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...

Exploring Self-Discovery in Pablo Neruda’s ‘We Are Many’ Poem

Introduction In the translated poem “We Are Many” by Pablo Neruda, the speaker delves into identity and the challenge of self-discovery amid life’s intricacies. Through vivid imagery and a sense of self-deprecation, Neruda conveys the idea that societal expectations and personal insecurities often overshadow one’s true self. The poem reflects...

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “To My One Love” and Its Emotional Depth

Introduction Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie stands out in the broad expanse of contemporary literature as a light of eloquence and emotional depth. “To My One Love” is set in modern-day Nigeria, a country wrestling with its post-colonial identity, societal standards, and the complexities of human relationships. This setting is critical because...

Freedom and Slavery in Solomon Northup’s Twelve Years a Slave

Introduction The book under analysis in this paper is the narrative of Solomon Northup about his 12-year experience as a slave in Louisiana. The book entitled Twelve Years a Slave is the first-person narration of Solomon Northup’s life as a person of color who was born a free man but...

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...

Verbal Communication and Identity in Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”

Introduction “The Metamorphosis,” a short story by Kafka, explores the implication of losing one’s physical body and the abilities that it provides. The process of metamorphosis itself represents the lack of the protagonist’s self-understanding and self-reflection. Further, verbal communication and its challenges play a pivotal role in the narrative development,...

Comparison of the “Death on the Nile” Novel and Film

The novel titled Death on the Nile was written by the world-famous writer Agatha Christie in 1937. Based on the book, the film Death on the Nile 2022 was directed by Kenneth Branagh and released worldwide in 2020. This novel is a detective novel, and therefore it is impossible to...

The Necklace Setting Analysis

Introduction In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant depicts Mathilde’s character transformation through her interactions with various settings. Discussion The protagonist begins the story as an unhappy woman dissatisfied with her life and longs for wealth and luxury. However, as the story progresses and Mathilde experiences the consequences of her actions,...

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...

“Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams: Analysis

The attachment to illusion and their inability to embrace reality is reiterated in every character in “Glass Menagerie.” Among the three leading ones, the propensity toward wishful thinking and the inability to meet reality is particularly distinctively emphasized in Amanda. Remarkably, her version of an illusion is substantially different form...

“The Epic of Gilgamesh”: Archetypal Elements

Introduction The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the most important literature pieces that partly created the foundation for the art existing currently. Moreover, multiple archetypal elements can be derived from the poem, both regarding the rivalry and friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu and the epic as a whole. In...

Mrs. Mallard in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Introduction The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin features Mrs. Mallard as the main protagonist. It revolves around her inner character, which tends towards preservation. She is portrayed as a woman suffering intensely due to her internal thoughts. Her true personality is one of independence and intelligence. Her independence...

The Story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell

The theme of relations with nature has always been important for society. The attitude and understanding of this concept have been changing along with the development of society and technologies. The idea of the individual as a part of the world was replaced by the belief that human beings are...

Irony of “Nebraska” Poem by Bruce Springsteen

The poem is about a man who went on a murder spree alongside his girlfriend. As he went into the badlands of Wyoming, he killed everything that appeared on his way, including humans. The person is not sorry for the murder he has committed. Instead, he insists that he had...

“A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns

As a person and as a poet, R. Burns was influenced by two national cultures, Scottish and English. The lyrics of R. Burns were close to folk not only in sound, but in content. He was imbued with a mood of sincere sympathy for working people and mocking contempt for...

“The Canterbury Tales”: Plot and Structure of the Work

The Canterbury Tales is an unfinished work on which author Jeffrey Chaucer worked until his death. The Canterbury Tales is composed of some passages which are sometimes controversial. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that the text is divided into ten fragments, the first of which begins with the General Prologue,...

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...

Life Influences and the Works of Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Introduction Literature has existed for centuries, teaching, admonishing, and highlighting social issues. Every piece of literature is unique, from the source to the intended message to the audience. In every case, authors are motivated to compose their works by several circumstances and life experiences. Although some authors may not directly...

The Theme of Culture in “A Doll’s House” by Henrik

Culture is a vital aspect of every society, depicted through gender roles, power distribution, and the place of men and women in society. Literature serves to highlight the cultural practices engraved in society. The play A Doll’s House is a three-part play by the renowned playwright Henrik Ibsen. A Doll’s...

“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...

“Doll’s House”: Ibsen’s Play vs. Losey’s Movie

Throughout history, women were expected to accommodate the patriarchal perception of gender roles in society. Females had to be perfect as dolls, never complain, procreate with their husbands, and foster flawless ‘doll children’. In the play Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, the exact theme of poor female treatment and marriage...

“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...

“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...

Conformity in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”

Introduction The works of Shirley Jackson are well-known in literary society. Even though the issues addressed by the author appear to be diverse, special attention is drawn to the subject of conformity. In “The Lottery,” the writer delivers her unique understanding of the dangers of excessive conservatism. In this essay,...

Blues for Mister Charlie Play by James Baldwin

Blues for Mister Charlie is a play in three acts by James Baldwin. It revolves around the murder of Richard Henry, a black man, committed by Lyle Britten, a white store owner. The play addresses the theme of institutional racism and injustice African American community faced in the 1960s United...

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...

Shift from Naturalism to Modernism in Literature

Literature of the early 20th century was characterized by the shift from Realism to Modernism. A number of factors shaped people’s perception of the changing world marked by the development of industrial societies and rapid urbanization. Furthermore, people were affected by the horrors of the Civil War and World War...

God Created War so that Americans Would Learn Geography

Mark Twain’s quote “God created war so that Americans would learn Geography” humorously depict the levels of American involvement with other countries at that time. Twain lived during the late 19th century when America was repeatedly involved in different wars, for instance, Red Cloud’s War, Mexican-American War, Great Sioux War,...

Creon in “Antigone” by Sophocles

Sophocles revealed a deep conflict between ancestral unwritten rules and state laws in his tragedy Antigone. On the one hand, religious beliefs, deeply rooted in the tribal community, dictated people to sacredly honor kinship ties and observe all the necessary rites with blood relatives. On the other hand, every citizen...

American Dream in “Their Eyes Were Watching God”

The American Dream is one of the founding concepts of the United States, yet it takes on different forms. As each person perceives the world differently, one may have particular desires and aspirations that do not correspond with the majority’s view. In “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Zora Neale Hurston...

Friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu

In the ancient Mesopotamian poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the most important elements of the story is the friendship between the protagonist Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The formed friendship was unlikely given the opposite nature of the characters, but the two supernatural men forge the bond based on their...

Literary Analysis of “The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich

Louise Erdrich received the wide critical acclaim of her literary works alongside with the popularity among ordinary readers. Her first novel Love Medicine, published in 1989, depicted the lives of the Native Americans of Chippewa tribe on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. The significance of the book is defined by...

Who Moved My Cheese: A Fable’ Review

‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ is an entertaining little fable about two mice in running shoes and two little people looking for cheese. Cheese is a metaphor for any good thing that someone might want: a lucrative career, a comfortable life, or a loving family. The important thing is that everybody...

The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. Work Analysis

The text under consideration is The Decameron, written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the middle of the fourteenth century when Europe was affected by one of the most devastating epidemics of the Middle Ages. The exact number of the deceased has not been estimated so far, but some researchers note that...

Theme of Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”

Ambition is the elementary factor in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The author has used Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to explore the concept of purpose in Macbeth. The two characters’ ambitions and downfall are the key storylines which the author illustrates. Besides, the desire of control by Lady Macbeth...

Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras: The Theme of Vendetta

Hamlet is an outstanding tragedy by William Shakespeare, which is considered an example of skillful language and complicated plot. The play has always drawn the attention of researchers, and even today, litterateurs still analyze its peculiarities. Through his vivid characters, Shakespeare speaks about eternal issues: the problems of doubts, love,...

“What You Pawn I Will Redeem” Story by Sherman Alexie

“What You Pawn, I Will Redeem” is a chef-d’oeuvre short story by Sherman Alexie written and published in 2003 for the first time. The story is about a broke and homeless Spokane Indian named Jackson Jackson, who has to look for $1,000 to redeem his grandmother’s regalia, which from a...

Hamlet’s Letter to a Friend

Dear Cornelius, I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirit. Alas, I cannot say so about myself at the moment. I cannot possibly explain what heartbreaking and unfortunate news awaited thy loyal friend Hamlet upon his returning home. You are my kindred spirit and the only...

A Psychoanalytical Reading of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”

The close reading of Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” reveals the fact that the story’s motifs may be well discussed within the context of the Freudian theory of psychoanalysis; as they provide us with insight into the oppression-related essence of the main character’s existential anxieties. In this paper, we...

“Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky: Analysis of the Work

The novel Crime and Punishment written by Fyodor Dostoevsky concentrates on the moral issues and highlights the urgent problems of society in the nineteenth century. The protagonists of the novel embody different features of characters who find comfort through redemption. In addition, the novel presents the reader with a great...

“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...

Analysis of Madame Loisel Character Traits

Madame Loisel Character Traits: Personality Analysis Essay Introduction Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace” describes the life of a lady dwelling in nineteenth-century France and experiencing the difficulties associated with her desires to be an aristocrat and her real average life. Desiring to look wealthier than she is, Mathilde...

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...

Resolving Sexual Violence Issues in J. M. Coetzee’s “Disgrace”

Introduction Coetzee’s “Disgrace” is a reflection of the extent to which brutality and sexual violence characterized the famous South African era of apartheid. This novel features David Lurie as the central character whose negative perceptions of women, racist attitudes, and cases associating him with rape depict the level of moral...

“The Waste Land” a Poem by Thomas Stearns Eliot

Introduction T. S. Eliot is one of the most significant modernist poets, particularly due to his use of vivid imagery in the exploration of social issues about the British community of the time. The Waste Land, written in 1922, is a long poem that has captured the attention of many...

“To Build a Fire” by Jack London: Human Frailty vs. Nature

Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” is regarded as one of the most brilliant examples of the naturalist movement. London tells a story about a man who freezes to death. The author reveals the idea that humans are too self-assured or naïve if they think they can conquer...

Elie Wiesel’s Night: Ghetto and Concentration Camp Horrors

Elie Wiesel revealed his experience in the ghetto in his novel Night. He portrayed the horrors of the war years and the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. The author shares his thoughts and deepest emotions. The book is a very intimate confession of a person who tried to come...

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...

“Heritage: For Harold Jackman” by Countee Cullen

Paraphrase the poem The poem entitled “Heritage” was written by Countee Cullen. The poet contemplates his origins and his present state. Cullen concludes that though he is civilized, he will still remember about his roots, and he will never forget the beauty and greatness of Africa, his motherland. Interestingly, it...

Character Development in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Introduction Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, written in 1813, and is still popular and loved by many readers. It tells about the lives of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who represent opposites and have two points of view on life. This novel gives readers deep...

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...

Displacement, Identity, and Palestinian Belonging in Barghouti’s “I Saw Ramallah”

Introduction Written by Mourid Barghouti, “I Saw Ramallah” is a formidable memoir that will resonate with audiences worldwide, especially Palestinians. The book offers a unique perspective on the Palestinian experience of displacement, loss, and the struggle for belonging. The descriptions of local people and the region are nuanced enough to...

Analyzing Literary Elements in Frances Harper’s “The Slave Mother” Poem

Introduction Frances Ellen Watkins was an influential African American writer and abolitionist. Harper, an African American poet and abolitionist, composed the poem The Slave Mother during the antebellum era. This 1857 publication portrays the inevitable hardships working mothers who are separated from their cherished children face. Harper employs poetic elements...

The Themes and Relevance of Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” Short Story

Introduction Connell’s classic short story, The Most Dangerous Game, is a gripping account of the perils people play. The story follows Rainsford, a hunter who abandons his planned hunting trip and ends up shipwrecked on an island home to General Zaroff – an insane man who hunts humans for sport....

Cultural Heritage and Identity in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” Short Story

Introduction The story in the book “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker discusses the importance of cultural heritage and identity. In her work, the author talks about the life of a mother and two daughters. They went through a difficult path that separated them, and now they must overcome many difficulties...

The Play “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare

I intend to focus on the master-slave relationship in the history of drama and colonialism in The Tempest. The reason for selecting this area is that it is extensive and explanatory because, unlike other genres, it was written to be understood and appreciated without the opportunity to re-read it. My...

“Trifles” by Susan Glaspell: Literary Analysis

Trifles is a piece written by Susan Glaspell in 1916 in the genre of the one-act play. The play explores the connections between husbands and wives, focusing on a murderous marriage. The play contains many symbols with specific meanings that enhance the contents of the play. Every symbol is related...

Interpretation of “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen

“Dulce et Decorum Est” is a poem by English poet Wilfred Owen. Besides being a poet, he participated in World War I, and this writing was devoted to experiences in battles during the war. “Dulce et Decorum Est” was published posthumously in the collection of Owen’s poems (Spacey). The author...

“The Missing Peace” Book by Edwidge Danticat

Introduction “The Missing Peace” is a novel in the book Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat. She is an American writer of Haitian descent whose works tell about women’s lives and their relationships, mainly reflecting the problems of power, injustice, and poverty. “The Missing Peace” displays the story of a teenage...

A Comparison of the Poem “Beowulf” With the Screenplay

Introduction The Old English poem “Beowulf” is a monument of late origin. Radical reinterpretations of the story include Robert Zemeckis’ feature film, Beowulf. This film does not claim complete plot similarity to the original narrative but is a new work based on the famous epic poem. The film and the...

Analysis of Arthur Miller’s Play, “The Crucible”

Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible,” is inspired by the McCarthyism hysteria which occurred in the 1940s and 1950s due to the inconsistencies in the Salem witch trials. The play is based on extreme behavior when people had hidden agendas and dark desires (Li 116). Thus, the word McCarthyism means making...

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...

The Wasco People’s Legend Coyote and Multnomah Falls

Coyote and Multnomah Fall, a legend of the Wasco people, tells the traditional story of love, longing, and sorrow. The story’s protagonist is the Coyote character, widespread among the North American Wasko Indians. Coyote in the works usually acts as a minor character. It can be used to contrast with...

Analysis of Symbols in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is an impressive short novel that narrates the story of an intriguing but cruel tradition in a small village in the United States. The villagers annually conduct a lottery on 27 June, and shockingly, the “winner” gets brutally killed with stones by other residents. “The Lottery”...

Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”: Relevance Today

It is important to note that “The Story of an Hour,” written by Kate Chopin, is an example of classical storytelling embedded in the reflection of the societal forces, assumptions, constructs, and context. In sum, the story focuses on the Mallard family, where the husband is presumed to be dead,...

Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Should Not Be Banned

Introduction Harper Lee and the film adaptation subtly weave various topics into the narrative — the stratification of society on the example of a single white part of the population of Maycomb. The question is raised about the painful search for one’s self, which includes equating to a contradictory ideal;...

Review of “A Letter to My Nephew” by James Baldwin

Background James Baldwin is one of the renowned writers in the US whose piece of work covers issues of racial discrimination faced by black people in the country. The author is African American who lived in Harlem, New York City, in the 1930s. Majorly, the themes of Baldwin’s writing are...

Gender Roles in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Atwood

Introduction Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a novel illustrating a dystopian system in which fertile women become the maids of couples who cannot conceive. The United States (Gilead) has become a military, patriarchal, autocratic country where all males and females serve a purpose. Males, depending on their status, can...

Material Success and Failure in Miller’s Play “Death of a Salesman”

Introduction In the play “Death of a Salesman,” written by Arthur Miller, the main themes are portrayed with the help of a variety of symbols. They are intertwined with the memories of the main character, Willy Loman, who reflects on his failure as an employee, a husband, and a father....

God’s Anthropomorphism and Divinity in Homer’s Poem “Iliad”

Introduction Homer’s epic poem Iliad is one of the most influential literary works in western literature, and it is a detailed description of the values, norms, and beliefs of Ancient Greece. The author depicts the Greek pantheon of gods and their multiple interactions with people. One of the major peculiarities...

Robinson Crusoe’s Symbolism and Footprint

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is a relatively straightforward novel not full of symbolism. Nonetheless, those few symbols are significant, multifaceted, and can be interpreted differently. Robinson’s discovery of “the print of a man’s naked foot on the shore” is one of the most noteworthy episodes of the work (Defoe, 2003,...

“I Think It Rains” Poem by Wole Soyinka

The poem “I Think It Rains” by Soyinka possesses a distinctive structure, which in itself is built in metaphor. A hard-to-follow narrative results from the poet’s ability to express his ideas in rain-like drops, using the images of rain and smoke to explore the author’s state of mind. The rain...

Analysis of “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst

James Hurst’s novel, The Scarlet Ibis, is a piece rich in parallels and literary devices that evokes emotions of empathy and regret from the very beginning. Its central theme is the guilt and shame of the protagonist over the death of his younger brother. Above all, the author emphasizes these...

Women in Ancient Greece in Euripides’ Play “Medea”

The struggle for women’s rights has been fierce, lengthy, and challenging to achieve. Women all around the world continue to work relentlessly towards achieving gender equality. Although a significant progress has been made, it is important not to forget where it all started. For this essay, the focus is on...

Comparing “To Winter” by Claude McKay and “After the Winter Rain” by Ina Coolbrith

“To Winter” and “After the Winter Rain” are both related to the same topic of the winter period. However, they display this season from different aspects: Claude McKay expresses his desire for winter to stay and Ina Coolbrith explains how spring comes after winter. In addition, the poems are visibly...

The Epic Poem “Paradise Lost” by John Milton

It has become common today to view the most notable literary works in the light of their reflection of the specific era. Paradise Lost, the epic poem written by 17th-century English poet John Milton in 1667, represents the political and historical events of this period. Still, it can be argued...

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...

Formation of Gender Identity in “Fun Home” by Alison Bechdel

Throughout Alison Bechdel’s tragicomic Fun Home, the author demonstrates her and her father Bruce’s opposing views on the concept of sexuality. Their different definitions of the significance of gender roles cause tension in their formation of sexual orientations in the presence of each other. The distinct ways in which they...

Reinforcement of Sexist Stereotypes in Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Introduction Jane Austen’s work occupies one of the leading places in British literary history and remains relevant from the Victorian era to the present. The novel “Pride and Prejudice” describes the love story of a young lady Elizabeth Bennett and an aristocrat Mr. Darcy, developing in the complex context of...

“The Family: Diversity, Inequality, and Social Change” by Philip Cohen

In the first chapter of The Family, Cohen (2018) describes different definitions of family and the major factors that shape roles and decisions within family members. According to the text, three main definitions are considered: personal, legal, and institutional (family as an institutional arena). The first one, according to Cohen...

Women by Alice Walker. Analysis of the Poem

Alice Walker is a multifaceted author, excelling in both prose and poetry, and her works are deeply influenced by her experience as an African-American woman. She is very concerned with women’s plight and rights and explores the topic in most of her bibliography. While one may be more familiar with...

“First Day of Winter” by Breece D’J Pancake

“First Day of Winter” is a work by an American writer Breece D’J Pancake. This short story reveals the inner conflict of the main character, Hollis, and shows an uneasy relationship with his parents. Hollis is a farm boy who takes care of his elderly and feeble mother and father....

Literary Analysis of Ward’s “Sing, Unburied, Sing”

Jesmyn Ward: A Celebrated Author in American Literature Jesmyn Ward is considered an important author in American literature owing to her ability to showcase an intimate and in-depth understanding of language. Ward’s works explore American families and their diverse cultures. All of Ward’s novels are set in the small town...

The Review of the Context as Content by Brian O’Doherty

Introduction A series of well-known essays by a renowned Irish writer Brian O’Doherty under the name of Inside the White Cube gives his thoughts on the art space, mainly focusing on the work of modern galleries. The design of the White Cube galleries has affected and permeated art and exhibition...

The Portrayal of Schizophrenia in a Beautiful Mind

Mental health is an important aspect of people’s lives that requires immediate attention and careful consideration. However, the topic of mental illnesses has been a taboo to discuss and portray for many years. Today it becomes more and more acceptable to talk about one’s health freely, especially in art. The...

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...

Why Shakespeare’s Hamlet Is Still Relevant

Academic research on literary works in college is usually closely linked to history. Using characters from plays and novels as examples, students understand the aristocrats’ lifestyle from past centuries and even learn about the tragedies of Ancient Greece. The critical question remains why such works are still relevant. The answer...

The Exploring Freud’s “Uncanny”

Argument The main argument laid out by Freud in The Uncanny is that there is strangeness in the ordinary. Psychoanalysts rarely investigate the subject of aesthetics understood as a feeling of the qualities of feeling. However, the uncanny interested Freud as something belonging to all that is terrible, which arouses...

Social Satire in Canterbury Tales

Introduction The 14th-16th centuries period received the name Renaissance in European history. As a cultural phenomenon, the Renaissance marked a slow transition from medieval era to modernity. During that time period, a significant part of European states experienced severe changes in their social structures, as well as the rise of...

“Loathe at First Sight” by Ellen Conford

“You ARE dripping on my toes.” The girl seemed to be really angry with the boy, as her deep blue eyes shone almost black. “I’m sorry. I was admiring you from afar, and I wanted to admire you from a-near. From afar you looked terrific.” The boy flushed, pecking at...

Tayama Katai’s the Quilt the Ancestor of “I-Novel”

Introduction At the end of the nineteenth century, Japanese literature experienced many striking moments. In particular, in the late 60th, it endured the most deplorable declines under the governance of Emperor Meiji. The famous authors were doomed to resort to writing books about formless and meaningless gossips. So far, having...

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Review

Introduction Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960 and adapted for the cinema in 1962, is set in Maycomb, a small Alabama town, in the middle of the Great Depression. The story is told by Scout looking back at the time when she was the six-year old daughter...

Edward Estlin Cummings and His Poetry Review

Introduction Edward Estlin Cummings is amongst the most controversial figures of the 20th century American poetry. On the one hand, readers value him for sincerity and sensitivity in depicting the mystery of love as well as for idealized depiction of the beloved as well as for his sensual, almost three-dimensional...

Racism in “Native Son” by Richard Wright

We live in time when the legacy of racism in America is now being assumed a thing of the past, with more and more people adopting interracial tolerance as the integral component of their existential mode. In its turn, this prompts many contemporary social scientists to suggest that, as of...

“Up from Slavery” by Booker T. Washington Analysis

Introduction The life of Booker T. Washington can very well serve as the proof to the idea that it is namely the strength of one’s determination and his or her industriousness, which define such individual’s chances to attain social prominence, even in society hampered by racial prejudices. Therefore, Washington’s autobiographical...

Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey — Comparison & Critique

The Iliad and the Odyssey are two of the oldest pieces of Western literature in existence today. They are canons of the west’s literary past even now and have a large following. The stories of both have been repeated countless times and used in cultural references and in making big-budget...

Feminism in Antigone: Term Paper

It is difficult to identify as to who was the first feminist in the world and as to when the feminist movements had started, but majority of such movements can be traced during the last two centuries. However, there have been women feminists who have proved their abilities in this...

The Tempest: Prospero’s Character Analysis

Prospero’s Character Analysis: Introduction While reading William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”, one questions himself or herself if the main character’s Prospero’s rule is just or not. To prove his or her viewpoint, one should analyze Prospero’s choices to explain his values; one should also examine and discuss the treatment and the...

Symbolism in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Symbolism in The Story of an Hour: Introduction The action in Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour takes place in the Mallards’ house, were learning about her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard experiences freedom and dies when she sees him alive within an hour. The setting of this story is...

Setting in “Passing” Novel by Nella Larsen

Setting is a critical element of any story and can be used by the author for various purposes. For instance, in Passing by Nella Larsen, this tool is one of the factors creating the mood and helping readers to understand the main message of the author. The whole story takes...

Behavior Under Pressure: Insights from Hughes and Orwell

People often behave in a certain way not because they want to or think that they should behave in this way because it is the right thing but because they experience the pressure of people around them. The nature of this pressure is curious: it is not that people who...

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...

A Rose for Emily: Gothic Elements

Gothic Elements in A Rose for Emily: Essay Introduction Gothic elements in any literary work represent the intricate literature that specifically deals with the mysterious, unusual, and supernatural. Writers often deploy gothic elements in a bid to reveal popular themes and motifs such as hidden truths, death, complicated love, eroticism,...

The Lottery Essay: Literary Analysis Example

Check out this essay sample to get more ideas for your The Lottery analysis essay. Here, you’ll find the story’s summary, main theme analysis, and the aftermath explanation. Learn more about the story with our The Lottery essay example’s help! Shirley Jackson wrote several short stories, but she is broadly...

Richard Bauman’s Analysis of Story Performance and Cultural Events in Literature

The “Story Performance and Event” by Richard Bauman is relatively a short book, but very deceiving. The brevity conceals a hypothetical richness and depth that is hard to find in most works of literature which double its volume. In this book, Bauman illustrates the necessity of novel strategies in the...

Toni Morrison’s Novel “Beloved”: Slavery Theme

This essay sample explores the major theme in Beloved: slavery and its dehumanizing effects. Read it if you are curious about the theme of slavery in Beloved its connection to the theme of motherhood. Slavery in Beloved: Introduction Slavery is one of the major distressing issues in society bearing in...

The Book “We Need New Names” by NoViolet Bulawayo

The book We Need New Names tells the story of Darling, a young African girl and her mischievous gang of friends. Darling is the protagonist. Bulawayo tells of the girl’s life in violent and unstable Zimbabwe as well as her experiences as an immigrant in America. However, the ending of...

Influence of the Great Depression on American Literature and Social Realism

Introduction Various historical events have shaped the culture and life in the United States. Revolutions, wars, discoveries, and economic growth influenced people’s perceptions of life. This essay will explore the peculiarities of the Great Depression (1929-1939) in the U.S. and its influence on American literature (Pierce 5). The Great Depression...

Power and Authority in Shakespeare’s Plays Julius Caesar and King Lear

Introduction One of the most interesting topics raised in the literature is power and authority. This is because this topic can be implemented from different points of view on this phenomenon. Furthermore, it can provide a more complete understanding of the role of these aspects in an individual’s relationship with...

Taylor and Turtle’s Bond in The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

Introduction Every person needs to grow up with a sense of belonging to a family or community, a perspective deeply supported by the nurture theory of human development. In The Bean Trees, the author explores the importance of family and emotional support systems for those who are facing hardships. A...

Irony in “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl

The irony, a literary device that provides a clashing of the choice of word and its intended meaning, features prominently within Roald Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter. The utilization of irony in its various forms is often a component of allowing a work to illuminate the complexities and contradictions of...

The Book “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini

The story of The Kite Runner begins in the pre-war Afghan city of Kabul in the 70s, where there were children who did not know what shelling and explosions were. A favorite pastime and, at the same time, a very serious matter for all the residents were kite competitions (Hosseini)....

Digital Age in “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury

Introduction The Veldt is a short story composed by Ray Bradbury that depicts a family’s life in a technologically advanced house. The parents are getting continually more frustrated as they lose communication with their children due to the automated operations. The home provides food, bathes children, plays with them, and...

Feminism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman

How does this story reflect the challenges put forward by the first wave of feminists? The first wave of feminism refers to the women’s movement against the societal expectations on the role of women in the middle-class and upper-class women in the 18th century to the 20th century. It was...

The Meaning of Robert Frost’s Poem “Out, Out–”

The participation of children in labor activities in order to help their families survive was a common situation for American society in the 1910s. In his poem “Out, Out–” that was published in 1916, Robert Frost draws the readers’ attention to this aspect while telling a story about a young...

Literary Techniques in “The Dead” Story by James Joyce

“The Dead” is a short story written by a prominent Irish poet and novelist James Joyce and included in his 914 collection Dubliners. In this work, the narration is focused on the Misses Morkan’s annual dance where their nephew, Gabriel Conroy, arrives with his wife. Although there are several essential...

Unreliable Narrator in Gilman’s The Yellow Wall-Paper

The Yellow Wall-Paper, a short novel by Charlotte Perkins Stetson, tells a sad and dark story of a woman who lost her mind after unsuccessful rest cure treatment. Perkins Stetson portrayed her female protagonist as an unreliable narrator in order to demonstrate how the treatment based on a dismissive attitude...

Grandmother in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by O’Connor

Introduction In A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Flannery O’Connor explores such themes as family, prejudice, and finding grace, showing that human compassion could have transformative power. The juxtaposition between the two main stereotypical characters, the Misfit and the grandmother, is used to transfer the key message that in...

The “When Ure Hero Falls” Poem by Tupac Shakur

People often create heroes in their minds and desperately try to follow their example. However, nobody is perfect, and a heroic image usually collides with the harsh reality of our world. As a result, a person who believed in their hero may become traumatized by the experience. In the first...

“Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway

Introduction Ernest Hemingway was a master of short, expressive prose. Moreover, he considered his “best prose” to be the story of a man who never gives up – “Old Man and the Sea.” The harmony of man and nature can be considered one of the main ideas in this work....

The Short Story “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

A heart seeking love and burdened by traditions can open a doorway into madness. The given review and critique will be focused on a short story, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, written in 1930. The plot revolves around a town in the state of Mississippi with central characters...

Conformity in the Consumerism Culture in “America” by Tony Hoagland

Introduction The poem “America” by Tony Hoagland is an example of a verse that represents the topics of conformity and rebellion. The author emphasizes the connections between economic issues and conformity, showing that people do not see their natural desires and inclinations because they are busy consuming products. In the...

Prospero’s Rulership in “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s The Tempest is a strange, non-historical drama that focuses mainly on an act of injustice. By the unjust conduct, one analyzes Prospero’s brother’s takeover of the crown. Prospero’s efforts to restore justice via the rejuvenation of his power illustrate a dual predicament. In The Tempest, Prospero’s use of mystical...

Theme of Marriage in “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen

In A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen explores the theme of love and marriage. In particular, he is searching for the answers to whether there is love in marriage and how a successful marriage should be. In addition, he reflects upon the role of social standards and expectations in relation to...

“The Epic of Gilgamesh” vs. “The Book of Genesis”

Introduction Ancient literary texts are among the richest sources for research and history analysis. First of all, such works by themselves allow one to get an idea of the culture of a particular people. However, their research can also lead to broader conclusions by detecting intersections and similarities between completely...

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 Play “Proof” by David Auburn

Prove that irony exists in the play In the play “Proof” by David Auburn, events unravel in the house of a mathematical genius Robert, who has been suffering from mental illness. His daughter Catherine is living with him in order to take care of. The first element of irony is...

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...

Biotech, Corporate Power, and Democracy: Oryx and Crake

Introduction It is important to note that Margaret Atwood’s book titled Oryx and Crake is a post-apocalyptic story with a heavy focus on the preceding events, which are deeply reflected in the current trends in areas, such as biotech, corporate power, and the erosion of democratic norms. The plot explores...

“The Vanishing Half” by Britt

The Vanishing Half is a multi-generational, multi-geographic story that jumps back and forth between the 1950s and the late 1990s, and from Mallard, a small, light-skinned community, to New Orleans and the Northern States. The novel covers, among others, the topics of colorism and the ways in which it affects...

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...

The Short Story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan

Relationships between parents and children can be extremely complicated and made even more so by various external factors. Many generational misunderstandings stem from the strikingly different cultural contexts in which the children are raised compared to their parents. This essay will consider Amy Tan’s story Two Kinds and argue that...

Analysis of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Introduction Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery is a short story that tells about a fictional village where people are gathered for an annual lottery, in which all the villagers take part. The lottery has been held for many years as a tradition, and the tickets are drawn to select one person...

Jo’s Testimony in Act III of Baldwin’s “Blues for Mister Charlie”

In act III of James Baldwin’s Blues for Mister Charlie, the court proceedings play a crucial role both in the plot’s development and the development of the characters. Two months after Richard’s death, Lyle is on trial, with the audience being presented with a picture of what happened. Jo’s perjured...

Book Annotation: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Purple hibiscus is the first published book by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It was published in 2003 and was shortlisted in 2004 for the Orange Prize for Fiction. The narrative includes many themes that intertwine and form the story of the protagonist. The central topic of discussion in the...

Depictions of Dinosaurs in Crichton’s “Jurassic Park”

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton is one of the iconic novels of the science fiction genre and is considered Crichton’s magnum opus. The book is generous in providing detailed depictions of various dinosaur species and explaining how the park came to life in the modern world. Some of the descriptions...

Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” Through the Historical Lens

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is deservedly regarded as one of the most essential tragedies in human history. The play is remarkable because it stays relevant and timeless, as evidenced by the fact that it has been staged in theaters all over the globe for more than 400 years. Shakespeare, however, was...

Ambiguity of Goodness in O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”

In the chef-d’oeuvre story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, O’Connor presents an ambiguous definition of goodness. The characters in the story including the Grandmother and the Misfit live by different moral codes, with each insisting that he or she is good. The Misfit murders and entire family, but...

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...

Themes of Religion, Sexuality: “Salvation” by Langston Hughes

In the short story “Salvation,” Langston Hughes talks about the concept of faith through a child’s lens who loses his belief in Jesus due to the compulsion of surrounding people. Young Hughes did not get up to be saved as others did, but he remained in his seat to see...

“She Being Brand” Poem by E. E. Cummings

It goes without saying that for the appropriate interpretation of any poem, it is highly essential to examine its “background.” In other words, it is important to find information about the author as the understanding of its personality frequently provides a better insight into his or her works. Thus, Edward...

“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...

The Theme of Love in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo

Introduction As noted in the plan mentioned above, this work is an analysis of the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. It will present the results of a study of the past writer, narrative, characters, and various opinions related to the work. Also, this paper explores the...

Othello as Aristotelian Tragic Hero

Introduction The problem of the genre of tragedy in the work of Shakespeare as a whole still remains open. It is multifaceted and includes both questions from the field of the history of genres and the question of the philosophical content of Shakespeare’s plays in connection with the category of...

Fairy Tale Fantasy in Children’s Literature

Introduction Fairy tales have always been a major part of any child’s education and upbringing, which makes a significant impact on their development of worldview. It is important to understand that such stories can have both negative and positive implications, where the tales possess certain agenda as well as controversies....