“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...

Religious and Spiritual Ideas in Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower”

Introduction “Parable of the Sower” is one of the most significant and valuable science fiction novels written by the famous American writer Octavia Estelle Butler. Thus, it is no secret that the creation of this woman is quite difficult to overestimate. Her non-standard and creative thinking, flexible mind, and originality...

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...

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...

Revenge: Confessions of a Murderer (Based on A. E. Poe’s the “Cask of Amontillado”)

Introduction “The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story by Alan Edgar Poe, first published in 1864 and part of an unofficial collection of stories about murderers’ confessions. The story tells of a deep grievance and the place the narrator chose: walling up a corpse. Grim themes have always been...

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...

Faulkner’s “Rose for Emily” Literary Analysis

“Rose for Emily” is one of Faulkner’s most famous and uncharacteristic stories. It is set in the Southern town of Jefferson in the decades following the Civil War. Emily Grierson’s house, in its “stubborn and coquettish decay,” is the epitome of declining Southern aristocracy in the town (Faulkner). It is...

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...

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...

Faith and Violence in the “Night” Memoir by Elie Wiesel

Night by Elie Wiesel is a 1960 memoir that recounts the author’s experience with his father during the holocaust in concentration camps between the years 1944 and 1945. Wiesel depicts horrifying actions committed by people and thereby establishes a number of themes prevalent in his work. Overall, the thesis of...

Quotes from the “Flatland” Novel by Edwin Abbott

Flatland is a satirical work written by Edwin Abbott that elaborates on the nature of hierarchy, freedom, and reality. The novel describes a two-dimensional world where “distinction of sides is intended by Nature to imply distinction of colours” (Abbott 27). Hence, it is a society where some seemingly abstract properties...

Values in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Hemingway

In the short story “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” written by Ernest Hemingway, the varying values of people are discussed. They are attributed to different generations, whose struggles are unique partially due to the perceptions of old and young people concerning what problems are. Therefore, Hemingway sheds light on the theme...

Jerome David Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”

In Jerome David Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s prominent traits are abnormal and relatively disturbing. Holden’s fixation on innocence and depression are manifestations of the loss of his brother, Allie. Furthermore, through his depressive feelings, Holden grows to dislike the social standards that fuel his non-conformist attitude....

The Native American Women’s Reflections in Johnson’s Poem “Quill Worker”

The question relates to the representation of Native American women’s reflections as expressed in Johnson’s poem titled “Quill Worker.” The author pays tribute to the women of the Sioux tribe and the work they perform on a regular basis, including traditional textile embellishment techniques (Johnson 122). While engaging in meticulous...

“Doctor Faust” by Christopher Marlowe

This word is found in the work of Christopher Marlowe “Doctor Faust”. The story of the scientist who sold his soul to the devil and was ruined by him is known to us thanks to Goethe. In his interpretation, Faust is a real Renaissance man, a powerful mind obsessed with...

The Problem of Entitlement: The Question of Respect

The appreciation of literary works is a complex endeavor, which requires the adoption of an unbiased approach to this task complemented by the focus on positive aspects instead of solely highlighting the drawbacks. This topic is thoroughly examined by Steve Almond, whose article “The Problem of Entitlement: The Question of...

The Hero with a Thousand Faces: Reading Reaction

The prologue of the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, written by Joseph Campbell, contains a precise definition of a myth. It is placed in the first chapter of the prologue called Myth and Dream. The author states, “myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of...

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by J. Campbell: Book Review

A blunder—apparently the merest chance—reveals an unsuspected world, and the individual is drawn into a relationship with forces that are not rightly understood. Joseph Campbell The author describes the beginning of the typical adventure story and the factors involved in launching the plot. Prior to making that statement, Campbell demonstrated...

Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story Scene Assessment

Romeo and Juliet, a famous play by the great English playwright William Shakespeare, focuses on the themes of hate, death, and passionate love. West Side Story, the 1961 Hollywood adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, modernized the setting by replacing the feud between two noble houses with a street gang rivalry. However,...

Symbolism in Young Goodman Brown by N. Hawthorne

Symbolism is a literary device in which symbols, such as phrases, characters, objects, places, or abstract concepts, are used to signify something other than their literal interpretation. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown is entirely symbolic and serves as an excellent representation of an allegory or narrative in which actual objects...

Antebellum: “Liberty of Power” by Harry L. Watson

Certain books are granted with exceptional value, as they capture pivotal moments in the history of the world. Liberty of Power writer by Harry L. Watson is one of such pieces that are integral to the past of the United States. This book is devoted to the political evolution of...

Youth Poverty: “Fire in the Ashes” by Kozol

Introduction Hope represents a person’s striving forward, expectation, and faith in the best, a premonition of something very important and good. In most cases, this is a positive emotional experience that is formed during the tense expectation of something desired and anticipating the likelihood of its accomplishment. Jonathan Kozol writes...

Language, Rhyme, and Style of “The Raven” by Poe

The Raven doubtlessly is in the list of the most famous works by Poe; for many, this poem is the primary association with his name. Both its language and the atmosphere it creates apparently contribute to such strong appreciation, and these two are closely intertwined. In fact, this piece of...

A Wise Woman in Plato’s “Symposium”

Through the character of a wise woman named Diotima, Plato describes the role of love in the mystical ascent to truth and immortality. The first stage of the ascent starts with the love for one body (Plato, 1965). Then, since the beauty of one body is related to the beauty...

Plot and Protagonist of “Metamorphosis” by Kafka

The metamorphosis is a narrative about a salesman named Gregor Samsa who lives with his parents, sister, and maid. One day, Gregor wakes up to find that he has changed into a giant bug and starts to worry about his job as he gets used to his new body, which...

“In the Buddha’s Words” by The Dalai Lama

Introduction In the Buddha’s Words presents a work of detailed examination of Buddha’s teachings left in the Nikayas. The reading focused on chapters that center around Buddha’s teachings about people’s happiness in the present and future life and the concept of rebirth. The interpretation of Buddha’s teachings for ordinary people...

“The House on Mango Street” Novel by Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street explores several themes, one of which is belonging to a place, a home. The first passage that illustrates belonging is presented at the beginning of the novel as Esperanza describes her family’s new house, which is not what the children envisioned (Cisneros, 2011)....

Critique for “Bully: An Adventure With Teddy Roosevelt by Jerome Alden” Play

The socio-economic and generational concepts are the major themes presented in Bully: An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt mentions the socio-economic divide between the rich and the poor in the play, with the poor working as laborers being exploited by the rich. His arguments about defending workers’ rights during the...

Review of “The Huron” by Brebeuf

First and foremost, Brebeuf (2019) praises the Huron Indians for their marriage customs. He is very pleased that the Huron are monogamous and that they do not partake in incest (Brebeuf, 2019). Continuing the theme of marriage, he also notes that husbands and wives demonstrate “great love and union” (Brebeuf,...

Dystopian Society and Oppression in Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

The themes being developed by Margaret Atwood in the novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” constitute women’s bodies as a political instrument, complacency causes, complicity, seeing, reproduction, and language as a power tool. From the theme of women’s bodies as political instruments, Atwood shows that Gilead was formed due to a dramatic...

“Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir” by Frank McCourt

Introduction There is social tension between Protestant and Catholic, the affluent and the poor, and North and South Ireland. These ongoing conflicts have a significant impact on Frank’s livelihood as he grows older, as well as the way he sees the world. Frank, for instance, is raised to loathe the...

Quest for Freedom in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Stowe

Introduction Slavery has a long history in America and dates back to more than three centuries ago. Slavery would not pick until the 19th century, marked by many occurrences across different parts of the world. Slow development was experienced worldwide, and technology had not as highly industrialized as it is...

Act II of “The Seagull” Play by Anton Chekhov

There are a number of themes that are prominent throughout Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull”, a majority of which can be seen in the second act of the play. In particular, an apt reader can identify a running idea of love, the self and its perception, as well as appreciation of...

“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...

Poetic Elements in “Winter Starts” by Larry Levis

Image The poem’s imagery of an attractive and old-fashioned town supports the text’s presentation of dementia as a gift. In the poem, the father’s thoughts are compared to a vacation destination, which people constantly visit to seek an adventure. The entire city is glowing with beautiful lights placed behind the...

Characters of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Around 1850, the United States was a divided country. A deep split separates the slave-holding southern states from the northern states. Harriet Beecher Stowe recounts in Uncle Tom’s Cabin the shifting fates of slaves who are at the mercy of the whims and economic circumstances of their masters, for better...

Voice of “Life in the Iron-Mills” by R. H. Davis

Davis, in her Life in the Iron-Mills, depicts the world of industrial capitalism, with class divisions. She especially emphasizes the impossibility of professional or personal development for the middle class. Davis actively criticizes the existing system, thus winning the sympathy of the growing middle class. Limited opportunities for self-realization, which...

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...

Representation of Heroes in The Odyssey Epic

Since its conception, the idea of a hero has undergone tremendous changes, with specific values being added to and subtracted from the list of the characteristics that a true hero should supposedly have. In the literary traditions of early epic poems, both Gilgamesh and Odysseus as the most prominent representations...

Purpose of The Vase of Clay Story by Jean Aicard

The Vase of Clay is a profound and ambiguous work by Jean Aicard. In order to understand the message and purpose of the narrative, it is necessary to delve a little deeper into the plot. By this phrase, I mean the need to feel the imagery the writer communicates to...

The Speaker of “Wild Nights – Wild Nights!”

Poems are a creative way of expressing feelings and thoughts. While some poems may be short, they are typically profound in their expressions. A crucial part of fully understanding the meaning of a poem is understanding its speaker. Emily Dickinson’s poem Wild nights – Wild nights! may be confusing at...

Chesnutt’s The Marrow of Tradition

In this blending story of racial encounter in a reconstructionist Southern town, Chesnutt drastically investigates subjects which were to be created by later American writers: the fundamental reliance of white and dark perspectives and activities, the impacts of a racial folklore on highly contrasting the same. addresses a significant milestone...

“The Great Gatsby” by Scott F. Fitzgerald

“The Great Gatsby” by Scott F. Fitzgerald is one of the defining books for American society. In the novel, the author raises many social issues and carefully describes the way of life of that era. Moreover, since the plot of the novel is set in the “roaring twenties”, the writer...

Corrupting Force of Power: The Tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Introduction The lust for power influences people’s decisions, their ability to think soberly and act on the basis of principles. The tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare for whom the desire for power becomes decisive in the loss of humanity. Macbeth Macbeth’s actions to gain power begin with the assassination of...

“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...

Grandma in O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find”

“A Good Man is Hard to Find” tells the story of a family that wants to visit their relatives in the south. , a grandmother who wants to visit relatives in Tennessee goes on a trip. The grandmother’s image is central to the entire work since her decisions and way...

Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”

A dream is mostly defined as a succession of thoughts, images, feelings, and sentiments that happen unawares and involuntarily at different phases when one is asleep. Gary Hebert once said that dreams were just but universal liars that never lost their reputation for honesty because hope was the bread for...

Analysis of “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner is centered around a rich and unmarried woman, about whom there are also many rumors among her neighbors. Faulkner’s use of specific literary techniques can be observed throughout history. The author uses every literary technique needed for developing the topic that is not...

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Lee’s Should Not Be Disqualified in Schools

Introduction Book censoring and banning transpire to prevent teenagers from being exposed to explicit topics that are not fit for children. To Kill a Mockingbird transpires in the fictional city of Maycomb in the Great Depression. The central character is Jean Louise (“Scout”) Finch, a bright though unconventional young lady...

Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Lottery’ Critical Analysis

Introduction The Lottery is a widely known short story written by Shirley Jackson. The narrative revolves around an ancient tradition of randomly choosing a member of the village and stoning them. The story provides provocative insights into the themes of conformity and social wrong. The current paper attempts to critically...

Figures of Speech in “Red Harvest” by Dashiell Hammett

Modern literature is presented by a great number of different works of various genres. Every genre is particular and has its own peculiarities. These peculiarities consist in the usage of different figures of speech that make the language of the work more exciting, bright and convincing. Such figures of speech...

“Architects of Buddhist Leisure” by Justin Thomas McDaniel

Introduction In his book, Architects of Buddhist Leisure, Justin McDaniel guides a reader through various non-regular Buddhist spaces in the Asian region. The author provocatively encourages to reconsider the category of religious architecture through critical reflection and the narrative and historical detail. The book compares public Buddhist sites in different...

Poseidon, Penelope and Scylla in “The Odyssey” by Homer

Homer’s The Odyssey is a classical epic story, which has existed for millennia while preserving its relevance. Its plot represents a combination of simplicity and sophistication, as the basis of it is a hero’s journey home. On his way from the Trojan War, Odysseus encounters numerous characters, each of whom...

“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”....

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

Introduction Contemporary American literature is largely dominated by white male authors. These authors are limited in their empathy and imagination by their own experiences and inherent privilege that comes with being on the top of the social hierarchy. Therefore, they were unable to authentically portray the lives, thoughts, and experiences...

“Walden” a Book by Henry David Thoreau

The life of a person has always been filled with worries and apprehensions, the majority of which do not actually play any important role. Henry David Thoreau provides a brilliant explanation of this argument in his book Walden, or, Life in the Woods. The thing that motivates the author to...

“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...

“When the State Trembled” by Kramer and Mitchell

Introduction Kramer and Mitchell are English professors and activist respectively at Brandon University. They are authors of several other articles and have received awards for their eligible work, in their book entitled ‘When the State Trembled’, they argue that the revolution opinion raised due to fear was significant in stopping...

“Buffalo Bill’s America” by Louis S. Warren

Buffalo Bill’s America: William Cody and the Wild West Show is a biography of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, written by Warren in 2005. This book offers an in-depth exploration of the life of one of the most famous Americans of the nineteenth century. In his work, Warren focuses on different...

“Billy Budd, Sailor” a Novella by Herman Melville

Herman Melville’s Billy Budd, Sailor was the subject to a variety of inquiries and studies in the fields of not only literature but also psychology and philosophy. Some of the vivid themes discussed by Melville are still influential in the modern context. Floyd suggests that the reason for such popularity...

“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” by Richard Wright

Introduction Written by Richard Wright, “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” is a story that focuses on an African-American farmer who strives to survive the racial frictions in Southern America. This paper analyzes Wright’s method of presenting the thematic characteristics of the story. Wright exposes the positions and conditions...

The Play “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller

The play “Death of a Salesman” is a masterpiece by one of the finest American playwrights. Arthur Miller wrote and published this artwork in 1949. The play examines the funny life of Willy Loman. Willy believed that the American Dream was something achievable and realistic. He wanted the best for...

Zora Neale Hurston’s ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’: Self-Discovery and Empowerment

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a story written by Zora Neale Hurston and it describes life’s hardships that an African-American woman experiences. There are many factors, both social and personal that influence Janie’s life, and provide an insight into a person’s emotional being. It supposes alternatives that were not...

Literature Studies: “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

Introduction The book entitled The Things They Carried is a collection of many short stories, which revolve around American soldiers and their experiences during the Vietnam War. The author of the related short stories in The Things They Carried is Tim O’Brien, an American novelist. Some of the interrelated short...

Comparison of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour”

This essay compares and contrasts two short stories – The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1892) and The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin (1894). Both the stories analyzed in this essay are short stories. In The Story of an Hour, Louise Mallard receives the news of her...

Literature Studies: Mary Shelley’s Novel Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein has inspired many film-makers who create movies about scientists trying to carry out dangerous experiments. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the author tries to conceal the procedures implemented by the main character in order to revive the lifeless matter. One should pay close attention...

Literature Studies: the Play “Fences” by August Wilson

Introduction The present paper dwells upon production of the play by August Wilson entitled Fences. It is necessary to note that the play is often seen as a valuable “portrayal of the social and psychological effects of discrimination” of African Americans as well as their ways to address the issues...

Literature Studies: “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

The short story of Edgar Allan Poe called “The Cask of Amontillado” is full of contrasts. The author creates a brilliant description of two characters through a narration. None of the features of the characters are mentioned directly. We learn about the characters and their personalities as we read the...

The Role of Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello

In Othello, Shakespeare aims to bring out the complexity of human relationships through the interactions of the main characters in the play. The experiences and action of the characters resemble human behaviors in social interactions. For instance, Othello evokes different feelings in various characters; some of those feelings positive, while...

“Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” by Frederick Douglass

My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the night of slavery closed in upon me, and behold a man transformed into a brute. Frederick Douglass The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a...

Summary of the Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Introduction This letter was written in defense of the public demonstrations undertaken by the people, predominantly the black Americans, in pursuit of equal rights. The main issues highlighted in the letter are discussed below. Acts that led to the demonstrations were condemned It is pointed out that the acts that...

A Comparative Analysis of Dave Saunders and Harriet Jacobs

This paper briefly analyzes the characters Dave Saunders from The Man Who Was Almost a Man and Harriet Jacobs from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Dave is a young African-American adolescent desperately trying to show masculinity and independence by working during the summer holidays at school. In...

Satire of Exclusion and Genocide

Introduction The author of A Modest Proposal and Gulliver’s Travels was Jonathan Swift, who wrote these books when England was losing its power and influence in the world. Swift wanted to show his readers that England could regain its status without becoming too dependent on other countries (Oakleaf 65). He...

Briar’s Role as a Symbol, a Catalyst, and a Character

Despite decades’ worth of endeavors to address the issue of racism within American society, it remains a notorious source of concern and cause of injustice suffered by numerous African American people. Entering a new era of sociocultural relationships enhanced by innovation and cross-cultural communication has not helped alleviate the issue,...

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...

“What Is to Come We Know Not” by Ernest Henley: Analysis

Introduction The poem entitled “What Is to Come We Know Not” by Ernest Henley is one of the most life-asserting works in literature. Indeed, in his poem, the author portrays his gratitude for whatever good moments he had and at the same time conveys his bravery to face whatever life...

The Drive to Surpass All Limitations in Dr. Snobelen’s “Tower of Babel”

According to an old Greek tale, Prometheus is the god who gives humanity fire in order to liberate them from the harsh realities of the natural world. This deed symbolizes the notion that technological reason can free humanity from the constraints of nature. However, when people strive to understand technology,...

Jon Krakauer’s “Into the Wild” Story Review

Jon Krakauer’s “Into the Wild” is a riveting story of exploration and self-discovery. The novel chronicles the narrative of Chris McCandless, a young man who embarks on a quest to discover himself in the Alaskan wilderness. While many may see Chris’s narrative as one of bravery and freedom, it is...

The “Anna in the Tropics” Play by Nilo Cruz

Anna in the Tropics is a play written by Cuban-American writer Nilo Cruz, which was created in 2001 and premiered in 2002 in Miami. Cruz claimed that his intention in creating the play was to offer a testament to the distinct Latino-American experiences through the eyes of the Spanish and...

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston: Analysis

Their eyes were watching God, a novel written by Zora Neale Hurston, focuses on the experiences and life of Janie Starks in 20th-century southern Florida. Among the book’s important issues is the exploration of conventional gender norms, particularly how stereotypes about male and female relationships benefit males and devalue women....

Symbolism in Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums

The book Chrysanthemums by John Ernst Steinbeck is full of symbolism. The most obvious and closest to the reader meaning of symbolism is the glorification of nature. In the novel, nature appears both as a living object of observation and as a symbol. For example, natural features such as mountains,...

The Glass Menagerie by T. Williams: An Analysis

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, set in 1937, explores the ideas of escapism, unfulfilled dreams, and responsibility in a family struggling financially. The author’s intention behind writing the play was to demonstrate the difficulties of accepting reality through symbolic interactions between the characters and their internal struggles. The play’s...

The Story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

Introduction The essay provides a great interpretation of the story To Build a Fire by Jack London, focusing on nature’s indifference and human overconfidence. As described in the paper, nature is unpredictable and untamable, which is also a source of its power over people. The essay starts with an exciting...

The Inevitability of Choice in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Introduction Shirley Jackson introduced a rather provocative perspective on social relationships, decision-making, and responsibility in her short story “The Lottery.” One of the strongest aspects of this work is the formulation of people’s attitudes toward a process. The author helps modern citizens realize how families from the same community do...

Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels

Jonathan Swift is the author of the Gulliver’s Travels, which describes fantastic journeys to fictional lands. The novel is filled with caustic satire on the state system, outdated foundations, exposing human stupidity and shortsightedness. Swift’s text is a mixture of genres that reflects the ideas of revolutionism and enlightenment, at...

“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...

The “Angels and Demons” Novel by Dan Brown

Angels and Demons is a perfect narrative for those readers who love fast-paced storylines and drama. Imperatively, this is a fantastic thriller by Dan Brown, the same author who wrote Da Vinci Code. The story has a protagonist, Robert Langdon, who is an iconology professor. In addition, the narrative is...

The “Speak” Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson

The novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson tells the reader about the girl Melinda who entered high school. People begin to understand why the story has such a name. This is a story about a girl who, due to certain circumstances, became very close and stopped trusting people. The book...

Vonnegut and Kafka: A Plea to Change Perspective on Life

Introduction The literary works by Franz Kafka, “The Metamorphosis,” and Kurt Vonnegut, “Slaughterhouse-Five,” show that the abilities of the person to change their destiny are limited in many cases, and the individual can only submit to the circumstances to preserve psychological sanity. The lines from Kafka and Vonnegut illustrate the...

Wallace’s “Good People” vs. Hemingway’s “Hills…” Stories

“Hills Like White Elephants” is a short story about two characters in a railway station in Spain. The story focuses on a couple having an intense conversation obliquely referencing an abortion. Despite an uncertain outcome at the end, it is clear that the couple is facing an important decision affecting...

Fascinating Whirlpool of Themes in “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti

Introduction Even in a children’s book, the reader can identify deeply philosophical topics for oneself, so Christina Rossetti’s poem Goblin Market (1862) under the guise of a fairy tale contains deep ideas. The first theme seems more superficial since the reader can notice it even with a shallow reading. The...

Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”: Grueling Winter in the Woods

Introduction In his short tale “To Build a Fire,” Jack London describes how someone might endure a grueling winter in the woods. He runs into several roadblocks along the route and is obliged to use his own critical thinking to get over them. The reader is well aware of the...

The Hunt for the Hooded Jewel Thief: A Detective Sarah Johnson Mystery

Detective Sarah Johnson was called to the scene of a robbery at the city’s prestigious jewelry store. Upon arrival, she noticed that the front window had been shattered and the alarm was blaring loudly. The store manager was waiting outside, visibly shaken and pointing to the back room where the...

Exploring 20th Century Poetry: Reflections on Nature, Duty, and Perceptions.

Throughout the storyline of the verse, the author presents the readers with a conflict that is resolved in the last lines. A person is gnawed by the responsibility and duties that are assigned to him and the desire to go to the taiga (Frost). The theme of this verse echoes...

Slavery’s Legacy in Kindred by Octavia Butler

“Kindred” offers a thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of slavery. Octavia Butler examines power, control, and the ramifications of one’s choices in chapters 7 and 8, “The Rope,” and the epilogue. Through her writing, Butler critiques the legacy of slavery and its ongoing impact on African Americans. Her characters and...

The Wanderer’s Thoughts in “Rhapsody on a Windy Night” by T.S. Eliot

The poem of Tomas Eliot, “Rhapsody on a Windy Night,” represents such phenomena as mind, memory, and time experienced by the main character of a wanderer going down the streets. The context is full of frightfulness and hopelessness because the time continues to go on desperately. Life and its sense...

Ghost in “A Christmas Carol” Book by Charles Dickens

Introduction A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, is a story that emphasizes the happiness that comes from being with other people. The author shows that this is the most satisfying experience, and being bitter and resentful tortures people. With the illustration of Ebenezer Scrooge, the writer aims to deliver...

Sethe’s Difficulties in “Beloved” by Tony Morrison

Introduction The literature on such a critical issue as slavery is of particular value for study and analysis. The significance of these sources lies in the fact that they provide an opportunity to understand better and realize the challenges that people had to go through. The book by Tony Morrison...

The “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” Poem

The significant poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’s authorship has yet to be determined, and the only known is its compositional period, the fourteenth century. It is a story that honors chivalry and keeping one’s word and is based on the exploits of Sir Gawain, the nephew of King...

William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily Story Analysis

William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily is a well-known short story that belongs in the gothic genre. In this piece, Faulkner paints a sorrowful and memorable picture of a lady who is constrained by the customs and standards of her society. In A Rose for Emily, Faulkner challenges readers to...

Woolf’s Orlando, To the Lighthouse, and The Mark on the Wall Stories

Introduction The author and feminist classic Virginia Woolf, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in developing modernist literature. Her novels like “Orlando,” “To the Lighthouse,” and “The Mark on the Wall” have stood the test of time because they both entertain and provoke their readers. Woolf...

The Montag Character in Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury

Introduction In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Guy Montag can be described as the ideal protagonist in a dystopian society that prohibits the enlightenment of the masses. The book is a dystopian fiction inspired by various historical events, including the ideological repression in the Soviet Union and the burning of...

“Old Father, Old Artificer” Novel by Alison Bechdel

Introduction Perfectionism is the desire for total order and conformity to the norms one sets for oneself. The desire for order is not abnormal, but perfectionists are content to exist with others who do not always endure everything according to these rules. The resulting conflicts between the perfectionist and society...

“Three Days in January” by Bret Baier

In his book, Three Days in January, Bret Baier aimed to enable his readers to understand more about Ike from an individual point of view. Baier wrote the book to educate people on the ideals and principles of the president’s actions during his time. An individual can learn the type...

“Three Days in January: Dwight Eisenhower’s Final Mission” by Bret Baier

Introduction Dwight David Eisenhower, as others refer to him as Ike, is among the paradoxical figures that the US had during the 20th century. The statesman and Military officer served the nation as the 34th president between 1953 and 1961. Studies indicate that Ike served as the Allied Expeditionary Force’s...

Rice’s Moon of the Crusted Snow Book vs. Becoming Nakuset Film

Both the book Moon off the Crusted Snow and the documentary Becoming Nakuset explore themes of identity and self-discovery and the struggles faced by women of color in a predominantly white society. The novel concentrates on the experiences of a young lady named Noval, whereas the documentary is focused on...

The “Frankenstein” Novel by Mary Shelly

Introduction Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is a novel characterized by complex themes related to humans’ obsessive desires to assume the roles of creators and the portrayal of outcasts in stereotypical society. The author uses different perspectives on the story, namely the Doctor’s and the creature’s, to demonstrate the distinction in their...

Supernatural in Sophocles Oedipus and Shakespeare’s Macbeth

The element of supernatural forces’ influence is often featured in literary works because it helps authors emphasize the story’s meaning. However, the stories that focus on exploring the events foretold by prophecies use supernatural elements as the main driver of the plot and draw attention to how insignificant people are...

“The Natural Bridge/Rogue River Canyon” Poem by Paul Halupa

Introduction The Natural Bridge/Rogue River Canyon poem by Paul Halupa is an excellent example of metaphor-filled modernist work. The negative tone, jagged narrative, and unconventional tact parallel the profoundly personal experiences or reflections the author has put into the lines. However, the essence of the work has not been turned...

Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried” Review

The 20th century was marked by several military conflicts that forever changed the lives of millions of people across the world. One such dispute was the Vietnam War of 1954-1975, in which the United States of America played an active role (Brigham). The war profoundly impacted American politics and culture,...

“Sara and Customs of the Old World in Bread Givers” by Anzia Yezierska

The novel Bread Givers, written by Anzia Yezierska, is about a young woman living in a family of Jewish immigrants and is centered in New York City. Family obligations are the main factor that prevents the heroine in the book from achieving her goals. Sara Smolinski is the intelligent and...

Resilience in Oedipus and Hamlet’s Characters

Resilient people can quickly overcome adversity, trauma, tragedy, and threats. A person should become more resilient and mentally tough after quickly overcoming these challenges. People get an understanding of life’s obstacles via resilience, so Oedipus and Hamlet both exhibit considerable tenacity, but neither one excels the other. In Oedipus Rex,...

The “To Build a Fire” Short Story by Jack London

Jack London is a realistic American writer whose story To Build a Fire was written in 1908. Despite the theme of the confrontation between man and nature, naturalism is not an end in itself for the writer. The realism of the description is a feature of Jack London’s style, with...

Unveiling the Magic of “A Christmas Carol”

The Morgan Library & Museum (MLM) is a repository of some of the most inspiring and unique pieces of art and literature. However, of all the items that the museum has to offer, the original manuscript of “The Christmas Carol” stands out most. Having been interpreted multiple times and reiterated...

Hamlet, a World-Renowned Literary Classic by William Shakespeare

Introduction Hamlet, a world-renowned literary classic by William Shakespeare, depicts an acute vision of a man struggling with his indecisiveness in the face of constant external pressure and inner unrest. The hero, the young prince of Denmark, undergoes severe changes throughout the play, overcoming his weaknesses and learning to exercise...

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...

Desperation and Salvation in Postcolonial Literature

Every postcolonial piece of literature gives readers an idea of how the suppressor and the subjugated nation coexisted in one time and place. These works are always accompanied by protagonists and antagonists who raise the problems of slavery, inequality, migration, and marginalization of certain groups. Disgrace – a novel by...

Why Homer’s Odyssey Is Important to Human Communities

The Odyssey is an epic poem written by the ancient Greek author Homer, narrating the hero’s life during the Trojan War. The hero goes through a difficult path, from escaping from prison to reuniting with his father after the events of the war. The Odyssey teaches that through determination, hard...

Ten Pillars of the Shoe Dog Book by Phil Knight

Nearly everyone on the planet now is familiar with Nike. It is one of the most well-known brands in the world, has been in existence for a very long time, and is present in practically every nation. What is intriguing is that Phil Knight, a young man without any prior...

The Use of Satire as Education by Pope and Swift

Introduction Satire is a literary technique that considers the use of any genre and combines sharp humor and critique of a subject to improve its meaning, making authors like Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope use satire due to many societal problems. By deftly critiquing and making light of society’s concerns,...

Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat” Story Evaluation

The Open Boat is an 1897 novel based on four men in a life-threatening situation. Crane tells the story about four men, a captain, the oiler, the correspondent, and a cook, who survive after the ship they traveled on sank. Using a single lifeboat, the four men face nature’s harshness...

Naturalism in the Open Boat by Stephen Crane

Introduction The story of the Open Boat is about four men trying to survive against various natural occurrences. The four men include the correspondent, the oiler, the cook, and the oiler. After surviving a shipwreck, the men sails on a lifeboat, day and night, while waiting to be rescued. Nature,...

Fathers and Sons in “The Odyssey” by Homer

From the mythological perspective, the relationship between father and son, as in any mythological motif, is fundamentally ambivalent. On the one hand, in the traditional picture of the world, every son is perceived as a kind of continuation or alter ego of the father; on the other hand, a mythological...

The Play “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles

The work of Sophocles Oedipus the King belongs to the genre of ancient tragedy. The tragedy is characterized by a personal conflict, as a result of which the protagonist comes to the loss of personal values necessary for life, such as family. Oedipus does not leave his native home, but...

Fences, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Young Goodman Brown”: Analysis

Fences (2016) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream are intriguing narratives that shed light on interpersonal conflicts that prevent individuals from achieving life satisfaction. The main characters in both plays strive to satisfy their desires, but several factors, including their hopes and dreams, prevent them from succeeding. Nevertheless, the authors send...

Analysis of “The Second Coming” Poem by William Butler Yeats

The poem The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats is a wonderful and thought-provoking piece of poetry. Written in 1919, following the ordeal of the First World War, one of the deadliest struggles in human history, the poem embodies the uncertainty and anguish of a post-conflict world. Despite being penned...

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...

Discussion of “A Sense of Urgency” by John Kotter

Change is uncomfortable and hard to achieve, revealing why most organizational transformations are unsuccessful. In his famous book “A Sense of Urgency,” John Kotter, a renowned scholar, provides eight actionable steps to lead and implement long-lasting organizational change effectively. According to Kotter, the first stage is creating urgency to trigger...

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat Quote Analysis

Introduction The story “The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” by Oliver Sacks is a rather interesting tale of a man who suffers from some form of the neurologic condition resulting in him being unable to look at the entirety of a particular object but rather on its...

“The Closing of the American Mind” Book by Bloom

Introduction In 1987, Allan Bloom published a book that would stir up a great deal of controversy. The Closing of the American Mind examined the state of higher education in the United States and painted a bleak picture. Bloom argued that American universities had abandoned their mission to educate students...

The Aeneid Contextual Analysis

Introduction In the Aeneid, Virgil depicts the culture of ancient Rome, notably the notions and values of honor, known as pietas, which the ancient Romans valued highly. Virgil expands on this pietas code through the character of Aeneas and his interactions with people and the world. He accomplishes this by...

The Memoirs “With the Old Breed” by Eugene Sledge

The war on the distant Pacific Front is most often known from numerous games or a TV movie. Eugene Sledge’s memoirs are the very special case due to which the reader has the opportunity to learn about this war firsthand, not politicized or embellished. After so many years (as With...

“Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass” by Freedman

There are many children’s literature books that fall under the biography category. However, one of the popular books is, “Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship,” authored by Russel Freedman. The book is appropriate to be read by teenagers from ages 13-19 because it makes them...

Sunjata’s vs. Hamlet’s Literary Works Comparison

Introduction The works of Sunjata and Hamlet have been revered for centuries, each inspiring generations of readers and viewers with their captivating stories and characters. Sunjata is a 13th-century epic poem from Mali, written by an anonymous griot, and Hamlet is a famous tragedy from the late 16th century by...

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...

Gender Inequality in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, “A Rose for Emily”, and “Trifels”

Introduction This research paper focuses on analyzing three texts: A Rose for Emily, written by William Faulkner, The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Susan Glaspell’s Trifles. All of the above works are prime examples of classic feminist literature and demonstrate the problem of gender inequality from a historical...

The Reading Logs of Some Books

Introduction Deciding to get acquainted with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I could not even imagine how much pleasure I would get from reading this book. From the first page, I plunged into a fascinating world of adventures that constantly accompanied Alice and her friends. The mysterious Wonderland and its inhabitants...

Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Introduction The main idea that runs through the entire work of Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is the idea of the incommensurable suffering of men and women in slavery. In her opinion, a slave woman is not only subjected to all the trials that fall...

The Hero of the “Jitterbug Perfume” Book by Robbins

Jitterbug Perfume is a novel of epic proportions that spans nearly a thousand years. Alobar, the protagonist, is first encountered as a king in Bohemia. Even if he is the hero of the story, Priscilla is the secondary hero. A hero is a person who is forced to make hard...

The Vietnam War: The “Hue 1968” Book by Mark Bowden

The book Hue by Mark Bowden (2017) narrates about the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War holds a special place in American history and is significant on a global scale. The battle served as a metaphor for the failure of American cold war strategy. Force was not effective in stopping the...

Theme as Literary Element in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London

Introduction Literacy texts employ different features of style to convey a message to a reader. The style used will have the impact of attracting and making a reader relate to the story. Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” uses an array of literary elements to capture the attention of a...