological component of the novel. This technique enhances all the sensations...

The Importance of Abolishing Slavery in Narrative of the Life of F. Douglass

Introduction Frederick Douglass was and remained to be an influential figure in US history in general and in the history of slavery and abolition in particular. His book entitled Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, an American Slave. Written by Himself is an invaluable account of documented atrocities faced...

Gay’s “The Mark of Cain” vs. Allison’s “Compassion” Stories

The short stories The Mark of Cain and Compassion are dramatic plots that relay the family lives of the characters. These stories are realistic fiction and demonstrate the struggles and twisted relationships between people. The Mark of Cain, told from the perspective of a woman, recounts her romantic and sexual...

The Power of Words in Richardson’s and Centlivre’s Works

Introduction Words are undeniably a powerful vehicle. In addition to influencing individuals’ mental state, they can also be used to stimulate cognitively enhanced reality to our ordinary life experiences. Traditionally, literary works like plays and novels have been used to exemplify varied fascinating themes (Slagle 79). But a particularly enchanting...

The “Kubota Garden” Poem by Patricia Clark

Modern American poets’ works are filled with poetic allegories and metaphors, but it may seem that their poems have not been thoroughly studied yet. The complexity of poetic images sets the problem of their interpretation, which requires deep analysis of poetry. Being an example of a modern and symbolic poem,...

Achilles’ Second Self in The Iliad by Homer

Introduction Host (YOU): Ancient epics describing great heroes’ life events are full not only of many details that reveal the personalities of these characters but also of a deep meaning that reflects the inner motives of their actions. In Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles, as one of the main characters, is...

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....

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

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

Analysis of Odyssey’s Personality

The personality of characters in ancient Greek literature is a question for discussion. For a long period of time, it was considered that epic characters are flat and do not change significantly throughout the plot. Ancient Greek authors usually did not have a goal to describe deep, complex, and controversial...

Style of “Kubla Khan” Poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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

The True Measure of Success in Literature Works

Introduction Achieving success is a complex endeavor, which cannot be pursued in a linear manner. Sometimes it means failing multiple times before getting what one wants, and the stories written by Amy Tan and Cherokee Paul McDonald support this opinion by providing examples of such cases. In these pieces, the...

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

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

An Analysis of the Play and Production of Hamlet

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

Cultural and Social Reflections in Cao Xueqin’s ‘The Story of the Stone’

In the Story of the Stone, Jia Baoyu, a charming young man and the main protagonist of the story, is opposed to the character of Lin Daiyu, his cousin and love interest. The contradistinction between the two characters is sourced from their previous lives, as Baoyu was born as the...

“Araby” by James Joyce Is Not a Love Story

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