Analysis and Ideas of “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” by Thomas Hardy

“Tess of the D’Urbervilles” can be seen as a straightforward love tale. However, the book covers many topics that Hardy and the society of that time could view as rather debatable. It includes the humanity of people in that society, the social morals, religion, and their conflicts. Hardy only shows...

Alice Walker’s ‘Everyday Use’ – Cultural Conflict and Family Bonds

When Dee, an intelligent young African-American woman, visits her childhood home in the Deep South, the story’s first-person narrator, Mama, explains her relationship with Dee. As Maggie and Mama, Dee’s sister and Mama’s younger daughter, get ready for the visit, the story begins. Maggie dresses into a new outfit as...

The “Cry of An Unborn Child” Poem by Gabrielle Kruger

The debates about abortion do not seem to be edging closer to a conclusion as new issues emerge every day. According to Scarfone, 2019 witnessed a new spate of anti-abortion measures that were enacted across the United States (1). The new area of the division was whether abortion should be...

“A Doll’s House,” “Pygmalion,” “Blasted”: Similarities

Literature has always been used to mirror society; thus, the changes that occurred in women’s stance can be learned through literary representations. The main characters of all three plays, Nora, Eliza, and Cate, reflect greatly on the similarities in terms of a rigid stance of a woman in a patriarchal...

Pride of Oedipus in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

Oedipus is the main character of Sophocles’ tragedy titled Oedipus Rex, a book recognized as one of the most important in Ancient Greece. Oedipus is a complex character who has both virtues and negative traits, one of which is “hubris,” the Greek word for pride. Eventually, hubris expressed by Oedipus,...

“How I Met My Husband” Narrative by Alice Munro

Introduction How I Met My Husband is a short story by Alice Munro published in her collection Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You in 1974. The short story was written to show various contemporary issues that happen in marriage, relationships, and common points of interaction such as work (Kumar...

“The Red Dress” by Alice Munroe

Introduction “The Red Dress” is a short story by Alice Munroe, published in 1946. The tale is told from the point of view of a young girl who goes to high school and lives with her mother, who sews outfits for her daughter. The purpose of this paper is to...

Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”: A Feminist Look

“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story set in seventeenth-century Puritan New England. It follows the protagonist’s journey into self-criticism and self-doubt in the context of the Puritan belief that all human beings exist in a state of depravity and that God is the one who can...

Critique on “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Gender issues acquired exceptional actuality in the end of the nineteenth century as women were for a long period in a rather difficult situation requiring serious changes in order to march in step with the ongoing process of democratization in the western world. Along with unprecedented achievements in the area...

The Novel ‘Hungry Tide’ by Amitav Ghosh

Introduction The status given by people to different animals was not a result of one-day research. There were different studies, disciplines and cases, in which the main objective was assessing the position of different animals, and evaluating human actions that were conducted against them. In that regard, a polarity of...

Is Ibsen’s “A Doll House” a Marxist, a Feminist, or a Psychoanalytic Argument?

Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House was an influential and to a certain degree shocking literary work, as it challenged the traditional roles of men and women in society and depicted the poor outcomes of gender discrimination. The major female characters of the play are definitely bold and determined women,...

Emilia’s Role in the Play Othello by Shakespeare

Outline This paper is an attempt to analyze the character of Emilia in William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello. It begins with a thesis statement and the body discusses various questions like what is the role of Emilia. Is Emilia responsible for Desdemona’s death? What is her role in the handkerchief...

Wislawa Szymborska’s Literary Works Analysis

Introduction Wislawa Szymborska is considered to be an outstanding Polish poet and essayist. Her works stand out from all others by their prominent character and individuality. The author’s style is unique and expressive; she always tries to differentiate her poems from others by disclosure of major philosophical and ethical themes....

Isolation and Loneliness in Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

The feeling of loneliness is one of the worst inner states. It makes people weak and helpless. Everyone tries to spend most of his time in communication and movement. The novel Frankenstein reflects the characters who got used to living in loneliness during their whole life. Their life is constant...

The Role on Women as Portrayed in The Necklace

“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant depicts the place of a woman in a social hierarchy of the 19th-century France. The story about Madame Loisel, a poor clerk’s wife who dreamt of being rich, reflects the problem of opportunities for development and personal growth for women. A dramatic ending emphasizes...

Death in Emily Dickinson’s Poems

Introduction Emily Dickinson was a renowned 19th-century American poet that wrote unique and complex poems. Her style, symbolism, and hidden meanings of poems continue to be studied in the modern-day as she delved into socially controversial topics of her time. One subject matter commonly explored in her poems is the...

Sighet’s Doubts: Moishe the Beadle’s Warnings Ignored

Warning of the Impending Doom The people of Sighet found it hard to believe Moishe the Beadle due to certain reasons. The first is because of the status of Moishe the Beadle in the society that they lived in. He was poor, and thus was not particularly liked by the...

Poems Explication: Works by Rita Wong

Canola Queasy It is not easy to create an educative and interesting eco-poem to support the chosen position and help the reader to understand how unfair or unpleasant human activities may be. In her Canola Queasy, Wong underlines the importance of environmental pollution and human direct participation in it and...

Important Events in the Epic of Gilgamesh

Chain of events: Epic of Gilgamesh Summary Generally, the entire event in Gilgamesh starts with a journey and makes the journey more important. All journeys provided in Gilgamesh reflect his inner flight to become altruistic and loyal king. The hero is obliged to set off on a journey or mission...

Analyzing Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”: Themes and Interpretations

Everyday use is an allegorical story that intertwines the African heritage and the modern world practices. Written by Alice Walker the story focuses on the lives of the African Americans who struggle to keep the African legacy amid a world engrossed with diverse cultures. Therefore, the narrator struggles to reveal...

Race, Class, and Identity in Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”

Introduction “Recitatif” is a short story by Toni Morrison that explores themes of race, class, and identity by connecting the two stories of heroines Twyla and Roberta. The book is about the subjective experiences of growing up as children left in an orphanage and how they met each other’s lives....

Religion and Cultural Conflict in Chinua Achebe’s Marriage Is a Private Affair

The Role of Religion in the Story In Chinua Achebe’s “Marriage Is a Private Affair,” religion significantly shapes the characters’ beliefs, actions, and conflicts. The story presents two main types of religious beliefs: traditional Igbo religion and Christianity. These differing religious views cause a rift between the older and younger...

Richard Wright’s Black Boy Narrative: Racism, Oppression, and Identity

Introduction Black Boy is one of the most prominent works of Richard Wright. The book is considered a fictional biography because the author, Wright, is both the narrator and the protagonist. The book covers his experiences throughout life, from childhood to adulthood, hence its classification as a biography. The fictional...

Literary Devices in “Lord of the Flies” by Golding: Symbolism and Allegory

Introduction Literary devices allow readers to interpret a piece of writing on multiple levels leading to an immersive and engaging experience. These devices can be seen in a wide range of literary works, including novels, poems, plays, and short stories, and their use helps to make these works enduring and...

Analysis of “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

“Girl,” a short story by Jamaica Kincaid, tells the narrative of a traditional Antiguan mother trying to teach her daughter the correct etiquette as she grows up. In the novel, she tells her daughter what to do and what to avoid as a young woman. The mother presents her daughter...

“The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke: Poem Analysis

The poem The Soldier was written by Rupert Brooke in 1914 to communicate his thoughts and emotions at the beginning of the First World War. In this idealistic poem, the poet paints a picture of patriotism for England as the country that nurtured him. It is a sonnet that contemplates...

“I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context

The poem I, Too was written in the year 1925, leading to a discussion of the historical background. Primarily, one of the most impactful and devastating events that took place around the time of these works was racial segregation, which started approximately around the 19th century and ended in 1964...

Emotional and Physical Difficulties in The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

The book, “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien represents war’s emotional and physical burdens. The author captures his story and his colleagues, other soldiers who endure moral, emotional, and physical difficulties. The physical commitment includes military gear and other objects from those they left behind. They had guns and...

The Use of Symbolism in John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”

The purpose of this paper is to analyze symbolic meanings behind the main characters of John Steinbeck’s novella “Of Mice and Men”. Symbolism is a common trope used in the narrative, which is done via representation of a larger idea through smaller means. Symbols are diverse and can take the...

Gloria Anzaldua’s Poem “To Live in the Borderlands Means You”

Introduction Gloria Anzaldua’s poem, “To Live in the Borderlands Means You,” explores identities, culture, and self-worth in the modern age and is intricate and profound. The borderland refers to the distinctive phenomenology and sense of identity of the individual who cannot traverse the borders yet resides within its chasm (Ortega...

Poetic Devices in Jane Kenyon’s “Happiness”

Jane Kenyon’s poem “Happiness” briefly describes how she views happiness and how it occurs most unexpectedly. She provides different scenarios in which happiness can occur to an individual. The poetic uses several poetic devices to structure her poem to give meaning to her ideas. The most notable poetic devices identified...

Rhetoric Analysis of Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”

Jack London – American writer of a realistic direction. The story To Build a Fire (1908) was written during Jack London’s creative heyday and published in the collection Lost Face. The description of the confrontation between man and nature in the harsh North requires a certain amount of naturalism, but...

The “Antigone” Play by Sophocles: A Short Analysis

Introduction Sophocles was a prominent tragedian who contributed to the development of Athenian drama. His Antigone shows the conflict between divine and human laws and puts unwritten rules of life above all. On the one hand, religious beliefs rooted in the traditions of a tribal community ordered people to sacredly...

The Mirror Scene of Shakespeare’s Richard II Play

Introduction Shakespeare’s Henriad is not only a brilliant example of English literature but also a valuable source on the social, political, and even legal reality of the time when it was written. Among other things, it covers the perception of monarchic power and its nature, which was a particularly acute...

Conflict in “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings” by Márquez

Introduction The concept of conflict in literature denotes the ideological confrontation of the sublime and the low, good and evil. In general terms, a conflict in a literary work is a struggle of opposing forces: multiple heroes, the central character of the work and nature, or the hero with oneself....

The Downfall of Willy Loman in the “Death of a Salesman”

In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller manages to masterfully show how dreams, combined with pride and stubbornness, are able to destroy a person’s life. In the play, Willy Loman, the main character, is fighting to face the reality and abandon the haunting illusions. Eventually, Willy’s dream of materialistic happiness...

Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” Should Be Taught in Schools

To Kill a Mockingbird has faced many restrictions and criticisms since Harper Lee wrote it in 1960. Atticus Finch’s protagonist passes valuable lessons on discrimination to his two children, Jem and Scout. Every parent ought to strive to instill the teaching in their children’s lives to grow up to be...

Symbolism and Character Motivation in Glaspell’s “Trifles”

Introduction Trifles is a short play composed by Susan Glaspell and revolves around the killing of John Wright and the murder apprehension of his wife, Mrs. Minnie Wright. Despite being written more than a hundred years ago, its primary subject, the difference in the perspective between males and females, is...

Villanelle in Poetry: “The House on the Hill” by Robinson

Poetry utilizes many different tools related to its rhythm, style, structure, and composition to achieve a variety of effects it may apply to the reader. Some of those, specifically different composition types, contribute to the internal typology that has formed throughout the evolution of poetry as a literary form. Villanelle...

Nora’s Inner Transformation in A Doll’s House

Conforming to the way society defines a woman has made many people live in a shackle, thus, forgetting their true inner identity like Nora. For many decades, domestically abused women have been portrayed to be having revengeful needs which linked to abuse. This assumption is wrong, and thus the pursuit...

“Midterm Break” by Seamus Heaney: Aging, Death and Dying

Introduction Death is notably one of the universal fears that translates to almost every culture, time, and age. All people eventually face death in their lifetime: either their own or their loved ones. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that dying is a widely researched topic in many literary works....

Analysis of “Letter Beginning With Two Lines by Czeslaw Milosz” by Matthew Olzmann

The formal analysis of a literary work allows the reader to better understand the author’s message. The connection between form and content produces a desirable effect and generates meaning. In the poem, “Letter Beginning with Two Lines by Czeslaw Milosz,” Mathew Olzmann raises the issue of killing children and expresses...

The Concept of World Literature

Introduction Literature is an important tool in people’s lives because it plays a central role in connecting individuals with larger truths and societal ideologies. It allows people to document their experiences and thoughts, which are then shared with other individuals, and passed from one generation to another; hence, it is...

“The Love of My Life” by T. C. Boyle Critical Analysis

“The Love of My Life” is a fictional story by T. C. Boyle, an American short story writer, and novelist. The narrative presents the dramatic events in the lives of the two young characters, China and Jeremy, whose irresponsible behavior forced them to make a cruel life-changing decision and question...

The Short Story “A&P” by John Updike

In “A&P,” one of John Updike’s widely read and critiqued short stories, the author presents three barefoot girls, who walk into a local A&P grocery store while wearing bathing suits. While the rest of the people, including the Store manager, Lengel, and customers, two young men emerge as exceptions when...

The Theme of Duality in Literature

The theme of duality is a common topic for many literary works, including Shelly’s Frankenstein, Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The main idea of duality is to underline the worth of opposition that exists in society and human relationships. As a rule,...

Father-Son Relationships in Homer’s “The Odyssey”

One of the most compelling things to me about the story of the Odyssey is the importance that is placed throughout the story on the relationship that exists between fathers and sons. Almost everything that happens in the story is somehow connected to the idea of family and the importance...

Corruption in The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Introduction Moral corruption is a serious threat that poses in the doors of humanity. This eventually become widespread threat for social corruption if major percentage in society will be afflicted. Literary experts say that the moon shadow of the humanities’ moral and social practices can be easily discern in some...

“The New Automaton Theater” by Steven Millhauser

Introduction It should be noted that Steven Millhauser is a writer and author of many popular works that raise important philosophical and moral questions. He uses the images familiar to every individual and creates a small world, a micro-universe, into which the reader is immersed from the first lines. The...

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost

Nothing Gold Can Stay is a well-known poem by Robert Frost. One of the primary outstanding features of this work is that it took the author only eight lines to express a set of thoughtful philosophical ideas and deep emotions. Apart from the captivating wisdom of the author’s lines expressed...

The Duality of Faust: A Philosophical Exploration of Human Nature in Goethe’s “Faust”

Introduction Goethe explores the darkest recesses of human nature in “Faust,” introducing a protagonist who personifies the fundamental duality of the human soul. The contradiction of human aspirations that struggle between the earthly and the sublime is reflected in Faust’s contract with the devious yet enlightened Mephistopheles, which stems from...

Exploring Trauma in “They Called Us Enemy” and “Maus” Through Visuals

Introduction “They Called Us Enemy,” co-written by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott and drawn by Harmony Becker, is a crucial tribute to the dread and federal bigotry within America’s borders eight decades ago. Meanwhile, Art Spiegelman’s “Maus” depicts the horrors of the Holocaust as well as the challenges...

The Use of Humor in “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Wilde

Oscar Wilde has employed humor in writing The Importance of Being Earnest play. The play comically ridicules cultural norms regarding truthfulness, love, and marriage in the Victorian Era. One of the humor elements that Wilde uses throughout the text is puns. The play’s title consists of the word “earnest,” which...

Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the Illusion of the American Dream

Introduction: The American Dream Concept The term American dream refers to the chances available to citizens of the United States and those who come here to live. The American dream is identified as the freedom of speech, entrepreneurship, personality, and the capacity to work hard to accomplish personal objectives and...

Analysis of The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

The novel chosen for analysis is The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, published in 2019. The Nickel Boys is the story of Elwood Curtis, an African American teenager in the 1960s who gets convicted at the Nickel Academy juvenile reformatory. In Nickel Academy, Elwood witnesses and experiences violence, racism, and...

Naipaul’s “B. Wordsworth” Story Psychological Analysis

Introduction “B. Wordsworth” is a short story written by V. S. Naipaul, a Trinidad-born descendant of indentured workers shipped from India, and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. The story is about the relationship between a young boy (from whose perspective we see the story unfold), and a man named Black...

Theme of Deceit in Shakespeare’s Othello

Deceit and lies can be one of the most distracting factors in human life despite one’s accomplishments. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough, to be honest,” the play Othello by Shakespeare accurately depicts his words. Othello is a storyline...

The Short Story “The Mortal Immortal” by Mary Shelley

Introduction In the short story “The Mortal Immortal” Mary Shelley talks about the burden of immortality on the example of a young man Winzy, who accidentally drank the elixir that gives eternal life. The protagonist, driven by the desire to marry his beloved, works for the scientist Cornelius Agrippa, who...

Responsibility in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

The novel Frankenstein is Mary Shelley’s most famous novel. It is a story about a young scientist Victor Frankenstein who wants to learn how to animate lifeless matter and, as a result, an ugly monster. The novel touches on many fundamental themes and ideas of a philosophical nature, one of...

Analysis of “Flight” and Flight Patterns by Sherman Alexis

The “Flight” is a novel written by Sherman Alexie about an American teenager who calls himself zits. Sherman wrote this novel from the first-person perspective of Native American youth. Zits is depicted as a foster child who has spent most of his life moving from house to house and contending...

Betrayal and Deceit as Depicted in the Play “Julius Caesar” by Shakespeare

In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the tale is built on a foundation of betrayal and deceit. There are several instances throughout the play in which significant characters are either directly involved or are the victims of enormous betrayals. The most atrocious acts of treachery and dishonesty are...

Robert Browning’s “Porphyria’s Lover”: Gender and Power Dynamics

The interaction of partners in a relationship is connected with the construction of specific power dynamics. Recently, gender roles have shifted, and a somewhat unusual dynamic may be built between two people based on a woman’s dominance or mutual assistance and approximately equal roles. However, such a variety of force...

“Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior” by Panttaja

Introduction Modern advances in psychology allow us to take a fresh look at fairy tales known to everyone from childhood, finding new meanings and interpretations that differ from the usual ones. The moral of the story is much more contradictory, complex, and ambiguous than the usual interpretation. In the article...

“Why Don’t You Dance?” Book by Raymond Carver

In “Why Don’t You Dance?”, Raymond Carver tells a story about a man who puts most of his belongings for sale. As he takes the furniture out of the house, cars pass by until one of them stops. A boy and a girl exit the vehicle and start examining the...

“Sonny’s Blues”: Relationships Between the Brothers

Introduction One of the main themes in the short story “Sonny’s Blues,” written by James Baldwin, is family support, which is essential for uniting the characters and allowing them to solve their problems. However, it is mostly described in a negative light throughout the narrative, which changes to a more...

Analysis of “A Fixed Income” and “Valediction” by Sherman Alexie

The two stories selected for the discussion are “A Fixed Income” and “Valediction”. A “Fixed Income” highlights the plight of minorities in the United States through Sherman’s experience at McDonald’s. He explains that most of the employees at the restaurant are blacks and Latinos. Moreover, these workers are college graduates...

The Chapter “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan

“A Pair of Tickets” is the final chapter of Amy Tan’s book The Joy Luck Club in which the author shows readers the importance of self-identification and reunion. This chapter is a reflection of the personal experience of Amy Tan, who, like Jing-Mei Woo, an immigrant girl who traveled to...

“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe Analysis

Introduction The poem “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe narrates the experience of a young man. He loses the woman he loves because of the angels’ envy and claims to keep his feelings for her forever (Poe). By the end of the story, the main character concludes on the impossibility...

The Theme of Hysteria in The Crucible by A.Miller

Introduction It is common for authors to use historical events as a foundation for exploring pressing issues. The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953, is one of the examples of such a choice. In the play, the city of Salem is overcome by the fear of witchcraft,...

Frankenstein vs. Monster: Characters Comparison

Introduction Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus is a novel written by Mary Shelly that was first published in 1818. The author tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who artificially animated a body assembled from parts of corpses. Although Victor intended to create a beautiful creature, the result...

Power, Vulnerability, and Resistance in Carol Ann Duffy’s “Circe”

Carol Ann Duffy, a staunch supporter of equality and a fighter for women’s freedom, strives to convey to the reader the idea of ​​the inadmissibility of male domination in the modern world. Her poem “Circe” is a work that carries an overt and even aggressive feminist overtone (Duffy 47). The...

A Love that Kills: Imagery in Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”

Kate Chopin’s short stories have always fascinated the readers by the unique combination of concise content and a profound context. “The Story of an Hour” is not an exception: in only about a thousand words, the writer manages to tell a dramatic story with quite an unexpected ending. The critics...

Sexuality in Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie

Introduction The Glass Menagerie was written and premiered by Tennessee Williams in 1944. The play drew the audience’s attention to the author and gained theatrical success (Adler 18-19). The characters of the play, Amanda Wingfield, her son Tom, and her daughter Laura, can be described from different perspectives, but it...

Tom – A Tragic Hero of “The Glass Menagerie” by Williams

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a play of high importance for modern literature. The author depicts characters in a manner that they all, in some ways, possess characteristics of tragic heroes with the hardships they are forced to face in life. However, Tom explicitly shows all traits that...

Dialogue, Stage Directions, and Interpretation of a Play the Crucible

Introduction A written play can be staged in multiple ways by changing how the characters look, behave, and talk. On the other hand, the stage reflection can also attempt to communicate what the author originally intended with no alterations. This essay will compare and contrast the stage directions, dialogue, and...

Two Settings in the Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare

Shakespearean works are well known for their depth, symbolism and philosophical view upon different aspects of life. Mirroring is one of Shakespeare’s favorite tools. Mirroring is used to emphasize the contrast and show differences between the sides of the society and the ways of living of the characters. The Merchant...

Social & Personal Values in Death of a Salesman

Introduction The play ‘Death of a Salesman’ by Arthur Miller depicts contradiction arisen in the industrial society and personal values shared by a new man. Through the characters of Willy Loman and his sons, Miller criticizes society and its false values, consumerism and mass culture. Stylistic devices and unique vision...

“Son of the Revolution” Memoir by Liang Heng

Introduction The Chinese Cultural Revolution of the 1950s, when the Communist Party of China came into force to build the socialist country based on fear, absence of freedom of speech, and the need to strictly follow all the guidelines of the Party is one of the brightest examples of usurping...

Beowulf: Comparing the Movie and the Book

The story of Beowulf has remained a significant work for centuries not only because it is one of our first lengthy works of English, but also because of the timelessness of the themes it contains and its applicability to a modern audience, regardless of the period in which ‘modern’ is...

Cowardice in “To Kill a Mockingbird”: Mayella & Bob Ewell

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is full of examples of courage, but it has the examples of the exemplar cowardice as well. Cowardice has different forms in the novel. The first example of cowardice is the behavior of Mayella Ewell. She has no friends, and her...

Prejudice Power in Forster’s “A Passage to India”

Introduction E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India has been a focus of literary, historical, psychological, and anthropological arguments ever since it first was published in 1924. The novel explores the internal relationships between the English and the Indians during the colonial period. The author paints a picture of a...

Fahrenheit 451 Book Review – Essay & Analysis + Topics

Fahrenheit 451 is considered Ray Bradbury’s masterpiece. The society that he depicted in the novel is so far removed from the one we live in today. At the same time, they are so similar. This is just one of the Fahrenheit 451 essay examples. You can use it as an...

Literary Analysis: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

The Things They Carried Analysis: Essay Introduction O’Brien, in the short story “The Things They Carried”, captures the predicaments of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Each soldier carries a literal and symbolic object that links the past to the present. The symbols serve to distract the solders from the realities...

Power and Influence in Macbeth: Supernatural Forces, Fate, and Ambition

Introduction The intoxicating allure of power and the complexities of its nature are central themes in William Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy “Macbeth.” The play, a profound exploration of ambition, guilt, and fate, examines power dynamics through the rise and fall of its titular character, Macbeth. As we delve into the intricate...

Metaphors of Power and Hubris in Sophocles’ Antigone

Introduction The fundamental work of Sophocles, Antigone, boasts a wide variety of literary techniques. Allusions, symbolism, and various themes are used by Sophocles to reinforce the message he wanted to convey through his work. Metaphors play one of the biggest roles in this regard, being used to provide a better...

Brian Turner’s What Every Soldier Should Know Poem Analysis

Introduction What Every Soldier Should Know is a short poem in which Brian Turner explores the problems between soldiers of different cultures and worldviews. He reveals how people’s lives change throughout the war and what consequences can await any soldier or civilian. War invariably ruins many people’s lives, and when...

Emily Dickinson’s “The Wife” and “The Story of an Hour”

“The Wife,” a poem by Emily Dickson, reveals the poet’s concerns for the native feminineness in middle-class people by articulating the gender roles of women by applying the term “wife” frequently. Patently, the poem’s persona is a woman, and conservatisms of marriage are articulated from the female perspective. Further, the...

“They Shut Me Up in Prose” Poem by Emily Dickinson

In the poem, “They Shut Me Up In Prose,” Emily Dickinson speaks to the idea that the forces and powers that push to confine and hold can bring out freedom for ourselves instead. The main theme is overcoming originality or the concept that creativity will prevail despite limitations imposed by...

Oedipus and Hamlet: To Be Resilient, or Not to Be?

Introduction A famous quote attributed to Confucius says, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall,” and teaches people the main principle of resilience against all obstacles and struggles. Being resilient means keeping a positive outlook on life, never giving up, and carrying...

The Poem “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

In her poem “Girl,” Jamaica Kincaid explores a mother’s struggle to explain to her child the place of women in the social structure. The author’s aims are clear from her feminist actions, her relations with her family, and the poem’s format. This short fiction aims to demonstrate how women support...

Analysis of “Room” by Emma Donoghue

Introduction Room by Emma Donoghue is a novel that reveals the essential aspects of child abuse, psychological trauma, and social adaptation through a child’s eyes. The events in this book are fictional, although the experiences that the author put in her work require a thorough examination and comprehension. Depicting such...

Kafka’s Metamorphosis: Biographical Criticism

Introduction Metamorphosis is a work in which an exciting storyline develops from the beginning. The protagonist, Gregor, wakes up in the morning and finds that he has turned into an insect with insect legs, scales, and a shell-like back. Moreover, Gregor has to come to terms with this situation and...

Formalist Criticism of “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

Introduction In the short story “A Rose for Emily,” written by William Faulkner, the Old South is portrayed through the lens of symbolism. Hence, the emotional response of the people, who witnessed the tragic events stemming from the main character’s unrequited love, which is unacceptable for her position, can be...

“A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings”: A Character Analysis

Introduction Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a Colombian Nobel prize winner commonly regarded as one of the best authors of the 20th century (Echevarría). His works famously blend elements of fantasy and realism to explore solitude, violence, and the human condition (Echevarría). A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings is a...

Literary Analysis: “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe

Introduction From the poem, the speaker demonstrates an unmatched love and affection for Annabel Lee who died unexpectedly. This love survives considerably after the mentioned death. Poe, the poet, uses literary styles to unveil the theme of lasting love between two characters. It is possible to recognize and understand that...

Politics and Government in the Epic of Gilgamesh

Introduction The Epic of Gilgamesh is an instrumental literary work not only because it is one of the earliest surviving pieces of literature but also because it offers an insight into the lives of earlier societies. According to many scholars, the epic focuses on the figure of a real Sumerian...

“A Retrieved Reformation” by O. Henry

An American author O. Henry wrote a short story “A Retrieved Reformation” in 1903 and published it in The Cosmopolitan Magazine. The plot tells Jimmy’s story, a theft, and a man who saved a girl’s life-risking to lose the personal relationships he established after prison. O. Henry’s narrative’s main character...

Gothic Elements in Victorian Literature: A Comparative Analysis of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre

Introduction The topic of love has always been important in literature across the centuries. Nevertheless, while the central theme remained the same, its presentation and particularities have taken different forms following the spirit of the time. Despite existing genre constraints, there have always been works of literature that stand out...

Irony in “Of Mice and Men” Novel by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men seems to be a simple story about the Great Depression. The story is essentially about two guys trying to make it in California as they struggle to stay employed as migrant field workers. Their dream is to earn enough money to buy a...

Sentiments in “Windsor Forest” Poem by Alexander Pope

Introduction Alexander Pope is one of the most renowned British poets who glorified his native land and his people. He is specifically famous for the use of heroic themes and imagery that made his works successful during his lifetime and still popular in modern times (Fairer and Gerrard 114). One...

“St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” by Russell

Introduction The collection of short stories, St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, by Karen Russell presents tales narrated by adolescents that presents realistic detail of the miraculous phantasmagoric existence. Each story is infused with fantasy – dating of ghosts and humans in “Ava Wrestles the Alligator”, a song...

Relationship with Father in the Book Night by Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel’s book, Night, recalls about his experiences as a young Jewish boy; throughout the events and occurrences, Eliezer develops new relationships with his father as they surpass challenges they faced on their journey towards freedom. This paper addresses how Eliezer’s relations with his father change throughout the novel. Wiesel’s...

Touchstone and Jaques in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”

Jaques, a character from the play As You Like It by William Shakespeare, creates an unexpected contrast to the entire premise of the Arden Forest. In broad terms, he aligns poorly with the setting of optimism and change for the better conveyed by the rest of the characters. However, upon...

“Birds without a Nest” by Clorinda Matto de Turner Literature Analysis

Clorinda Matto de Turner has recounted the misfortunes that befell the Yapangui family in Killac, Andean, in the late 19th century in her novel, “Birds without a nest: A story of Indian life and priestly oppression in Peru”. Just like the other Indian families, the Yapanguis also have to endure...

Sexual-Orientation Oppression in “Now That I Am Forever with Child” and “Condition XXI”

Living in the ‘white’ American society, African Americans experience the consequences of prejudice and discriminating actions not only because of their race but also because of a range of associated factors. Thus, the issues of race discrimination towards African Americans are closely connected with gender and sexual orientation issues. In...

Father-Son Relationship in Night by Eli Wiesel

Father-Son Relationship in Night: Introduction The novel “Night” provides a detailed account of the author’s experience during the holocaust. The story revolves around the story of Eliezer (Eli) Wisel, the author, and his Jewish family during the holocaust. Specifically, the relationship between Eli and his father moves from a common...

Alienation, Existentialism, and Human Nature in Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”

Introduction Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” is a classic novella first published in 1915. The story revolves around the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into an insect. The story explores the themes of isolation, alienation, and existential crisis as Gregor struggles to come to terms...

Winston Smith as a Tragic Hero in Orwell’s 1984 Novel

Introduction The dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell paints a somber picture of an authoritarian future ruled by the mind-controlling Thought Police of the governing Party and the ubiquitous Big Brother. This frightening vision is centered on Winston Smith, the story’s protagonist, a common citizen who launches a clandestine uprising...

Human Nature and Faith in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Introduction: Identifying Universal Themes in the Story In Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” the universal themes of human nature and faith present themselves throughout the narrative. Analyzing the Presence of Two Key Themes The theme of human nature is evident in how the villagers treat...

Interpretations of Tracy K. Smith’s “Poem My God, It’s Full of Stars”

Introduction to the Author and Reflection on Personal Connection to the Works For this contextualized interpretation paper, I have chosen to explore the works of Tracy K. Smith, who served as the US Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019. After reading several of her poems, three stood out to me...

The Midnight Gang by David Walliams

Introduction David Walliams employs imagination and humor to highlight the relationship between adults and children at a hospital. The story has irresistible characters and highlights many relatable issues that cannot be forgotten. The author further uses different themes to perfectly present his message. Additionally, his work acts as a clarion...

“The Elephant in the Village of the Blind” by Linda Brewer

Peoples experiences and backgrounds severely impact how they perceive the world around them and the phenomena that occur in them. This power is realized by storytellers who use a change of perspective as a unique tool in storytelling. Hence, an excellent example is “The Elephant in the Village of the...

The Short Story “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin

Introduction Tom Godwin’s “The Cold Equations,” initially published in August 1954, is a widely distributed, contentious, and oft-reprinted work of science fiction. Science fiction is often defined as the literature of ideas, but the ideas behind “The Cold Equations” depend on one’s assumptions about the genre. If one approaches the...

The American Dream Theme in Ginsberg’s “America”

Introduction Allen Ginsberg’s 1956 poem “America” recounts the tumultuous Time following WWII when the country’s prospects were bleak. By opening the veil of national passivity, the poem expresses those times of political insecurity and asks for positive change. This poem appears many major subjects, including earlier conflicts, nuclear weapons, and...

Analysis of “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” by Stephen Crane

The novel’s main character, Mr. Potter, is a Texas marshal returning to Yellow Sky with his eastern wife. Sheriff Wilson and his thugs are about to be confronted by gunman Scratchy Wilson, but the sheriff’s wife and an older man talk him out of it. It was written as a...

Racism and Injustice in “Monster” Novel by Myers

As a rule, observing people in a courtroom in reality is beyond boring. Once the realm of the place where justice is supposed to serve is deprived of its mystery veil, it is rendered nearly mundane. However, “Monster” takes several steps further to examine the courtroom events, people, and even...

“The Man Who Planted Trees” by Jean Giono

The story “The Man Who Planted Trees” was written by the French writer Jean Giono in 1953. It tells the story of an old man who spent thirty years of his life planting trees in a valley in France, transforming the once barren land into a blooming garden. The story...

The Story “The King of the Bingo Game” by Ralph Ellison

In “The King of the Bingo Game,” Ralph Ellison presents an unnamed protagonist, an African American man, whose life is characterized by economic and social struggles. In particular, the black man makes tireless efforts to survive, while at the same time, seeking recognition in an environment that is hostile to...

Internal and External Conflict in “The Rocking-Horse Winner”

Human relationships are never simple and are usually predetermined by a variety of factors. In Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner,” the theme of family relationships is described through the vision of a little boy, Paul, and his mother, Hester, and the impact of such issues as money and personal needs. Despite...

“When You Are Old” Poem by William Yeats

One of the most famous works of William Yeats is “When You Are Old,” which is the poem addressed to a woman Yeats loved. The poem can be summarized as a plea with strong arguments. The author urges the woman to think of the future as not to regret her...

Imagery in “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe

Annabel Lee is the latest poem by Edgar Allan Poe, which elaborates on the death of a young woman. There is no consensus in research and art literature on who is the protagonist of Annabelle Lee’s poem. The subject of the death of a beautiful woman is often touched upon...

Marxism and Socialism in “Mending Walls” Poem by Robert Frost

Introduction The poem “Mending Walls” by Robert Frost, written and published in 1914, narrates a story originating from rural New England and talks about a fence between two industrious farmers’ estates that separates their properties. It is worth noting that the wall is rebuilt every spring, and one of the...

An Analysis of Hamlet by Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the most important plays in the history of literature, and its main character’s behavior deserves thorough studying. Throughout the book, his state of mind changes and evolves, and it is key to understanding his actions and interactions with other characters. It is essential to analyze...

The Symbolic Nature of Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”

Introduction Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is oftentimes seen as an allegorical, psychological, and quintessential exploration of the author’s inner state. However, despite the core of the story centering on the physical transformation of Gregor Samsa, the real metamorphosis occurs in his family which demonstrate a dramatic shift in attitudes at his...

“Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History” by Sidney Wilfred Mintz

Introduction In his famous book, Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History, Mintz studies where and how the goods that were produced on the islands since colonial times were consumed. Spices (ginger, allspice, and nutmeg), beverages (coffee, chocolate), rum, and sugar were exported from the Caribbean region...

Walt Whitman’s Poetry: Transcendentalism Beliefs

Walt Whitman was the American poet who represented the transcendentalist movement in the nineteenth century. Transcendentalism’s general belief is that human senses are not enough to provide the profound truth as they are limited to physical knowledge of life. Rueben concludes transcendentalism as “the intuitive faculty, instead of the rational...

Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee” Poem Analysis

Introduction A poem is a piece of literature that is written to pass certain messages to people or express various emotions such as love, hate, or even anger (Glennis, 98). It is because of these reasons that poetry requires skillful selection of words and sentence structures so as to make...

Symbolism in “The Road Not Taken” by Frost

The poem “The Road Not Taken” depicts personal philosophy and perception of life by the author. This poem is full of symbolism which helps Robert Frost to create unique messages and appeal to the emotions and imagination of readers. This paper finds and describes unique symbols running through Robert Frost’s...

John Smith’s Style in “General History of Virginia”

John Smith, the author of “General History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles” does not seem to be a reliable narrator, even though he is talking about his adventures from the times of colonization, he makes the story sound like an ode to himself and his deeds. The...

Stephen King’s ‘The Green Mile’: Prison Life & Ethical Reflections

Summary At the heart of the novel “The green mile” by King is the narration of the interaction between the key characters playing the role of either the jail guards or death row inmates, in a state penitentiary located at Cold Mountain. Although the story was recounted from a single...

“Top Girls” a Play by Caryl Churchill

Women have already made a long way towards the establishment of equality. Caryl Churchill in her play Top Girls highlights the issue regarding the success of the women’s movement of the 1970s and 80s, making us doubt that the female accomplishments in the sphere of career are enough for the...

The Role of Conflicts in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Conflict in Hamlet: Essay Introduction The play Hamlet is one of the appealing literary works of the world’s renowned play writer, William Shakespeare. The play is about one character that is, Hamlet who is the prince and son of the late king who was allegedly murdered by the current king...

Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth Comparison

Want to know more about the similarities and differences between Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth and their works? This essay example is here to help you out! Keep reading to get some ideas for your Wordsworth and Coleridge comparison paper. Wordsworth In this review, we are going to discuss...

Childhood, Growth, and Identity in Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Introduction Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is an enchanting tale that transports readers on a whimsical journey through a surreal realm teeming with peculiar individuals and unimaginable occurrences. Although it may appear to be a simple children’s story, Carroll skillfully intertwines themes of youth, maturation, and individuality to impart important...

Propaganda in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller

The Crucible by Arthur Miller examines the widespread fear and persecution experienced during the Salem Witch Trials in the late 17th century. Throughout the play, various propaganda techniques are employed to sway public opinion and defend the witch hunts. It is most realistic to remark that black, grey and white...

The Essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift

The satire of “A Modest Proposal” stems significantly from the vast disparity between the speaker’s calm and reasonable voice and the evident obnoxiousness of his proposal. The poor’s young infants are raised as livestock, butchered, and given to the wealthy, who devoured them as a delightful treat. Swift uses irony...

The Sir Patrick Spence Poem by a Scottish Writer

Poetry has always been one of the most popular forms of art used by individuals to reflect their feelings and emotions. Using various stylistic devices, rhymes, and rhythm, the author creates a unique image and sounding, attracting readers’ attention, triggering their feelings and emotions, and making them empathize with the...

What Makes Gilgamesh an Epic Hero?

Epic heroes are essential characters in literature and frequently serve as examples of morality and perfection. They have tremendous physical and mental abilities and are larger-than-life characters. They display traits like bravery, intelligence, bravery, and loyalty that set them apart from regular people. It is essential to note that Gilgamesh...

Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” vs. Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”

Introduction Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House follows the life of Norah and her attempts to guard the secret about a debt that she took to save the life of her husband, Torvald. On the other hand, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” follows the story of a narrator suffering from...

Fire Escape in The Glass Menagerie by Williams

Symbolism is a vital aspect of every play, and the author employs symbols to provide greater depth to a space. In Tennessee Williams’ drama, The Glass Menagerie, he explores three unique individuals, their hopes, and the harsh reality they encounter in contemporary society. The Glass Menagerie depicts the lost hopes...

Shakespeare’s “Othello”: A Venetian Tragedy of Love

Introduction William Shakespeare is the master of tragic plays, among which Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear are central. In this case, a tragedy narrates a plot about a good person losing their true sense of self due to mistakes in judgment or a character defect in unusual circumstances. In contrast...

The Break Novel by Katherena Vermette

Many bad things happen around; some are noticed and fairly discussed, while others remain neglected. In 2016, Katherena Vermette wrote The Break to show how dangerous and traumatic the human experience could be in a seemingly ideal community. One of its most outstanding issues is that there are no properly...

Plot, Tone, and Themes in Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”

In 1959, a play by the writer Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun, was successfully staged for the first time on Broadway. This play was chosen as a research subject due to its importance for the theater industry and the overall American culture. This work combines well all significant...

Writing Style of “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

Introduction Edgar Allan Poe was a poet, publicist, writer, and cultural critic in the United States of America. Poe’s poems and short story collections, notably his narratives of mystery and the grotesque, are his most notable works. He is generally considered a significant character in both American Romanticism and American...

Postcolonial Theory in Literary Works

Postcolonial literary theory is a broadly related theory of the struggles and consequences of colonial rule in European countries. The theory implements literature techniques to describe effects of colonialism and the struggle for independence. Nonetheless, the concept of this theory does not solely imply struggle for freedom and life in...

Conflict in The Metamorphosis Essay Example

The Metamorphosis is a book based on Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who does a strenuous job to provide for his family. On waking up one day, he realizes he has transformed into a colossal insect (Kafka 8). His father, mother, and sister recognize something is wrong when they knock...

Ray Bradbury’s Critique of the American Society in “The Veldt”

“The Veldt” is a short science fiction story by Ray Bradbury published in 1950. Concerned with rapid technological development and the spread of consumerism philosophy among Americans, the author sought to warn his readers about the possible negative impacts of these tendencies on individuals and society. The writer argues that...

Stage Directions and Dialogs in Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles”

Introduction Trifles is a one-act play by an American playwright and journalist Susan Glaspell, first performed in 1916. The plot is centered around a scene in a local farmhouse where neighbors and the police investigate a murder of John Wright, of which his wife Minnie is suspected. The play explores...