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...

The Quran and the Thousand and One Nights

The diversity of the Islamic culture is vividly depicted in many literary works. An incomparable embedding into Islamic heritage is presented in the Thousand and One Nights tales, also known as Arabic Nights, which have stirred the imagination of generations around the world for centuries. The account comprises 250 short...

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...

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...

The Mayan Story “Rabbit and His Cap of Antlers”

The major lesson learned from the Mayan story Rabbit and His Cap of Antlers is that people have a hard time letting go of their material possessions, even in the spiritual world. From the story, we learn that the rabbit, which represents a Mayan, is an assimilated fellow who also...

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...

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...

“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...

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,...

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,...

Review of “Hum” by Jamaal May

Readers always have different opinions for the same work of literature. Specifically, people tend to use different lenses in interpreting a book. However, knowing the author’s biographic information and the contextual setting within which the author wrote a novel helps to get the intended meaning. Other aspects that a person...

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...

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...

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Review

Shirley Jackson gained a reputation as a literary witch, which later novels brought the author. However, already in the “Lottery,” the talent for the anatomically accurate depiction of the human soul was revealed. The author has stories that can excite the reader’s emotions on the fine line between the real...

“The Epic of Gilgamesh” and Biblical Parables

The texts reveal the idea of the sinfulness of people who incur the wrath of God by shameful behavior. As for the story of Adam and Eve, the whole world was created for them, and everything was permitted except one fruit. Despite their respect and love for God, Eve violated...

Novels: The Valuable Form of Art

Every year new, as well as well-recognized novels appear on the shelves of stores, yet the competition which they face from other forms of entertainment is hard to ignore. One of the opinions is that novels are no longer relevant, and their role in society today belongs to TV shows...

Humor and Horror in Poe’s “The Cask of the Amontillado”

Introduction In works of literature, authors rely on several stylistic devices to convey their message. One of Edgar Allan Poe’s literary devices in “The Cask of Amontillado” is the combination of horror and humor. Poe is a witty author who uses literary elements like point of view, place, and word...

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...

Analysis of the Superman Character in a Comic Book

Superman is a monumental character in the DC Comics universe. He may or may not like it, but it is impossible to deny his contribution to world culture and influence on generations of readers and viewers alike. Superman has had a significant impact on popular culture and is a role...

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...

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,...

Relations Between “Dover Beach” and “1984”

The poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold is about relationships and romantic aspects of life in society. The poem acknowledges the weakened stature of Christianity, which perceives as unable to oppose the swelling wave of scientific discoveries poem, which portrays a crisis of faith. Humankind’s fundamental and unique place in...

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...

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

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

The Age of Reason Through Literature

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

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...

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,...

Native American Poems’ Comparative Analysis

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

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...

“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...

How Is Virgil’s Presence Vital to Dante’s Journey Through Hell in Inferno?

Dante’s journey through Hell is chaotic and filled with haunting experiences that reinforce the point that the author is trying to make. Specifically, “Inferno” portrays the depth of sin and depravity quite accurately, allowing the reader to embrace the importance of ethics and moral judgment. Since Dante’s impressions and speculations...

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...

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

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

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...

Holocaust and War in “Hiroshima” by John Hersey

How important is human life when it comes to incidences of ware and the use of weapons of mass destruction? The production of the book Hiroshima by John Hersey was in 1946 and narrated stories of six atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima. During this time, there was a new line...

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...

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff: A Novel Analysis

How I Live Now is a novel written by Meg Rosoff that centers on the life of Daisy, a 15-year-old girl. The novel presents a coming-of-age story of Daisy and her relatives. In a way, the novel represents the author’s perception of what will happen if a third world war...

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...

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...

The Works of Li Qingzhao

In imperial China, Li Qingzhao is the only female poet known to all admirers of traditional Chinese poetry. At that time, there were other poetesses, but their work was known only to narrow circles of specialists, and Qingzhao’s lyric poetry has remained recognized for many centuries, is still quoted, 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...

Theme and Characters in Sophocles’s “Antigone”

Antigone is an ancient Greek tragedy written around 442 BCE by Sophocles, one of the genre’s pillars. It centers on the story of a young girl Antigone, whose brothers Eteocles and Polynices have recently died fighting each other over the throne of Thebes. The new ruler of Thebes, Creon, orders...

Identity in McBride’s “The Color of Water”

Introduction Looking for a place to fit in and have an identity is a ubiquitous quest. Self-identity correlates with the individual or self: essentially what makes us human. Most people find belonging and comprehension of the self within societies of culture, race, or religion while others find it hard to...

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...

“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...

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...

Communism in Dave Eggers’s “The Circle”

Dave Eggers’s The Circle is a novel about a same-name web organization that offers innovative products and services to ordinary citizens. Even though the literary piece considers the American context in the present time, it introduces some dystopian principles because the organization, the Circle, has a few features of a...

“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...

Feminism in Works of Sylvia Plath, Lorrain Hansberry, and Anne Sexton

Introduction The rise of feminism in the twentieth century has brought a slew of literature from women who felt empowered by the ongoing changes in society. The struggles of the poets of that time are apparent in the works of many women whose works focus on both personal experiences and...

Comparison of “The Birthmark” and “The Fall of the House of Usher”

Both stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe are written in a gothic style which means they keep a reader in tension and fear engaging in a plot full of drama and tragedy. Both writers were finding major issues of the time and disclosed them within their works. One...

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...

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs

Notably, the Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs tells the story of the family who receives a monkey’s paw from a friend, fulfilling the owner’s three wishes, which always lead to dire consequences. Through the story, the reader may notice Jacobs wanted to warn readers to be careful with their...

Reading “Everyone Knows You Go Home” by Sylvester

The first five chapters of the story Everyone Knows You Go Home contain themes devoted to knowledge about family, love, immigration, and maturing. Edges of comprehension are framed as characters’ very own accounts and are uncovered to both the reader and the encompassing characters. One of the topics in the...

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...

“The Most Dangerous Game” Story by Richard Connell

The short story by Richard Connell called “The Most Dangerous Game” quickly grabs a reader’s attention with its action-filled scenes. However, there are more mature topics within the story that highlight a question regarding the exceptional value of life and the error of black-and-white worldviews. This essay will analyze the...

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...

Komagata Maru’s History in Compton’s “The Outer Harbour”

Introduction The Outer Harbour by Compton is an interesting story that illustrates the sufferings of humankind a century ago. The book is a collection of numerous loosely related short stories. The author keenly uses fiction narratives to explore the complex relationships between urban life, history, identity, and various socio-political patterns....

“The Other Side of the Story” by Daphine Priscilla Brown-Jack

The Other Side of the Story by Daphine Priscilla Brown-Jack is a non-fictional book that describes the author’s life events in chronological order from 2009 to 2013. Brown-Jack (2015) writes about the wrongful accusation of her husband and how it tormented her family emotionally for the whole five years. It...

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,...

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,...

Suicide and Homicide in Sophocles’ “Antigone” and “Electra”

Introduction Sophocles, who is usually considered one of the best minds of his time, was an influential person in Athens and was elected to important government posts. He was also famous in the literature field, having written 123 works, of which only seven have survived, including the tragedy Antigone. Sophocles...

The Book “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn

Ishmael, a book written by an American publisher and author Daniel Quinn, can be viewed as a prominent example of a philosophical novel. Book’s setting includes a fantasy element in the shape of a highly intelligent gorilla with telepathic powers; however main points of writing are focused on the current...

Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt in Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

In Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the characters of Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt seem almost diametrically opposite. The contrast between them is shaped by their appearance, social status, and behavior. Still, there are a lot of commonalities in their motivations, which expand the characterizations of the...

“Desiree’s Baby” by Chopin and “Young Goodman Brown” by Hawthorne

Introduction Desiree Aubigny and Faith Brown are characters in the short stories “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin and “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The heroines of these stories are young women who faced several trials in their family life. However, it would be wrong to decide that the women...

“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...

Nguyen Du’s The Tale of Kieu: Revolution in Transition

Introduction The Tale of Kieu by Nguyen Du involves a famous Vietnamese story of a young girl attempting to correct her past life mistakes through continuing adversity in her life. The Vietnamese girl, by the name Kieu, is peddled into prostitution and unceasingly gets cheated by men in the context...

“Do Not Go Gentle in to That Good Night”: A Psychoanalytical Perspective

Dylan Thomas’s villanelle named “Do Not Go Gentle In To That Good Night” is an instance of valuable, from a psychoanalytical point of view, piece of literature. The work contains deep and meaningful imagery, which contributes to the dismal but fascinating atmosphere created. Potentially, this work evidences the presence of...

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...

Review of “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan

The story of “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan narrates about a Chinese girl who finds it hard to recognize her identity, who is in disagreement with her mother who believes that she can achieve great things in the USA. Her mother motivates her to be a musical expert, to challenge...

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...

Sindbad the Seaman from “One Thousand and One Night”

If one looks for the stories that became famous in the West thanks to “One Thousand and One Night,” there is no need to look further than the seven tales of Sindbad the Seaman. They became widely popular in the West after the publication of the first translated editions in...

Clifton’s “Homage to My Hips”: Who Is the Speaker?

The poem “homage to my hips” provide sufficient information to assume the author. Indicating body parts as the main focus of the poem, the author identifies several topics relevant to modern society. From the first lines, it can be noticed that “these hips” are directed at a woman’s body. This...

“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway: A Literary Analysis

Hemingway’s work – as well as his personality – causes a lot of controversial opinions. To someone, it is attractive and intriguing, while for other people, it is completely alien. Still, there is no point in arguing that Hemingway is an iconic writer, one of those who shaped the literary...

Homer “Odysseus”: Plot and Aspects

The main plot of the series revolves around Odysseus’ return home after the Trojan War. God Poseidon set up a terrible sea storm, and the few survivors were scattered worldwide. The protagonist has the most challenging part, wandering for ten years and trying to return home, overcoming more difficult trials....

“The Person Who Bled Hearts”: A Unique Tale of a Captain

‘The Person who Bled Hearts’ is a unique tale of a captain who encountered a strange woman described as having an uncertain age, old and dusty, yet with a “childish Flutter” (Chamoiseau, 1997). In my opinion, the old woman represented the end of slavery. Before being thrown overboard, she pointed...

Analysis of the Theme of God and Beliefs in ISIS and O’Connor’s Story

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (Syria), or just ISIS, is a militant Islamist group that follows a variant of Islam whose beliefs concerning the ways to come up with the Day of Judgment result in its strategy. The words of God fixed in Koran and religion itself are...

Kudlisnki’s Boy and Markle’s Butterfly Tree Picture Books

The books I have chosen for this assignment are Boy and We Were Wrong About the Solar System! by Kathleen Kudlisnki and Butterfly Tree by Sandra Markle. The Features of Boy, We Were Wrong About the Solar System Boy, We Were Wrong About the Solar System! is an excellent non-fiction...

Characters in “Pawn Shop” by Alexie

Character development is vital in literature as it helps readers to understand their various aspects. One of the characters used by Alexie in Pawn Shop is Jackson. He is homeless, which limits his chances of being an active member of society. Jackson said, “one day you have a home and...

“Great Falls” by Ford vs. “Cathedral” by Carver

The first story is Great Falls and is about a young boy who lives a simple rural life with his family in Montana. The second story is Cathedral by Ray Carver and is about a married couple who invites a blind man to their house. This essay will compare and...

“The Song of Roland”: Heroic Medieval Poem

After the death of Roland, Charlemagne and his warriors arrive on the battlefield, and all they discover are corpses. The pagans have fled, but the Franks are on their tail, driving them into the Ebro River, where they all perish. Meanwhile, Baligant, Babylon’s formidable emir, has come to Spain to...

King Odysseus from Homer’s Epic “The Odyssey”

Introduction With various literary works existing in the world, analysis of particular aspects of a story can help in understanding it better. Such analysis can be focused on the character of king Odysseus, one of the main figures of Homer’s epic The Odyssey. King Odysseus represents a complex personality of...

Alcoholism and Edgar Allan Poe’s Death

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer known for his mysterious and grim short stories. As well, most of his works are characterized by uncertainty, unpredictability, and ambiguity; his death continues to provoke many concerns, questions, and debates. Poe died on October 7, 1849, and no medical records or death...

Formal Features in “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” by Milton

“When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” is one of the most famous works written by John Milton in the middle of the 17th century. Compared to contemporary poetry and other Italian sonnets, this poem is characterized by complex syntax and the evaluation of serious themes related to human...

The Interview “I’m a Runner: Haruki Murakami”

I listened to Haruki Murakami’s interview “I’m a Runner: Haruki Murakami.” The writer explains how exercise has changed his social and physical lifestyle (Lee, 2005). In the second interview, Murakami talks about his writing process, general life, and characters that appear in his writing. Murakami reveals that he loves cats...

Theme of “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, the author creates a contradictory image of the main character; the author leads the reader to discover who she is. It is not easy to form one’s own impression of Emily due to the narrative aesthetics characteristic of the author’s modernity. The...

Jay Gatsby by F. S. Fitzgerald and the American Dream

“In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” (Fitzgerald 32) The chosen quote is important as it illustrates that Fitzgerald brilliantly portrayed the American society’s carnival lifestyle of the so-called dreamers, excited with fun and carelessness. The...

How Literature Mirrors the Gilded Age Situation

American Realism is a development that began in 1850 and continued through initial years of the 20th century and manages writing and the Gilded Age just as with craftsmanship and painting. Probably the main professionals are Sarah Orne Jewett, Mark Twain, and Freeman. Plated Age, a time of gross realism...

Justice and Morality: “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”

Douglass’s work captures the era of abolitionism, the struggle against slavery, and black Americans’ contribution to their liberation. In Frederick Douglass, the writer and the social activist, the educator and the statesman were happily united. Beginning his life under the harshest conditions of slavery, he achieved recognition through natural talent,...

Shikibu’s “Tale of Genji” as Japan’s Cultural Legacy

Having been detached culturally from the West, Japan has always been a mystery to the rest of the world with its unique culture and philosophy. However, even though Japan has undergone substantial changes over the course of its development, some of the cultural markers of the bygone era remain essential...

Social, Economic, and Cultural Values in Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums”

Literary fiction should never be regarded exclusively as a whim of a writer’s imagination. After all, any artist takes inspiration from their surroundings, which is why it is important to look deeper into a piece and decipher the true meaning of themes, characters, and settings integrated into the work. John...

Amilia Lanier Biography and Influence

Introduction The name Emilia Lanier is unique in the context of English history and poetry. Emilia Lanier, nee Aemilia Bassano, lived in 1569-1645 and appeared to be the first English woman, who claimed herself a professional poetess. This fact was surprising for the people of this epoch. She resided in...

“Celia, a Slave” Biography by Melton McLaurin

Introduction Slavery is undoubtedly one of the darkest stains on U.S. history, the effects of which can be felt in society to modern day. The slavery institution was cruel and criminal, resulting in the abuse of many fundamental human rights. Women were especially vulnerable, having even less rights and lack...

Introductory Paragraph in the Essay “Eternal Love”

The introductory paragraph in the essay “Eternal Love” dedicated to Theodore Roethke’s poem “I Knew a Woman” is a particularly effective section of the work. The purpose of an introduction is to provide readers with necessary background information on the discussed topic and introduce them to the essay’s thesis statement...

Main Character and Heroism in “Beowulf”

Beowulf is a well-known work of Anglo-Saxon literature that depicts the reverence of heroism. Despite the fact that the writing is based on a single manuscript, the epic manages to sustain the Anglo-Saxon people’s strong values. Here, Beowulf is regarded as a great hero and rescuer of the people. This...

Mary Rowlandson and Religion

The colonial era in North America is known for violent opposition between the native population and new settlers. The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is a book about a European woman who was kidnapped by the Indians and kept in confinement for eleven weeks and...

Discussion of “Aeneid” Story by Virgil

Introduction Virgil’s “Aeneid” is the story of the Trojans who had to flee their hometown after the Greeks destroyed it. This story explains both the details of the Trojan war, the Aeneas’s journey to Carthage, their arrival to Sicily, and Aeneid’s destiny as the founder of Rome. This paper will...

Flannery O’Connor’s “Everything That Rises Must Converge”

The history of racial relationships has always been complex in the U.S., which has been represented and reflected upon in multiple works of literature. Flannery O’Connor’s “Everything That Rises Must Converge” represents another stellar attempt at examining and exposing racial biases for their absurdity and offensiveness. Offering a slice-of-life narration,...

Southern and African American Literature’s Characteristics

Both Southern and African American Literature have distinct characteristics that make them recognizable. On the one hand, there are the traditional and family-oriented Southern themes, with emphasis on concrete imagery, grotesque humor, and the Southern gothic. Some examples of this can be seen in Eudora Welty’s Petrified Man as the...

Gilgamesh, Eridu Genesis and the Bible: Comparative Analysis

As a form of art, storytelling always pursues similar goals of appealing to the audience’s core values and fueling the imagination. Thus, although some of the most famous literary pieces might seem culturally divorced from one another, they still share the same underlying sentiments. Although the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” the...

Review of “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood set her novel The Handmaid’s Tale in Massachusetts due to its symbolic meaning. Throughout the novel, the evidence point to the Cambridge town as the center of Gilead’s power. In 17th century, Cambridge, Boston, and Massachusetts comprised the essence of the American society’s intolerance and fierce religiousness due...

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Poe

The murder of Fortunato perpetrated by Montresor has produced quite a stir in the community, causing people to question whether the need for vigilance and vengeance could override the existing legal standards. However, despite some people showing certain amount of empathy for Montresor, the case went to court immediately after...

Poems Comparison and Contrast: “Divorce” and “The Sick Rose”

Poems are recognized as one of the earliest literature forms that have significantly influenced the field of communication. Since pre-colonial times poems have been used to bring people together, warn, encourage and inform. One of the essential features of poems is their form and structure. While some poems lack a...