Symbolism and Irony in Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston

Sweat is a short shorty written by Zora Neale Hurston. It centers around the marital conflict between a hardworking Christian washerwoman, Delia, and her abusive and unfaithful husband, Sykes (Hurston). After 15 years of marriage, Sykes is attempting to evict Delia out of their common household to move in his...

Homer’s Odysseus as a Favorite Hero

True leadership requires the courage to stand alone, the fortitude to implore tough decisions, and the kindness to empathize with others. Odysseus, the protagonist of Homer’s Odyssey, the father of Telemachus, and the husband of Penelope, demonstrates how courageous, fearless, and effective a leader he is. Throughout the book’s early...

O’Connor’s “Revelation” and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” Comparison

Introduction Flannery O’Connor’s short stories, titled “Revelation” and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” were written at different points in the woman’s life, but they still display a number of similarities in their narrative core, messaging, and themes. These two pieces have a lot in common while also possessing...

“When Leaves Turned Red”

The story begins in Ancient Greece, in the times of Gods and Heroes. It starts in a small town at the edge of the country. People here grow olives, catch fish, and hunt deer to sell their produce to bigger cities. Here the main heroine Chrosta lives on her tiny...

“Daddy” and “Where Are You Going, Where Are You Been?”: Gender Power Imbalance

Sylvia Plath’s poem Daddy and Joyce Carol Oates’ short story Where are you going, Where are you been? Question the typical woman’s role in society. Daddy explores the author’s relationship with her father, using analogies to emphasize his power over her. Where are you going? Where are you been? portrays...

Willson’s “Fences”: Where Masculinity Is Born

August Wilson’s Fences is a play built on the difficulties of understanding the characters. It concentrates on the characters’ ideas of right and wrong, honor and dignity, and how to live life. Strong male characters are revealed in Troy, the main character, and his son Cory, who transcends the fences...

Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred Book Analysis

Octavia E. Butler’s book Kindred illustrates how significant one’s surroundings can be in molding one’s beliefs and behaviors. One’s environment is made up of situations and connections, and the most important is speech. Dana’s civilization differs substantially from Rufus’s world, and so the approach these individuals use and perceive words...

The Image of the Devil in World Literature

Many different works have been written about the images of Satan since this character is ambiguous. So, the British poet John Milton sees him in his way and the Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov in a slightly different light. Milton reflects on the reason for the disobedience of the first couple...

A Woman’s Fate in the Chinese Culture

Shen Cogen’s works The Husband and Xiao Xiao tell the stories of a young woman and a girl who were born into poverty and live out the destination that is designed for them by Chinese traditions. A remarkable thing that unites both works is that the Chinese customs seem to...

Addressing the Issue of Self-Understanding

In the literature of various genres, authors have repeatedly referred to the topic of self-awareness and self-understanding of a human being in multiple settings and contexts. Apart from an array of key philosophical themes addressed by literary works, self-understanding occupies a unique place due to the reflection of the author’s...

Rebellion on the Animal Farm: Need to Rise Against Pigs

Rising against unjust oppression is a duty of any righteous resident of the farm. The current conditions in which the animals reside are unacceptable, as the animals in power openly ignore others’ needs and desires. The farm’s resources are occupied by the pigs alone, and they attempt to define truth...

“The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”: Life as a Slave

In “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano,” the author describes the events of his life as a slave. I think Equiano sets the beginning of his story in Africa instead of starting it with his American enslavement because he aims to share details about his native culture....

Comparing Lies in War Literature

Countless authors use their literary skills to attract and retain audiences from different parts of the world. In essence, although these writers aim at persuading others to accept their thoughts as good position in various issues, they often use lies and opinion to make the readers believe their notions of...

Fredrick Douglass and “Sunday School”

Douglass’ story shows how white slaveholders propagate subjection by keeping their slaves illiterate and unaware of many opportunities. At the time Douglass was composing, many individuals accepted that subjugation was a characteristic condition. They assumed that blacks were intrinsically unequipped for taking part in ordinary society and, accordingly, ought to...

Stowe and Douglass’s Depiction of Slavery

Introduction Slavery narratives are a large part of America’s history and cultural heritage. As the inevitable component of the country’s collective past, it has left a significant impact on art, literature, public discourse, and other areas of society. In this work, the messages of “Narrative of the Life of Frederick...

Baldwain’s “Sonny’s Blues” vs. Saunders’ “Sticks”

In a family setup, one always encounters situations where the relationship between close relatives becomes emotionally distant. Although parental love is always inherent, children tend to misconstrue their fathers’ reactions toward them. Parents, especially fathers, often try to anchor and remind the rest of their role as the head of...

The Cosmopolitan Canopy by Elijah Anderson

Introduction In The Cosmopolitan Canopy, Elijah Anderson (2004) presents the concept of a “cosmopolitan canopy,” a place where individuals set aside their diverse backgrounds and differences to communicate in more civil and cosmopolitan ways. He argues that people from different racial, ethnic, and class groups, engage in folk ethnography, whereby...

José Olivarez and Nate Marshall’s Poems

José Olivarez and Nate Marshall’s poems and dialogue were very interesting for reading. While discussing opportunities for life in the South, they address complex issues of identity, historical roots, and personal security of members of ethnic minorities and people of color regarding the widespread racism in society. Despite the still...

“Where Are You Going…” by Oates: An Analysis

Introduction Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been? is a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates in 1966. The narrative emphasizes the modern culture and norms of American society in the 1960s by telling a story of a 15 years old girl – Connie. The author uses various...

Cultural Code Behind Matsuo Basho, Faust and Odysseus

Introduction Literature is one of the main instruments of comprehension and description of reality, which is significantly influenced by characteristics of nations and cultures, by religious, historical and ethnical aspects. Traditions and common values of a certain society and time are reflected by various elements of literature. Almost any literary...

Classical Greek Ethnography and the Slave Trade

Summary of the Article The article “Classical Greek Ethnography and the Slave Trade,” written by Thomas Harrison, argues about the significance of the institution of slavery in forming stereotypes about foreign people in the Greek world. He also claims that the essential ethnographic data were gathered with the help of...

The Role of Adversities in “The Wars” by T. Findley

Adversity has the ability to leave an indelible impression on people’s minds, shaping our character and behavior for the rest of our life. Adversity triggers a powerful negative emotional response in people, causing them to get enraged, ashamed, humiliated, dejected, and discouraged (Bachem et al., 2019). People are forced to...

“The True History of the Conquest of New Spain”: Life in the Aztec Society

Based on the document, the Aztec people lived an organized life full of riches and splendor. The immense crowding of the market and the order used in running it shows that order organized the Aztec people in how they operated. The narrator illustrates that ‘every species of merchandise had a...

Analysis of “To Live in the Borderlands” Poem

Being a part of the global community, with its incredible diversity and complicated history of relationships between different groups, is quite challenging, especially for those belonging to minority groups. In her poem “To Live in the Borderlands,” Gloria Anzaldua purports the emotional weight of the struggle that she carries as...

Autobiographical Information in “Black Boy” by Richard Wright

Richard Wright’s autobiographical book Black Boy is an account of the insidious effects of racial bigotry in the Southern United States in the 1920s. In its pages, the author reveals the brutal truth about whites’ degrading treatment of African Americans and the limited opportunities for employment and education. Therefore, Black...

“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

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

Responses to Essays of Baker, Schreiner, and Hughes

Response to “The Art of Eating Spaghetti” By Russell Baker “The Art of Eating Spaghetti” demonstrates the essential rule for creating any art, namely, a sincere desire to express oneself. The narrator shows that a simple and most conventional task of writing an essay as homework can produce an effect...

Brothers in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

The story described in Sonny’s Blues stays relevant to these days, and many people meet the same life conditioned as the book’s main characters. The author presents his readers with the story of two brothers who live different lives and do not share the same interest. Sonny, the younger brother,...

Role of Women in Literature and Art

Introduction The role of women in literature and art is a topic explored by various critics, creators, authors, and people throughout the years. Due to the way society has developed, some types of people have found themselves to be at a significant disadvantage in the ways others are used to...

Dickinson’s “Recognizing Poetry” Literary Work Analysis

In Dickinson’s “Recognizing Poetry,” the author narrates about this genre and, more specifically, its significant trait. For her, it is the emergence of physical sensations “as if the top of my head were taken off” when reading a piece, and this factor correlates with the poetic expression (Kennedy and Gioia...

Writer William Cuthbert Faulkner’s Biography

William Cuthbert Faulker was an American writer born in New Albany, Mississippi, on September 25, 1897, and died on July 6, 1962. His parents were Maud Butler Faulkner and Murry Falkner, who lived in a small Mississippian village (Khelifa 2). Faulker or Falker as his original name was named after...

Women Playwriters’ Development of Feminist Agenda

Theater and plays are important tools through which artists can speak to the public about social issues. Gender inequality has attracted massive attention since the late 19th century, which is also reflected in the work of women playwrights of different periods. The psychological pressure that women experienced while in the...

“Beowulf” Poem and Old English

Background The English language is rightfully considered one of the most complex languages in terms of its genesis, derivation, and creation throughout the years. The history of the language, while unavoidably intertwined with the physical history of the land and people, reflects some of the most significant milestones in history....

“Pre-life” of the Name Olivia

Slaves in Algiers Rowson’s play is a reaction to actual events on Barbary Coast, where pirates raided American ships and captured passengers and sailors for ransom. The writer compares Arab culture and American values presenting the latter from a favorable perspective. Her characters are designed to demonstrate American faith in...

Descriptions by Ray Bradbury and Dagoberto Gilb

The bottom-to-the-top direction in Bradbury’s description of Tyrannosaurus Rex is not accidental. This technique allowed Bradbury to convey the sheer awe and terror experienced by Eckels. The terrifying dinosaur towers over thirty feet above the trees (Bradbury, 1952). The time traveler cowers in fear as he sees the mighty legs...

A Variety of Themes in “Candide” by Voltaire

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

“Hope Leslie” by Catherine Maria Sedgewick

Catherine Maria Sedgewick’s book Hope Leslie depicts a story of historical context, romance, and social issues. A very prevalent theme throughout the narrative consists of the author’s interpretation and representation of Native Americans. Sedgwick can subvert several dishonest stereotypes that were widespread before and at the time of the book’s...

Chapters 33 and 34 of “Istanbul” by Pamuk

Chapter 33 In Chapter 33, “A Foreigner in a Foreign School,” Pamuk talks mostly about his school days and his feeling of not belonging and otherness from people surrounding him, including his classmates, family, and friends. The author recounts his experience at Robert Academy, although he speaks mostly about the...

Modern Poetry as a Global Phenomenon

Lupke, Christopher. “Bridge Essay: Modern Poetry as a Global Phenomenon.” A Companion to World Literature (2020): 1-7. The essay by Christopher Lupke provides an insight into the history of poetry and the way different styles from different parts of the world contributed to the formation of modernism in poetry. The...

The Play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare

As a character, Julius Caesar is defined by hubris and commitment to the grandiose. In Shakespeare’s eyes, Caesar is the ultimate emperor: simultaneously destructive and strangely magnificent in his yearning for omnipotence. The conspirators accuse Caesar of ambition, and his actions back up their claim: he does fight for full...

Romance in Canterbury Tales and Courtly Love in the Lais of Marie de France

The Canterbury Tales originate from some pilgrims’ contest in story narration as they were navigating to Canterbury Cathedral written by Geoffrey Chaucer. Pilgrims from a wide variety of social classes participated in Canterbury Tales to reflect on the general social tensions and upheavals. The host of the competition promised a...

“Waiting” by Judith Wright: Poem Analysis

Summary The poem “Waiting” was written by Judith Wright and was added to her first book of poetry published in 1946. The author, famous Australian poet, and environmentalist dedicated The Moving Images to the themes of love of the environment, the dispossession of the Aborigines, and the possibility of changing...

Dulce et Decorum Est Poem by Wilfred Owen

Poetry may require an immense effort from the reader if they want to grasp the meanings implied by the poet. However, on certain occasions, a poet may strive to convey a direct, explicit message. This case is applicable to Dulce et Decorum est poem by Wilfred Owen. Written from the...

How Kreon Is the Tragic Hero, Based on Aristotle’s Principles

Based on Aristotle’s principles, Kreon is the tragic hero in the story. Aristotle distinguishes between historical and poetical actions and the characters that accompany them. To Aristotle, a tragic hero is a person with easily identifiable characteristics depending on their age. Young tragic heroes “are ready to desire and carry...

Review of “Beowulf” Poem by Heaney Seamus

The monsters that played a vital role in the fights were Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. These monsters are depicted as sinful and deadly creatures that disturb people’s peace by attacking them. The poem describes Grendel as a sin-stained creature that used to kill and terrorize the Danes often....

Romanticism Poetry by William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth was born in 1770 in Cumberland, England, under the reign of Queen Victoria. He began his poetry in England as a young boy while in school before completing his college studies. Wordsworth related his composition to the people’s affair with nature and advocated language utilization including, the lecture...

The Overarching Theme of Miller’s “The Crucible”

The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 when America was still affected by the McCarthy regime. During this era, communism was regarded as a serious threat, and many people were under suspicion of being or sympathizing with communists. Therefore, in order to avert suspicion from themselves,...

Womanhood in Piercy’s “Barbie Doll” vs. Kincaid’s “Girl”

For the American feminist movement, the 1970s was a time of utmost importance in many ways. According to McBean (2018), even though the Women’s Liberation Movement started in the 1960s, it gained traction in the public sphere in the next decade. This contributed to the appearance of mainstream feminist fiction...

Review of “The Yellow Wallpaper” Story

The point of view in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” is an important element, which allows a reader to have a full and complete understanding of the inner being of the main character. The key reason is manifested in the fact that the central literary elements revolve around the...

Rhetoric as Style Choice in American Literature

American literature is broadly defined as English-language literature produced in what is today known as the United States. It began with the works of English adventurers and colonists arriving in the New World and proceeded its development alongside the historical events occurring since the period of colonization. Nevertheless, the alignment...

“With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa” by Eugene Sledge

Eugene Sledge’s With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa is a memoir by a World War II participant. The book describes the thoughts and experiences of a young man who joined the US Marines and fought against the Japanese forces. Thus, the summary will demonstrate the controversial nature of...

Mechanics of Raymond Carver’s Popular Literary Works

Plot/Structure The author depicts a fight between a woman and a man who is leaving the woman. He packs his things while she is holding her baby, and when he is done, the man demands the baby. They both hold the baby “is slipping out” due to the adults’ struggle,...

Plague, Religion, and Society in Literature

In the context of modern society, the notion of plague stands for metaphoric labeling of an all-destructive force that cannot be either stopped or controlled by human beings. In the Late Middle Ages, the plague pandemic has become a world-changing precedent that changed people’s perception of life once and for...

Gilgamesh’s Lesson in Search for Immortality

The story of Gilgamesh mainly deals with matters affecting human life. Gilgamesh is celebrated for his successes as a human, such as protecting the city and learning to accept mortality and not his dimity. Initially, he did not fear anything because he had powers bestowed by the gods to rule...

Joseph Campbell’s Mythic Insights: ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces

The fifth section of the second chapter in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, written by Joseph Campbell, “Apotheosis,” focuses on the hero’s path, in which enlightenment is achieved. The central claim of the considered part is presented in the sentence, “Having surpassed the delusions of his formerly self-assertive, self-defensive,...

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman: Literary Analysis

In writing the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Gilman describes the protagonist and narrator, a young woman giving in to a mental disorder upon giving birth. Through the symbol of the yellow wallpaper on the house walls, the author conveys the mental health state of the protagonist throughout the narrative....

Juvenal: The Famous Roman Satirist

Satire is practically the only Roman genre not borrowed from the Greeks. The word satire means a mixture, reflected in the different lengths of the works, the difference in content, and other aspects. The variety of content corresponded to the richness of forms: satires could be in the form of...

“Underground Railroad” by Whitehead vs. “Sticks” by Saunders

Introduction The two novels talk about events that people experience in real-life. In the novel “Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead, Cora, a protagonist, flees the Georgia farm where her family has been slaves for three generations. (Whitehead 10). The story centers around a quest for freedom from slavery. On the...

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

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

The Hemingway Home: Writers’ Issues

No other place is as informative about influential personas as the places where they lived. It is no wonder why Ernest Hemingway’s house in Key West has attracted so many visitors, me included. Hemingway’s residency is now a public museum that preserves authenticity due to Hemingway’s possessions remaining there. When...

Eliot’s and Ferlinghetti’s Poems Comparison

Poets at all times have been looking for new forms to express their thoughts in literature. Especially interesting in this respect are the works of T. S. Eliot, who experimented with both form and content, giving his poems new meanings. His poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is...

Symbols and Romanticism of Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”

Introduction Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most prominent works written by Mark Twain. The novel addresses one of the most crucial issues of the society of Twains times – slavery and describes the life of people living along the Mississippi River. Undoubtedly, on one side, the Mississippi...

Righteousness and Innocence: The Lamb by William Blake

Introduction William Blake, a native of London, is one of the significant figures in poetry and the fine arts of the Romantic era. His literature is refined and full of meaning: he grew from rebelliousness and a spirit of rebellion into a creator with ideas of forgiveness and self-sacrifice. Blake...

Literary Analysis of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

Bailey and his wife, together with the three kids and their grandmother, decided to visit Florida. During this time, The Misfit had escaped from prison and was on the run. Along the way, the grandmother recognizes a childhood plantation, and she yearns to visit it (Flannery 2). She convinces Bailey,...

Eggers’s “The Circle”: Characters and the Theme

In the age of social media, people are more defenseless than ever, as their information becomes readily available for various organizations and applications. Eggers’s The Circle, a short story written in 2013 when the issue was already burning, reflects that defenselessness. The author reveals the devastating effects of social media...

On Being Brought from Africa to America Poem by Wheatley

The poem On Being Brought from Africa to America by Phillis Wheatley is a poetic representation of dark period in American history when slave trade was prominent in society. However, despite the horrors of slavery, it is a poem of resilience and strength demonstrated by Wheatley on her journey. In...

Gender Roles in Trifles Play by Susan Glaspell

The “Trifles” play, written in 1919 by Susan Glaspell, illustrates the world of a gender-strict role, where men dominated the society. This is because males were allowed to go out and work while women were confined at home to perform household chores and look after children. Females had no control...

The Novel “The Tale of Genji” by Murasaki Shikibu

World’s literary culture contains monumental works written by authors from different regions and living in different times. Japanese literature is also an essential element of world literature, in the context of which Murasaki Shikibu and his work “The Tale of Genji” cannot be overlooked. The story is about the heir...

Anthony Anaxagorou’s Text Message Poetry Explanation

Anaxagorou’s poem Text Message is about the changes in the contemporary world, more so those brought about by technology. The persona, who is living in the modern world, describes how things have transformed and the resultant effect on humans and the entire ecosystem. For instance, the use of information technologies...

Different Views on Multicultural Identity: Aurora Levins Morales and Gloria Anzaldua

The idea of identity and culture has always been topical in the literature. Numerous authors have been cogitating about their culture and place in a particular country or community. For America, this issue acquired critical importance because of the history of the state and its multicultural nature. The diversity of...

Review of “The Taming of the Shrew” Play

Critical examination of works of fiction, combined with a reflective analysis of one’s reactions and emotions from reading them, is an effective academic strategy. For this assignment, the object of study was William Shakespeare’s monumental play The Taming of the Shrew, written in 1590. As an illustrative example of a...

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

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

The “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler

In the “Parable of the Sower,” the character Lauren has a disability, which causes her to overshare and feel overly empathic towards others. Lauren understands her disability as something that allows her to be more compassionate and understand others’ feelings. For example, in one of the passages, she talks about...

Tan’s “Mother Tongue” and King’s “Reading to Write” Works

Composing a compelling essay or speech, which immediately hooks its audience, can be a difficult task. It is vital to understand who will be reading or listening to the text, personalizing the content and delivery style accordingly. In their essays, “Mother Tongue” and “Reading to Write” Amy Tan and Stephen...

The Age of Reason Through Literature

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

A New Concept Based on “Antigone”

Antigone is one of the most notable plays of Ancient Greece, which remains relevant to this day and is used by directors around the world. The play explores the topic of the oppressive patriarchal society, which makes it particularly topical during the current times. Antigone inspires me to develop a...

“Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent” by Wilkerson

Biography Isabel Wilkerson was born in 1961 in Washington DC, US. She grew up to join Howard University for a journalism course. She served as editor-in-chief for her college newspaper known as The Hilltop. While studying, she got a chance to carry out her internship in Los Angeles Times and...

Jacqueline Lapsey’s “Whispering the Word”

Introduction The Old Testament (OT) offers numerous arguments and views regarding the position of women in Christian societies. Over the years, feminists in this religion have lacked proper strategies for maintaining their views and commitments to the notions of gender equality from a religious perspective. In the book Whispering the...

Homo Deus Summary: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Harari

The given annotated bibliography will focus on the book titled Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow written by Yuval Noah Harari. The writing is an outstanding piece of humanity’s future possible development and challenges, which need to be overcome in order to achieve the primary objectives. The book is...

Analysis of “Everyday Use” Story

“Everyday Use” is a well-known story from the African-American writer and human rights activist Alice Walker. It is better known for the “not every day” and “non-routine” thoughts on the issue of cultural and national identity within the framework of modern society. Despite the apparent lightness and ease of narration,...

Slavery: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Introduction The focus of the book analysis is The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, written by Olaudah Equiano in the 18th century. It is an autobiography document that contains a wide range of narratives on spirituality, travel, and, most importantly, slavery. The book was written and published...

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor: Literary Analysis

Introduction A Good Man Is Hard to Find was first published in 1953 after Flannery O’Connor’s permanent migration to Andalusia, her mother’s dairy farm, and displayed several characteristics typical of the author’s style. Constrained, in many ways, by her sickness, the author had to take advantage of various resources available...

Analysis of Shakespeare’s Play “Romeo and Juliet”

Introduction Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is one of the most classic and exemplary works in the tragic play’s genre. The greatest poet skillfully and masterfully revealed in his creation the theme of love and freedom of choice, the problems of anger, revenge, and unforgiveness, as well as the piece of...

“The Iliad of Homer” by Butler

Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, raises some existential questions pertaining to the roles of humans and gods in determining destiny. The extent and proportions of free will and fate in the poem are not clear as there is an ongoing struggle between the mortals and the immortals. People make plans...

The Setting Role in American Short Stories

Introduction Writers employ setting aspects to help them create worlds and establish the limits of the possible and impossible within a story. While both phrases explain elements of a universe, the latter stresses that the world being described is unfamiliar to the reader. Worldbuilding is, therefore, most closely connected with...

Nevada Harsh Land: Roughing It by Mark Twain

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

The Poems “Blessed Hope” by Harper and “Unexpressed” by Dunbar

Blessed Hope by Frances E.W. Harper Oh! crush it not, that hope so blest, Which cheers the fainting heart, And points it to the coming rest, Where sorrow has no part. Tear from my heart each worldly prop, Unbind each earthly string, But to this blest and glorious hope, Oh!...

Similarities and Differences Between the Cinderella Fairy Tales

Classic fairy tale storylines can often be sighted in numerous folktales throughout the world. As such, the tale of Cinderella can be observed in such works as Yeh-Hsien, Lin Lan, and The Three Gowns, common fairy tales from China and Latin America, respectively. Although the environment surrounding these locations and...

Fairy Tales Teaches Readers

Fairy tales have a significant impact on the reader. They help to develop such personal qualities as selflessness, willpower, and sincerity. A fairy tale teaches readers that no matter what difficulties may occur in life, better things triumph over evil. Through characters, the author shows that people need to always...

Berendt’s “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”

When the Guise Disappears Peter was an ordinary male who worked in the grocery shop. He was about thirty years, but his face told that he had witnessed many misfortunes in his life. Wrinkles started to cover his face slowly, which added to his overall gloomy appearance. Moreover, he was...

The Myth of Heracles in the Modern World

Introduction The chosen myth about Heracles and his exploits is the cultural wealth of all humankind. Modern languages are filled with proverbs and phraseological units using the example of Heracles as a strong man. In addition, Heracles became a character in frescoes and sculptural structures. Artists were often inspired by...

Comparison and Contrast Between Sappho’s Poem and Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp

Characters, theme, dialogue, the setting, symbolism and narration are both part of a short story and a poem. On the other hand, unlike poems, stories do not have features of sound and tone. A short story is written in a narrative form but is made of fiction, just like the...

The “Construir Una Imagen” Book by María Alvarado

“Construir Una Imagen. Visión Europea del Indígena Americano” was written by María del Mar Ramírez Alvarado and published in 2001. The book presents a detailed document that illustrates different images of the Native Americans spread across Europe from the end of the fifteenth century to the start of the seventeenth...

Depression and Denial in “Death by Landscape” by Wilk

Grief and depression are one of the primary topics of literature, as they are a part of every person’s life at some point in time. Dealing with loss in a healthy manner is a process each individual has to learn, being necessary to live in a fulfilling manner. Five stages...

Odysseus’ Encounter With the Cyclops Polyphemus

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

The Theme of Slavery in Poetry

Introduction “On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley and “The Slave Mother” by Frances E.W. Harper are two poems that convey the harsh reality of slavery. The people of African descent had to experience inequity due to their ethnic background for centuries. In the poems, the central...

The Book “The Republic” by Plato

Introduction In the book “The Republic,” Plato provides the modern worn with some insights about the life and leadership styles used in ancient Greek society. The most prominent antagonist to Socrates, Thrasymachus, was an ancient Greek philosopher and professional teacher. In the book, Thrasymachus is one of the older sophists,...

A Poem “Howl” and a Song “It’s Alright Ma”: A Comparative Analysis

Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” is the most famous and vital piece of the beat generation. Bob Dylan’s song It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) opened an entirely new genre of the song in the music industry. Comparing a literary work and a musical one, critics define them as dark masterpieces. The...

“Love for Sale” by Alice Clement

“Love for Sale” by Alice Clement is a book examining gender roles, sexual morality, and sexual practices between 1900 to 1945. It compares prostitution and courtship with a new social practice called “treating.” Women were “treated” when they provided sexual favors for material goods like shoes and dresses or dinner...

Brothers in Chaim Potok’s Novel “In the Beginning”

Introduction Chaim (Herman Harold) Potok was an American novelist and essayist born into a Hasidic family. He studied at an Orthodox Jewish school but showed an early craving for creativity. At the age of ten, he tried to draw, but his father and teachers dissuaded him from this hobby. A...

Structure of Langston Hughes’ Harlem Poem

“Harlem” was a poem work written by Langston Hughes in 1951, a time when jazz and blues music was emanating. He wrote the poem to explore the consciousness and lives of the black people in Harlem (Duki 162). The composition took another path of addressing the continuous experience of the...

“An Adventure With Teddy Roosevelt” by Jerome Alden

An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt by Jerome Alden is set in the United States in the early twentieth century. During this period Theodore Roosevelt, the country’s 26th president, attempted to run for a third term as president in 1912. Having already been a leader of the United States twice and...

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

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

The Knight Character in “The Canterbury Tales” by Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales in regard to the Middle Ages The Canterbury Tales are generally perceived by many as a prominent contribution to medieval literature. Indeed, it represents a fully-fledged depiction of a social stratification of that time, as well as the linguistic peculiarities and features of people’s robes. Thereby, it...

Imagination vs. Control in The Yellow Wallpaper

“…the color is repellant, almost revolting; a smouldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight… This wallpaper has a kind of sub pattern in a different shade, a particularly irritating one, for you can only see it in certain lights, and not clearly then. But in the places where...

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

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

James Baldwin and His Notes of a Native Son

James Baldwin had a significant contribution to U.S. culture and literature. A collection of ten essays called “Notes of a native” by James Baldwin was first published in 1955. The papers mainly cover racism in America and describe the author’s personal experience of growing up in such a discriminatory environment....

Familial and Cultural Values in Tan’s and Erdrich’s Stories

Family relationships are never simple, and even if people think they know everything about each other, something unpredictable occurs. “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan and Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich is the stories about two families and their cultural and social impact from the Chinese American and Native...

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

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

“Beyond Stereotypes” by David Mazzucchelli

Max Bledstein’s analysis of “Asterios Polyp” by David Mazzucchelli This work focuses on the analysis of the article by David Mazzucchelli “Beyond Stereotypes”, which examines the literary work Asterios Polyp. The main themes are racism, sexism and characterization. I believe that the essay has fulfilled the necessary requirements, as it...

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

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

The Main Themes in “Everyday Use” by Walker

The themes of family relations, sister rivalry, traditions, heritage, and the struggle for civil rights intertwine in Alice Walker’s short story. The narrator is an African-American woman and the mother of two daughters. While this woman shows incredible strength in caring for her family, racial oppression has imprinted her not...

Poetry Assessment: The Main Elements

Introduction The assessment of poetry is generally conducted with regard to the essential elements that it incorporates. They include characters presented by the narrator and their audience, dialogues, image, setting, themes, voice, style, and tone, and the consideration of corresponding techniques can demonstrate their importance for the message. Hence, poems...

V. Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde About Community

V. Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde are the characters created by the famous writers M. Shelly and R.L. Stevenson. These are deathless, and in some way, cult images familiar to many of those who are interested in world classical literature. Each of these fictional personalities is incomparable, individual, and...

Laila Lalami’s “My Life as a Muslim in the West’s Gray Zone”

In the feature article “My Life as a Muslim in the West’s ‘Gray Zone,’” the author, Laila Lalami (2015), expresses her thoughts and fears regarding the current status of Muslims in the world, specifically in the United States. The article suggests that Muslims are not entirely welcome in the U....

“The Broken Spears” by Miguel León-Portilla

Miguel León-Portilla is the author of one of the most popular masterpieces of the world’s literature called “The Broken Spears.” The writer was born in Mexico and became famous for his philosophical, anthological, and historical findings. To support financial stability, Dr. Portilla had to study and work simultaneously. The experience...

Normal in Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad and Saunders’ Sticks

Introduction Normal can be considered to be an occurrence or behavior that conforms to accepted rules. Humans repeat patterns of behavior which in many ways makes them predictable. This phenomenon is apparent when characters in Sticks by George Saunders and The Underground Railway by Colson Whitehead are examined. Some are...

Book Review: “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss was the pseudonym of the beloved children’s writer Theodor Seuss Geisel. His works have taught generations of children how to read, feel, and think (Go, 2019). Dr. Seuss’s books are instantly recognizable because they feature a simple plot told in an extremely original matter with delightful wordplay and...

Discussion of Mary Paik’s Experience

Korean immigrants, arriving in the United States in the early 20th century, were in conditions similar to that of other non-white immigrants. They encountered discrimination: not brutal and cruel, but still unpleasant. Paik family, who fled from Korea to the United States in the years of the Japanese occupation of...

The Crucial Role of Nature in “The Farming of Bones”

In his novel The Farming of Bones, Edwidge Danticat, a Haitian-American novelist, engages in the process of re-remembering the tragic events surrounding the Haitian massacre of 1937, delving deep into his memories and the psychological relaying of history. From the very beginning of the novel, it becomes clear that the...

Plot and Topics of “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

The author presents a series of advice that the mother gives to the daughter in the Antiguan community. The mother notices that her daughter has reached adolescence and realizes she is the only person to guide her daughter to live a non-promiscuous and respectful life. She imparts general knowledge to...

The Play “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” by Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy that may be defined as one of the most well-known tragedies in world literature. It focuses on moral sensitivity and reflection that lead to the gradual alienation of the main character affected by the necessity to act. Prince Hamlet...

The Novel “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker

There are many books which tell about the struggles of protagonists and how they manage to overcome them, attaining a better life for themselves or the people around them. Yet, not many of them show how the personal problems of the main character reflect the overall historical context of the...

“The Life and Times of Fredrick Douglass” Autobiography Analysis

Introduction The Life and Times of Fredrick Douglass is an autobiography that draws attention to the struggle during the emancipation, civil rights, and citizenship of African Americans following the Civil War. Douglass’s autobiography leaves his childhood narrative unchanged, as described in earlier texts. The memoir describes enslavement and Douglass’s life...

Theme in “Miss Brill” Story by Katherine Mansfield

Introduction Modern societies face numerous challenges which affect the lives of people and, at times, significantly hinder their well-being and mental state. Isolation is among the main pressing issues encountered by individuals nowadays, and some experts state there is even a loneliness epidemic taking place (Klinenberg). The story “Miss Brill”...

Communication with the Audience in Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein”

Beyond simply telling a good story, Mary Shelly is trying to convey the information that while technology and science have an essential part in human life, the two can only go as far. The author at the end of the story proves that technology and science can only go far...

“Parable of the Sower” as a Signal for Humanity

Introduction It is anxiously to analyze how close Octavia Butler was in her prophecies, which were described in the novels Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. In these novels, the gap between rich and poor, inequality, limited resources, and drug influence made life on Earth a survival...

Shakespeare’s Impact on the English Language

No one can dispute the fact that Shakespeare’s works have had an impact on the English language and should be studied in schools by students. Shakespeare had a great contribution when comes to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the authoritative record of the English language, used mostly by students. In...

Credibility Analysis of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight“

Background Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most well-known examples of the classic Medieval Arthurian romances. While the poem’s author is unknown, historians and literary scholars have speculated that it was written by the same Gawain-poet who wrote other narrative poems, including Pearl, Cleanness, and Patience,...

“Animal Farm” by George Orwell Review

One of the greatest books I have read outside the school program is “Animal Farm” written by George Orwell. I believe that the story is a satirical masterpiece that everyone should read. The book has a form of an unreal condition that cannot be typically represented in real life. However,...

Power and Agency in the Works of Octavia Butler

Introduction Literature is a great device to explore a variety of themes, ideas, and theories, as it allows people to exercise the creative freedom of expression. Writing is a medium that allows individuals to channel their ideals, beliefs into words, inspire others, and relay messages they consider to be important....

Modernist Novel “Nightwood” by Djuna Barnes

Nightwood is a well-known novel by Djuna Barnes, who had to spend time in Paris in the 1930s living with lesbians to develop the novel’s content. Nightwood was published in 1936, but it took a long time to be regarded as her literary masterpiece. Her book has been considered one...

Functions of Letters in Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

The novel Pride and Prejudice was initially an epistolary piece that June Austen wrote in the early 1800s. Jane Austen is one of the renowned novelists from England. She is majorly known for focusing on women’s position in marriage. The novel’s setting was during the 18th Century, when individuals in...

Mario Vargas Llosa: Latin America’s Outstanding Novelist

Mario Vargas Llosa, who is considered one of Latin America’s greatest novelists, was born into a middle-class family in Peru in 1936. He was brought up by his mother and always thought that his father had died, until in 1946 when he appeared and wanted to take Llosa away; indeed,...

“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson

Death is frequently described through various figures of speech and imagery to communicate what a writer envisions of it. In “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” Emily Dickinson presents her points of view in regard to Death and eternality. The writing’s speaker informs us that Death, exemplified as the...

The Play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry

King, Eric S. “African Americans and the Crisis of Modernity: An Interpretation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun”. Ethnic Studies Review, vol. 41, no. 1-2, 2018, pp. 53–60. The article raises the severe question of relationships between people of different races, but it primarily describes interracial conflicts, attitudes,...

“The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath: Plot and Thesis

Introduction In The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath authors a story about herself. The life of Esther Greenwood, who aspires to be a poet, is depicted in The Bell Jar as she tries to realize her ambitions via education, using Ladies’ Day magazine as a starting point. She chose a month-long...

“My Life as a Muslim in a West’s Grey Zone” by Lalami

In “My life as a Muslim in a West’s Grey Zone”, Laila Lalami discusses the treatment of Muslims not involved in terrorist organizations in the West. She explains that Muslims who do not support the actions of ISIS are referred to as a grey zone. However, the attitude towards this...

Aging and Death in Literature: Larkin and Shakespeare

Aging and death are inevitable parts of life and, as such, have a significant representation in culture. Different societies place different meaning on those things, some viewing death as the ultimate end to one’s existence, while others believing that it is only a transition to a different state of being....

“At the Dark End of the Street” by Carr

Introduction The problem of racism is topical for modern American society. Unfortunately, racism is not only about hatred of people with different skin colors but also about encroachment on their lives and inviolability. One of the most famous victims of racism is Recy Taylor, who was kidnapped and raped by...

Edgar Alan Poe’s Stories Analysis

Works by Edgar Alan Poe are the most terrifying literature pieces in romanticism style. Even though the writer is always considered the representative of romanticism, his works can be regarded as the premise for the Southern Gothic formation. The most outstanding features of Gothicism can be found in his works....

Peace and Compromise in “Ender’s Game” by Card

Although “Ender’s Game” is set in the distant future, the themes and ideas that it conveys are quite close to present-day readers. Child mercenaries, which the protagonist is supposed to embody, do exist, representing a major ethical concern and a moral issue for the modern world. Raising the questions of...

Home, Journey, and Identity in Children’s Books

The genre of children’s books might appear to be rather unsophisticated and plain to the uninitiated. However, on closer inspection, the world of children’s literature will reveal that it has no boundaries for imagination and, therefore, can stretch across the themes and subgenres hat no other type of literature can....

Edgar Allan Poe’s “Wuthering Heights”

The narrator wanted to take revenge with impunity, also making sure that it would be recognized as revenge, otherwise, there would be no point in it. The retaliation could go unpunished if it was portrayed as an accident, but, in this case, Fortunato would not understand the meaning of the...

The Power of Choice in the “Birdsong” and the “Clothes”

In the stories “Birdsong” and “Clothes”, the main characters follow difficult paths to their own identities, to their thoughts and feelings. However, they understand that they have a right of choice to live the way they like. Nobody actually can stop them from this, and they choose themselves whether to...