“Death of a Salesman”: The American Dream by Arthur Miller

Introduction Even though many readers consider the American Dream as one of the core ideas in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, there is always a chance to find some new interpretation. In his article, Majid Salem Mgamis explains the American Dream as a part of social values “that...

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Bear”: Journey to Manhood

The theme of the formation of the young hero personality is not new in world literature. Most of the major writers have turned to it in their work. A real artist always seeks to penetrate the secrets of the human soul, to find motives that push a person to certain...

Cocaine. “Crack” Book by David Farber

Crack: Rock Cocaine, Street Capitalism, and the Decade of Greed, written by David Farber, is a history of destructing poor communities of the United States by cocaine. It tells the reader about the roots of crack cocaine and the political response to the drug. It also gives examples from the...

“The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemmingway

The novel The Old Man and the Sea by Hemmingway is among his most significant writings. The author explores plenty of themes that are still relevant nowadays. Hemmingway forces his reader to reflect throughout the whole narrative, making him or her emphatic with aspirations, struggles, and achievements of the protagonist....

Mont Blanc: Lines Written in the Vale of Chamouni

Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote this first-person poem inspired by the Chamonix Valley landscapes near Geneva. The Romantic style of William Wordsworth significantly influenced Shelley’s poetry. The former applied a similar writing style by describing feelings and emotions with physical objects. The young Englishman visited the Arve Valley by Mont Blanc,...

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

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” written by Flannery O’Connor, quickly became one of the author’s most prominent pieces due to its many definitions and perceptions. First published in 1953, the writing is centered around the themes of good and evil, portraying the writer’s typical style. The following essay...

Sam Maggs Biography

Introduction Sam Maggs is one of the Master’s students who has achieved a lot in life. She won the 2014 Cineplex Entertainment’s Casting Call contest. In the following year, that is 2015; she moved to Edmonton, where she works up to now as a writer for the different best-selling video...

Shelley’s Frankenstein: The Monster’s Description

The story of Frankenstein and his creation has been popular for many years. It was a base for movies, and the monster character was included in many other stories. This is not surprising since this monster is ambiguous and arouses many feelings and emotions. Many contradictions exist in this monster,...

Death in John Donne’s and Percy Shelley’s Sonnets

Death is a controversial topic for many people since its perception varies from person to person. Some see it as liberation from earthly shackles while others dread it and try to postpone the final moment of life for as long as physically possible. Nonetheless, human lives are finite, and at...

Universal Qualities of Freedom

Freedom is the power to act, think, or speak as one wants. One universal quality of liberty is the ability to change without any constraint. Freedom allows people to make different decisions in their lives without facing any consequences. The short stories “The Bet,” “The Feather Pillow,” “Story of an...

“Bang” by Daniel Pena: Review

Daniel Inouye Pena is a Pushcart Prize winner writer of Mexican-American origin. “Bang” was his debut novel that receives major appreciation among American readers. It tells the story of an undocumented Mexican family living in South Texas. The piece addresses the problems related to the current U.S. migrant policy as...

Eliezer’s Lost Childhood in Elie Wiesel’s “Night”

The catastrophe that destroyed millions of lives Elie Wiesel’s literary work Night touches upon one of the most disastrous catastrophes in the history of Jews that is known as the Holocaust. It is difficult to understand why the most religious nation in the world has become the victims of the...

Narration, Setting, and Terms in “The Things They Carried”

Central Idea of the Story The central idea of the story is to determine why different people carry items that they do. The narrator notes physical objects and metaphysical ideas that the soldiers bring with them. For instance, Lt. Cross carries a tangible picture of Martha and his ephemeral feelings...

Heroism in The Things They Carried

The war in Vietnam…How much pain this short word combination incorporates. This war can be listed among the strangest and the most unsuccessful military campaigns ever held by the United Sates. The new commanding strategies limiting commanders out of their power and authority to control the process on a local...

Short Story a Good Man Is Hard to Find Interpretation

A Good Man Is Hard to Find is a short story written by Flannery O’Connor. The narrative describes a family journey that ended up with the violent murder of all its members by the gang of a prisoner in escape with the nickname The Misfit. The most contradictory character of...

Establishing Source’s Authority

There are various ways to establish the authority of a source. These include the author’s scope, fame, level of education, professional interests, and other personal characteristics. In addition, it is essential to consider the publisher, possible biases, sources of information studied, and other factors. When working with a source, it...

“Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison

Song of Solomon is a novel written by Toni Morrison in 1977 and belongs to African American literature. Although this text is one of the writer’s first works, the book brought Morrison great fame. The story of a young African American Macon Dead has raised many questions about black people’s...

‘The Things They Carried’ by Tim O’Brien: Reflection

War is a central theme in books of numerous authors, and Tim O’Brien is no exception to the rule. What makes him stand out from the rest is the source of information he uses and the way he presents the war. Being a war veteran, O’Brien writes about his personal...

White Slave Owners and the Tyranny of Slavery in Phillis Wheatley’s Poetry

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral is the first published volume of poetry written by an African-American author Phillis Wheatley (Mulder et al.). Published in 1773, Wheatley had an opportunity to speak out on the tyranny she and her race faced from day to day. Without any fear, she...

“Know Your Why” by Ken Costa

This book has comprised several simple truths that help an individual to figure out their main purpose in life. It is addressed to those who burn out at work spending numerous hours doing things they do not enjoy. Those activities do not bring them closer to the desired future. The...

Magic and Witchcraft in the Wizarding World

Introduction In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, magic is described as a supernatural force that defies nature’s laws. These books are popular because they contradict the norms and beliefs that people have been raised to know. Rowling has formed a narrative logic to make these stories believable to...

Characters’ Evolution in The House on Mango Street and Bullet in the Brain

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince raises fundamental philosophical issues about human life and its actual values. The protagonist undergoes internal evolution and gains an understanding that genuinely precious things are intangible. Instead, they can be perceived only by the heart. Subsequently, numerous other writers have adopted this narrative strategy....

Axe and Bermuda Triangle Overview

Among numerous contemporary writers, Carmen Boullosa occupies a specific place due to her fascinating use of metaphors and textual objects to convey deep underlying meanings. She is famous for many novels dedicated to the pressing problems of Mexican and American society. Still, she admitted in her interview that she had...

The Preservation of Humanism Contrary to Tradition in Story “The Lottery”

Introduction Residents of the American town gathered for the annual lottery, and as with any other venerable tradition, attitudes toward it vary depending on age. The older men cannot imagine the life of the community without it. Still, the youngers are more skeptical, and they take it without reverence. The...

“Under the Skirt of Liberty” by Giannina Braschi

An outstanding piece of writing called Under the Skirt of Liberty is Giannina Braschi’s creation, which criticizes the American establishment for the loss of its previous values and goals. The author’s message is primarily focused on describing major pitfalls of the American system, and it reaches out and converses with...

Ambivalence in Livy’s Introductory Remarks

In “Preface”, several cases of ambivalence proved Livy’s mixed feelings towards his project. First, Livy demonstrated uncertainty about “any return for the effort” because he did not “bring some greater authenticity” or new contributions but celebrated “the memory of the past” (1). The author seemed to doubt his intent “neither...

Crane’s “The Open Boat”: The Central Idea and Language

Central Idea The narration centers around the correspondent, the captain, the cook, and the oiler, who are lost in a boat in the middle of the sea after a shipwreck. The central idea of the story is to show the place of a man in the world and to demonstrate...

“The Worth of Love and Human Relationships” by Oscar Wilde

Human relationships, either comic or dramatic, turn out to be a common topic for many works of literature. Oscar Wilde used a variety of literary devices to enhance sensory experiences among readers. The Importance of Being Earnest is his play about the significance of social institutions like family and marriage....

Perception and Expectation in Literature

Word logic – clear message which is delivered by grammatically correct words and sentences. The reading-writing connection – mutual influence between a person’s ability to write well-structured texts and the amount of the read books. Comparison and contrast – the ability to discuss similar and different elements in a writing....

Chaucer’s Book of the Duchess and the Gawain Poet’s Pearl: A Critical Essay

Introduction The feeling of a personal loss is one of the emotional experiences that transcend all cultures and are easily understood by the members of any cultural environment. Moreover, the concepts of love and loss, as well as those of life and death, transcend not only cultures but time as...

Butler’s ‘Parable of the Sower’

Butler’s book is deemed to hold exceptional attributes in different facets, particularly structure and presentation of data and sentiments. Irrespective of being fictitious, the story is laid out in a way that appears real. Butler, the writer, develops the concern of corrupt governance portrayed by injustice and inequitable dealings (14)....

“The Life and Culture of the Gebusi” by Bruce Knauft

Introduction In his book, Bruce Knauft describes the life and culture of the Gebusi, a people living in Papua New Guinea. His anthropological research is deep and covers various aspects of the development of this unique culture. The evaluation of life, religion, social relations, spirituality, and other features of the...

The Namesake: Comparison of Ashima and Gogol

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri is a novel that demonstrates all the difficulties of adapting a person to a new cultural environment, as well as the search for his or her identity. The older generation has its problems because they need to accustom to the differences of the new culture...

“Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie: Interpretation

Setting The first part of the book focuses mainly on the theme of identity and introducing the characters. The identity of the main character, Poirot, is not presented in the first chapters. Perhaps, the author used this method to emphasize his detective capabilities instead of merely stating his talent. Poirot...

Ethnic Diversity in Poems by Pat Mora, Chrystos and Naomi Shihab Nye

Ethnic Diversity The issue of exile and the search for true identity is a significant topic in American culture. People with diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds live in one country and have to defend their traditions and worldview (Schilb et al. 78). For the authors such as Pat Mora, Chrystos,...

Dumbledore and Odin: Comparison

Introduction Mythology is a critically important element of any culture. It represents values and ideas that attract people and contribute to the creation of inspiring stories. Myths also reveal the current state of society’s evolution and issues that are important at the moment. At the same time, there are still...

“Fleabag”: A British Novel by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Fleabag is a British novel that was written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge in 2013. Subsequently, the book was screened in the film of the same name, in which the writer played the primary role. The plot describes Fleabag’s daily life, whose non-trivial behavioral pattern leads to dramatic and comic episodes. A...

The Analysis of Twain’s Novel “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Cour”

Mark Twain is the prominent American writer of the 19th century whose writings are not only witty and capturing but also address numerous social problems such as, for example, inequality. This issue is most evident in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. The novel tells a story about an...

“The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara

The Killer Angels is a well-known book that is obligatory for studying in American schools because it explores one of the most significant events in the history of the United States. The novel by Michael Shaara published in 1974 was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction a year later (Gale,...

Comparative Analysis “A Rose for Emily” and “Short Days, Dog Days”

Introduction Writers Marlin Barton and William Faulkner did not pay much attention to the detailed description of their characters, which is justified by the limited scope of their work. The primary source of perception of the nature of the central figures is the author’s descriptions of their way of thinking...

“Mother Tongue” of A.Tan Analysis Review

Amy Tan is an American writer of Asian origin who is passionate about languages. She had to grow up in a difficult situation, being the daughter of a Chinese immigrant. Her circumstances were also complicated due to the communication issues that her mother had to endure. For this reason, she...

Shelley’s “Frankenstein”: Analysis of Frankenstein’s Character

The story about Frankenstein and his monster raises many questions. One of these questions is still unanswered. For example, people cannot decide what is more important in making a person, nature or nurture. The monster people were afraid of felt the beauty of the world with its “cheering warmth” and...

The Namesake’ by Jhumpa Lahiri: Compare and Contrast

Introduction Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake expresses a complex combination of the emotions and feelings of the main characters who are trying to understand their places in society and identify themselves. The author shows an immigrant father, Ashoke, and his son, Gogol, who, despite different upbringings and cultural affiliations, go...

Kreon in “Oedipus the King”: Analysis of the Character

The embodiment of the rival for Oedipus is Creon who does not represent the same interpretation that takes place in Sophocles’ Antigone. In Oedipus the King, this character does not want to obtain power and aspires rather a share of it. The chorus reaffirms the reliability of Creon’s words, as...

Hero’s Journey Concept in Literature and Movies: The Role of a Mentor

Introduction While watching a film or reading an interesting book, it might be hard to notice a pattern that every story seems to follow. A hero is living a normal life and then experiences something that makes him or her begin an adventure, meeting new allies and enemies. Still, the...

“Women, Food, and Learning” by Claudia Setzer

Summary The issue of female representation in the Bible and its portrayal of women and womanhood, in general, are considerably controversial issues, mostly due to the perception of gender roles and sex-based prejudices that were common at the specified time slot. While there are key women in the Scripture, their...

“A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J. Gaines

From ancient history to modern days, people have worshipped heroes. Whether they were living or dead, fictional or real, those extraordinary individuals inspired others to be better. In A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines explores the theme of heroes in a seemingly brief, but significant way. The novel’s plot...

Oedipus and Hamlet Characters’ Comparison

The plays, Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and Hamlet by William Shakespeare was written centuries apart but they share common themes, specifically that of a tragic hero, as shown by the protagonists in these two chefs-oeuvres. Both Oedipus and Hamlet seek to avenge the death of their fathers, but in the...

Loss of Faith in Night by Elie Wiesel

One of the main themes of Wiesel’s ‘Night’ is faith in God. Throughout the book the faith of the narrator, Eliezer, undergoes many assaults. In the beginning we see his ‘totalistic and zealous commitment to God’, as Downing describes his state of faith (62). Eliezer grew up believing, that everything...

“Room” Story by Emma Donoghue

In the world of the 21st century, people seem to have forgotten about the cruelty of being deprived of freedom. With the impression of living as a free man, they have now become more focused on the notions of respect and equality. Only few, however, realize that every human being...

American Dream as a Symbol of Hopelessness in Gothic Fiction

Introduction The Street is a novel by Ann Petry, an AAfrican American writer, whose other famous works include novels Country Place and The Narrows. The Street was first published in 1946 and sold more than a million copies. The main character of the novel, Lutie Johnson, decides to build a...

Contrast Analysis “I, Too” and “I Have a Dream Analysis”

Introduction “I have a dream” speech belongs to Martin Luther King, Jr., who tried to send a message about civil rights. In his speech, the orator used a wide range of rhetorical and stylistic devices that made the message quite expressive. Main body Martin King uses such a stylistic means...

Analysis of “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan

Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” presents a narrative between the author and her mother (470). The story tells of the conflicts and discrepancies between the US and Chinese cultures. The author employs the writing approach to discuss the two cultures since she is convinced that language acts as a powerful tool....

Racial Tensions in “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison

Introduction “Recitatif” is a short story written by Tony Morrisson, which depicts the experience of Twyla and Roberta. The story uncovers many themes, including child neglect and racial tensions of the era. The plot development allows seeing the relationship between two childhood friends and the different life experiences and views...

“Endgame” by Samuel Beckett

In the twentieth century, many artists paid great attention to existentialism. In addition, the theater of the absurd became a remarkable phenomenon, which described in colors all the strangeness and meaninglessness of life. A striking example of such a work is Endgame by Samuel Beckett. One of its theatrical performances...

Romantic Era of English Poetry

The Romantic era is an important period in the history of English literature when many of the touching and evocative poems were presented to the public. My choice of the “Romantic” group is explained by the profoundness of themes and emotions expressed by the authors. Through the use of imagery...

The Great Gatsby: Gatsby and the Decline of the American Dream

Introduction Millions of people all over the world consider books to be a form of entertainment and use them as a gateway from their busy daily routine. Nevertheless, most of the writers aim at raising essential topics in their novels and stories and encourage individuals to think and gain more...

“Soldier’s Home” by Ernest Hemingway: Analysis

The ways of how a person’s psychological state and attitudes to everyday situations change in response to traumatic experiences, such as war or violence, have been an inspirational topic for multiple generations of writers. “Soldier’s Home,” a short story by Ernest Hemingway, is an excellent example of works that reflect...

Human Rights and Gender Issues: “The Love Suicides at Amijima” & “Tale of Kieu”

The issue of human rights, as well as gender-related inequalities, has been on the cultural agenda of humankind for a while. Comparing “The Love Suicides at Amijima” by Chikamatsu Monzaemon and “Tale of Kieu” by Nguyễn Du, one will realize that the two works, while representing different time periods, address...

“Understand This” by Jervey Tervalon

Introduction Within the past few weeks, the United States has experienced one of the most turbulent times in its history following the death of George Floyd. This intentional murder of the African American forced many citizens across the country to stand up against the mistreatment of black people, a malpractice...

Walt Whitman: Famous American Author

Walter “Walt” Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was one of the most famous American authors. Furthermore his legacy has been still a matter of controversy for the manner it was written in as well as for its outward sexuality. The poet was born to a carpenter who...

My Mistress’ Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun and No One Else

Poetry is a universal language that has always been used by people to express their feelings and emotions. Such concepts as love, devotion, and passion have also been important for all history of humanity. For this reason, regardless of the epoch and time, some similar motifs can be found both...

Prisoner on the Hell Planet by Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman depicts each nationality in his book as a specific animal: Jews as mice, Germans as cats, Poles as pigs. This form of representation shows the absurdity and horror of Nazi ideologies of dividing people into different species. However, the insert Prisoner on Hell Planet differs in style from...

Lucy Lurie Character From Coetzee’s “Disgrace”

Lucy Lurie is one of the supportive characters of J. M. Coetzee’s Nobel Prize awarded novel Disgrace. Despite being a secondary character, she plays an important role in illuminating some of the key points of the novel, revealing some hidden sides of David Lurie, her father, who is the major...

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston

The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God was written by African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston in 1937. The book describes how Janie Crawford, the main character, turns from a voiceless vibrant teenage girl into a strong and brave woman who can choose her destiny. It has some essential themes and...

“The Tragedy of Macbeth” by William Shakespeare

“The Tragedy of Macbeth” by William Shakespeare serves as a reflection of the relationship between the playwright and King James I, however, its implications stay relevant in the modern days. The portrayal of Lord Macbeth at the beginning of the play as an honorable, kind, and valorous man creates an...

Masculinity in “Refresh, Refresh” Story by Percy

Setting is an element of fiction often used by authors to support the ideas and themes presented in a literary work. Setting refers to the place and time where the story takes place and may include social statuses, weather, historical period, and details about immediate surroundings (Elements of Fiction). The...

Racial and Cultural Discrimination of Native Americans

Native in the Twenty-first Century In “Native in the Twenty-first Century,” Susan Power discusses challenges she faced as a Native American and emphasizes that natives cannot be silent any longer. She claims that the culture of Native Americans is being forgotten and history is being rewritten by the dominant society...

The Necessity of Self-Contemplation

Introduction While modern technology and social media have done wonders in terms of connecting people, it can be argued that this integration has come at the price of one of our least celebrated necessities. Time strictly devoted to oneself is time spent analyzing beliefs, values, and the purpose one takes...

“Coming of Age in Mississippi”: Inequality in a Society

Since childhood, Essie (Anne) lived with her mother Toosweet (Mama) Davis, her father Diddly (Di) Moody, younger brother Junior and younger sister Adline in a shack on a plantation. Her father left the family for another woman, which meant that Essie remained with her mother and sister. They were extremely...

“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Araby” by James Joyce

The main characters in “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Araby” by James Joyce are people of different ages and backgrounds. However, there is a certain similarity between the events that happened to them as well as their reaction that was triggered by the need for readjustment. Both characters...

Youth and Adulthood: A Comparative Analysis

Poems “We Old Dudes” by Joan Murray and “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks are going to be the primary focus of this essay. It might be easy to draw comparisons between the pieces as the poem by Murray derives its leading themes and literary elements from “We Real Cool.”...

Philosophy of “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Le Guin

“The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” is a philosophical short story that deserves the public’s attention. In her work, Le Guin describes a utopian city in which all people are happy, but their happiness rests on the misery and suffering of one child. The short story is filled with...

Hemingway and K. Chopin: Stories Comparison

Introduction Life has many turning moments that make people realize that there are on the wrong path, and that allows them to change their lives for the better. “Hills Like White Elephants” written by E. Hemingway and “The Story of an Hour” by K. Chopin both tell stories of such...

Creative Analysis “The Tale of Fafnir”

Introduction The given passage is from “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” a story about the king of Mesopotamian city Uruk, Gilgamesh. He, together with his friend Enkidu, go on a quest in search of immortality. The female characters of the story hold small but significant roles. Even though they are portrayed...

Essays by Rawls and Nozick Analysis

Introduction The term justice is very controversial and, in a high manner, provocative word. This fact becomes evident after a careful reading of the essay by Rawls and answers to it by Nozick. These two of the greatest thinkers had the most significant effect on modern politics and topical debate...

Othello, Cassio and Iago in the Play “Othello” by William Shakespeare

In the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare, a close look at the characters is being taken. Othello, Cassio and Iago are very different people with their own life experiences and this plays a very important role in the play. Each of them was raised uniquely and this makes up their...

Faust for Atheists: The Immortal Soul vs. the Knowledge Possessed

Throughout the history of literature, Faust is, no doubts, the greatest poem ever written. Combining the philosophic problem and the dramatic events, it grabs you by the hand and leads you the way Faust was walking. However, the question is whether the impressions about this little walk would be the...

“Wake Up, Little Stevie” by Christina Olson

Artists and poets use their experiences, observations, and encounters to create works of art that guide readers to analyze various events, challenges, or situations from different perspectives. Their competencies become a new opportunity for human beings to relate positively and change their lives for the better. In the poem “Wake...

The Story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker

Everyday Use is a short but succinct story by Alice Walker, an African American writer, and social activist. The setting takes place in the 1960s, when Mrs. Johnson and her daughters, Maggie and Dee, meet at their house. The story is saturated with the symbolism of family values and relationships,...

Ralph Ellison’s “Battle Royal”: Racism

Introduction The main character of Battle Royal, a short story which was written by Ralph Ellison, describes the life of a young black man, who is forced to endure violent acts of racism towards him and other African-Americans. Even though it depicts the events from centuries ago, the issue that...

Language in Paul Auster’s The New York Trilogy

Word and language act as essential criteria for human self-awareness and self-identification. The word as the main character is a feature of postmodern prose; it not only reflects reality but also creates it, causing it to be discursive practices. This feature also applies fully to the work of the famous...

Romeo and Julliet’ by W. Sheakspeare: Play Analysis

Romeo and Juliet are one of the famous tragedies by William Shakespeare. The selected performance for this analysis is the one by Douglas Booth, Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, and Hailee Steinfeld of 2010. The producer of this work relies on the use of a grave and balconies to stage the...

The Power of Narrative Through Time

Introduction The power of storytelling remains impressive during the whole history of humanity. It is captivating how narrative changes through time, focusing on different issues and employing other techniques to convey the ideas and engage the reader. In my presentation, I will compare two stories from different epochs, Othello by...

Othello Versus Shakuntala: Ultimate Lessons

The importance of love and affection in literature is permanently reinforced by secondary ideas that emphasize the eternal influence of higher feelings on the human race. The idea of pure love has been investigated by many authors, and Shakespeare’s Othello and Kalidasa’s Shakuntala may be considered rather similar in terms...

Analysis of “Out of the Dust” by Karen Hesse

«Out of the Dust» is a touching and tragic tale written by Karen Hesse which tells the story of the childhood of a girl named Billie Jo. She lives in Oklahoma Panhandle with her family and experiences the hardships and cruelty of life. Billie Jo’s mother and brother die in...

“Lessons in Constructive Solitude from Thoreau” by Holland Cotter

Introduction The article “Lessons in Constructive Solitude from Thoreau” by Holland Cotter is a brilliant example of a critique of the case study in the context of the present situation. The author analyzes an episode of the life of writer Henry David Thoreau, who spent two years in voluntary isolation...

“Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman Book Review

Overview The main reason why intelligent tests were initially conducted was to determine the level of mental ability among students (Matthews, Zeidner & Robert, 2002). However, it is still debatable whether one’s intellectual ability is similar to the IQ ratings. However, it is evident that most people who are perceived...

The Process of Radicalization in “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Hamid

Introduction The novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid is the year 2007 bestseller that focuses on the tension between the American government and the people from East Asia. The book tells a story from a point of view of a professor of finance from Lahore, Pakistan. Bearing a symbolic...

Michael Welland’s Sand “The Never-Ending Story”

Written to engage an amateur as well as a trained professional, Michael Welland’s Sand: The Never-ending Story covers everything that is connected with the topic of sand. From composition and size to usage, sand is the key subject of Welland’s insightfully written book. A geologist, Welland not only scrutinizes sand...

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas Review

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas tells a story of a 16-year-old black girl, Starr, who witnesses her friend being killed by a police officer after returning home from a party. As the riots spark across the community, Starr finds her voice and decides to be vocal about the...

“The Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver

Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees is one of the most popular and urgent literary works nowadays. It touches upon burning issues of the modern society such as the conflict between ethical and legal, racism, adoption laws, homelessness, multiculturalism, kidnapping, depression suicide, the conflict of nature and nurture etc. We are...

Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson

The novel of J. W. Johnson is a prime example of literature that highlights important issues related to racial discrimination. The main character is an African American, and on his way, he faces various difficulties. In chapter five, he discovers three types of black people: the desperate, the domestics, and...

The Theme of Transitioning into Adulthood in “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki and “Spring Awakening” by Frank Wedekind

Introduction Contrary to popular belief, childhood is definitely not an easy period in human life. This time is characterized by many qualitative changes in the child’s physiology and consciousness, and their worldview’s serious reconstruction. In other words, in late childhood, the individual unconsciously prepares for adult life to become part...

Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”: Gatsby’s Impossible Dream

Introduction In The Great Gatsby, the story concerns a mysterious character named Jay Gatsby. He is exceptionally wealthy, hosting parties at his manor attended by many people, “few [of whom were] actually invited” (Fitzgerald, 1925, p. 45). No one seems to know how he came to be that rich, and...

“Mr. Fox” by Helen Oyeyemi: Violence Against Women

Introduction Mr. Fox is one of the many novels written by Helen Oyeyemi. Through a set of short stories, the author explores a variety of different topics; however, the subject of violence against women seems to be the most prevalent. The issue is identified in the very beginning with the...

“Big Fish” by Daniel Wallace Review

In Daniel Wallace’s Big Fish, the main character Edward Bloom is obsessed with water throughout his life. Water is the central theme of the novel, and it symbolizes the abundant life in which there are numerous possibilities of places to explore, challenges to face, people to meet, and ways to...

Review of the Essay “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan

Introduction Each paragraph of The Critical Review of the Essay “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan begins with a clear thematic sentence, which summarizes the main idea of the following statements. The first paragraph summarizes the concept of people using language at different levels to express themselves, which is precisely reflected...

The Mayflower Voyage Analysis

The decision to depart on a dangerous voyage to the new land with the Pilgrims was not an easy one for me, Mrs. Hopkins since I was pregnant at the time of the trip. In order be ready for a journey that would last for over sixty days, I had...

“The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin

Every person, as a member of society, faces daily choices either confirmed by the culture or against it. The history of humankind is built upon social systems where each person’s individual decisions affect those around them. “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” unravels the paradoxical social interaction, personal and...

The Book “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau and Emerson’s Philosophy

Published in 1854, Thoreau’s Walden focuses on the author’s experiences of living in a cabin near Walden Pond, in the woods owned by his mentor and friend Ralph Waldo Emerson. In the text, Thoreau describes his social experiment, reflects upon simple living in natural surroundings, and seeks to understand existence....

Gender Conflict in “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston

It is worth noting that the work of Zora Neale Hurston called “Sweat” brought up a gender conflict as the main subject for discussion. In particular, this short story reveals aggression and sexist oppression against black women by black men. In this story, the husband attempts to kill his wife...

English Introduction to Literature: “Journey Into Literature” by R. Clugston

In his book “Journey into literature”, Clugston provides an engaging and informative outlook on varied aspects of the process of reading. Clugston shows reading as an interesting and inspiring journey into the world of human wisdom. In the following paper, I aim to address particular concepts from Clugston’s text to...

Stephen King’s 1408: The Image of Death in Contemporary Gothic Literature

Modern gothic literature involves the use of terrifying, horrifying, and uncertain death events. A gothic story requires a frightening setting and unusual characters. 1408, a story by King, is a reflection of modern gothic literature. It is composed of elements of terror, horror, death and suspense. Great parts of the...

“The Sorrow of War” by Bao Ninh Review

Introduction The book The Sorrow of War is a narration of one of the Vietnamese soldiers who narrowly escaped a massacre that left almost all his colleagues dead. As he went back to the Jungle of Screaming Souls, Kien, the narrator, remembers how his 27th Battalion was obliterated by the...

The Time Bind’ by Hochschild: Book Chapter Review

Introduction The chapter presents selected information adapted from Hochschild’s 1997 book The Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work. In this chapter, Hochschild discusses the changing relationship between work and home life based on her research of working parents. The main conclusion of the author is that,...

Works by Edgar Poe as Examples of Good Essay

Edgar Allan Poe is arguably one of the best and well-known American writers of short stories and poems. In his essay “The Philosophy of Composition” he underlines essential and crucial elements of writing good literature. Poe uses “The Raven” as an example throughout the essay in order to demonstrate how...

“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan: Critical Review

People express their feelings and thoughts with varying levels of grammar proficiency. The essay by Amy Tan discusses this phenomenon, stating that her version of English differs from one situation to another. The author notes that while she makes grammar mistakes when she speaks to her mother, but she uses...

The Bell Jar: Grip of Insanity

Introduction The Bell Jar is almost entirely an autobiographical work, the only thing Plath did was that she changes the names of the characters in action. Most things that happen to the main character in the novel had happened to Silvia Plath. Esther Greenwood is 19, and she comes from...

Eliezer’s Lost Childhood in the “Night” Novel by E. Wiesel

Introduction of the author Eliezer Wiesel is an American-Jewish writer, the author of 57 books, and the Nobel Peace Prize, winner. The list of his accomplishments and achievements is long and his life is full of memorable events and experiences. The most horrible one is, without a doubt, the experience...

‘Sacagawea’ by Liselotte Erdrich

‘Sacagawea’ is an excellent biography book intended for children. Liselotte Erdrich is a Native American writer, so she shows a deep understanding of the life and values of a Native American woman, Sacagawea, who has become a part of history. This book is marvelously written and reads like a legend...

Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin: Analysis and Critique

For my literary research paper, I am going to write about “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. Analyzing this story, I will focus on the characters of two brothers: the narrator and Sonny, and their conflicts. Both brothers lived two completely different lifestyles and yet they both feel spiritually trapped. I...

“Oedipus the King” by Sophocles

“Oedipus the King” is a piece of art that displays the inner world of a suffering person, who is faced with one of the most harsh and destructive truths in life. At first glance, it might seem that Oedipus is a victim and must deal with the unexpected turns of...

A Worldwide Famous Tragedy: Othello by Shakespeare

Othello is a worldwide famous tragedy written by Shakespeare that has always been popular among theater directors interpreting it in different styles. Among the 37 plays created by Shakespeare, one of the most outstanding is the tragedy of the Moor of Venice. The BSC theater piece of Othello is seemingly...

Encountering the Landscapes of Life and Death: Literature Review

This essay examines two stories – “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “Death by Landscape” by Margaret Atwood. In the paper, attention will be given to the comparison and the contrast of the protagonists’ isolation from the world and the people around them. Despite the difference in their...

Elements of Gothic Tradition in the American Literature

Introduction As it has been revealed, gothic tradition in literature is a very common culture among various authors of American Literature. This is clearly depicted in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Poe, “Young Goodman Brown” by Hawthorne, and “A Rose for Emily” by Faulkner; where gothic with a ‘twist’ is revealed...

“The Clock” by Christian Marclay

Introduction Christian Marclay’s famous The Clock (2010) is a 24-hour video that can be discussed as looped in its structure. The video consists of a variety of clips that represent clocks, and the time a viewer can notice in the film is synchronized with the real time. From this perspective,...

“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner Analysis

William Faulkner’s choice of a perspective as a faceless voice of the crowd serves as a viewpoint that is presented to the reader for a number of reasons. Due to the inconsistent timeline, the story shows reflections of the past from the present point of view. The following essay discusses...

The Epic of Gilgamesh: Friendship Between Gilgamesh and Enkidu

Enkidu, a wild man, and Gilgamesh, a king of Uruk, contested but became friends. Despite Enkidu’s transformation that guaranteed him assimilation to civilization, his subconscious, internal side controls the journey and relationships. Before the transition to civilization, the character was bathing with gazelles, and “his heart delighting with the beasts...

Greek Mythology: The Life of Hades

Greek mythology includes numerous outstanding and influential figures worth researching. Besides, the details of this vibrant world imply many fascinating insights that can be translated into modern society. One of the Greek gods is Hades, “the god of death and the dead,” who was also called “the King of the...

The Monsters We Create: Analyzing Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

Over the years of its existence, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” may have lost its edge as a horror novel, yet it has entered the pantheon of horror classics due to the unique nature of its conflict. On the one hand, the story of an insane scientist trying to play God and...

The Poem Howl by Allen Ginsberg Review

The poem Howl by Allen Ginsberg was written in a highly peculiar period of the Beat Generation. The latter was comprised of a number of authors who reevaluated the established norms of society and adhered to non-conformism. Allen himself was highly opposed to repression, exploitation, and capitalism because he perceived...

Child Soldiers in a Postmodern World

Children who become a part of an army are a crucial problem in the modern world. The book A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier written by Ishmael Beah is the autobiography of the author, who was one of the soldiers in Sierra Leone during the internal war....

Thomas Bell “Out of This Furnace”

Thomas bell discussed the day-by-day routine of a workman who worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week. Days and weeks became stressful and only drinking could prick the shell of his fatigue. The slump in steel rail demand which Carnegie claimed had compelled them to increase the workday...

“Epic of Gilgamesh”: Enkidu’s Lack of Caution

The Epic of Gilgamesh of ancient Mesopotamia introduces to the reader two outstanding characters. The protagonists of the epic are Gilgamesh himself and his best friend and companion, Enkidu. The latter is one-third human and two-thirds beast, which explains his lack of caution in tablets three through eight. By nature,...

An Analysis of Desdemona’s Intellect in the Play

In Shakespeare’s Othello a very unique and intriguing society is shown. A relationship between a man and a woman is described in detail, illustrating their inner emotions and passions. Desdemona is without a doubt an intelligent and understanding woman, who is determined to accomplish anything she sets up to do,...

“The Iliad” by Homer: Using of Suppliancy

Introduction Suppliancy refers to the act of imploring someone in authority or power to have mercy over an individual or another person. It may also refer to the act of beseeching a higher authority as an attempt of seeking redemption, exemption or inclusion in an issue. Usually, subjects beseech their...

“The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls: Impression of Jeanette’s Parents

The first impression of Jeannette’s mother is very conflicting. It is hard to believe that she is describing her mother. When she describes her emotions and the way she sees her mother going through garbage, one wonders if she is talking about her mother or someone she just calls “Mom”....

“Snow-White and Rose-Red” and “Snow White and the Huntsman” Character Analysis

The German fairy tale Snow-White and Rose-Red (German: Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot), just as the more famous Little Snow White, is one of the stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, who brought their version of the fairy tale in accordance with the moral norms of the contemporary German society. According to...

Comparison: “A Pair of Tickets” by A. Tan and “Everyday Use” by A. Walke

Introduction The two stories created by Amy Tan and Alice Walker depict the similar paths of girls that explore their heritage. Both characters have their concerns regarding the history of their families that are initiated from different parts of the world. Girls go through the process of evaluation of their...

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Introduction Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus addresses conventional romantic themes like isolation and beauty of the nature and one can find that the novel discusses the ultimate pain of lose. It is often considered as a humanistic critique of technological development or new scientific inventions. Personal...

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter’ Review

Introduction Transcendentalism, as an introspective philosophical movement, arose during the Romantic era in literature and held that each person could arrive at extreme certainties through sound reasoning, sensory experience, and the expression of oneself outside the conformity of society. The Romantic period elicited highly contrasting intellectual as well as literary...

Image and Symbol in the Poetry of Aimé Césaire

Introduction Chapter Six “Essential Landscape: Image and Symbol in the Poetry of Aimé Césaire” explores the contribution of the poet into surrealist literature. Born on 26 June 1913, in a small town in the North of Martinique, Césaire placed great importance on his background and the place of birth as...

“Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut Review

Persuasive Essay The preeminent role of literature in society’s development cannot be doubted. Through reading, people obtain valuable means of developing a sense of beauty and imagination. Moreover, the reader can visit many places which he or she might never be able to see in reality. However, the most crucial...

Juxtaposing Fences and Girl

In his famous play Fences, August Wilson reveals one of the central themes that were of great importance for African American citizens in the 1950s, and during the whole history of the country as well – the theme of racial discrimination. The short story Girl by Jamaica Kincaid also touches...

Race and Identity in Milton Murayama’s “Plantation Boy”

The novel Plantation Boy Literature is often a reflection of society as seen through the writer’s eyes. In his works, the author usually tries to convey an idea, his understanding of a particular problem, or the entire worldview. Sometimes, the path of fiction leads the author far back reassessing all...

The Mix of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in the Fiction Unit

Introduction A race is commonly portrayed as a biological subspecies, or a multiplicity of a species, entailing of more or less distinct populace with anatomical characteristics that sets it distinctively from others. Ethnicity is a term employed to refer to chosen cultural and in some instances physical attributes exploited to...

Symbolism and Social Issues in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”

“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an excellent piece of literature enabling to examine the way symbolism may be applied in order to reveal the most appealing ideas and address the most complicated issues of human life. This romantic work discusses a row of important problems existing within the...