A Raisin in the Sun – Women

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry presents many themes that are found in everyday life. Some of these themes include the search for identity and self-respect, the real meaning of money, and the changing roles of women. The changing roles of women are portrayed through the differences between Lena and Beneatha. Lena represents … Read more

Othello and King Lear comparison

If Shakespeare was alive today it is certain that there would be a lot written about him. We would read reviews of his new plays in newspapers, articles about his poetry in the literary papers, and gossip about his love life and his taste in clothes splashed across the glossy magazines. His views about everything … Read more

Blood Bonds Antigone and The Eumenides

Every human on this earth has a bond to another. These bonds, as well as their significance, differ between people. This paper will focus on the bonds of marriage and blood, and their role in the plays Antigone and The Eumenides. How do they relate to each other? Is one more important than the other? … Read more

Frankenstein – The Question of Morality in the Novel

Morality. It has been questioned by people, honored by people and revered since the beginning of time. Yet even today not one person can say what is morally right. It is a matter of opinion. It was Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s opinion that it was alright to create a “monster”. Frankenstein’s creation needed a companion. Knowing … Read more

Close Reading on Othello

Iago. Thus do I ever make my fool my purse; For I mine own gained knowledge should profane If I would time expend with such a snipe But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets Has done my office: I know not if’t be … Read more

Voltaire’s Candide

Voltaire’s Candide is the story of an innocent man’s experiences in a mad and evil world, his struggle to survive in that world, and his need to ultimately come to terms with it. All people experience the turmoil of life and must overcome obstacles, both natural and man-made, in order to eventually achieve happiness. In … Read more

Does Science Explain All?

In the beginning there was darkness. Then there was light. Then there was consciousness. Then there were questions and then there was religion. Religions sprouted up all over the world as a response to some of humanity’s most troubling questions and fears. Why are we here? Where do we come from? Why does the world … Read more

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight & Color

Though often extensive detail may be condemned as mere flowery language, in understanding Sir Gawain and the Green Knight one must make special emphasis on it. In color and imagery itself, the unknown author paints the very fibers of this work, allowing Sir Gawain to discern the nuances of ritualistic chivalry and truth. His quest … Read more

Nora and Heddas Struggle for Independence

In Isbens two plays, A Dolls House and Hedda Gabler, one character of each play breaks the stereotype or mold that is put on them. These two characters are Nora and Hedda. There are likenesses as well as differences between the two, however. In A Dolls House Nora is the protagonist, while, in Hedda Gabler, … Read more

Great Expectations: Miss Havisham an Eccentric Character?

Miss Havisham is an extremely eccentric character. She is a rich and grim lady who lived in a large and dismal house. One way she was eccentric was the Satis House. Another is the weird birthday party Miss Havisham had with her relatives. She also acts in a weird way that tells her apart from … Read more

The Taming of the Shrew: Act IV Scene I

Grumio arrives at Petruchio’s house after accompanying Petruchio and Kate on a long journey from Padua. Grumio affirms the fact that the servants are well prepared for the new couple’s arrival. He tells Curtis, another servant to Petruchio, of an incident that occurred on the trip. Katherina’s horse had thrown on her off and then … Read more

Red Badge Of Courage Book Report

When I first started reading this book I thought why does every one rave about how well it is written so I totally dove into reading it and found many forms of symbolism. The Symbolism in a Soldier The story The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane, was written to reflect the harsh Civil … Read more

Joy Luck Club

We had watched the movie Joy Luck Club, and I really enjoy watching it. The Joy Luck club is a story that about four Chinese friends and their daughters, and it shows the story of the mothers straggle in China and their acceptance in America, and the daughters straggles of finding themselves as Chinese-Americans. The … Read more

Essay on King Lear

Historians en masse have determined that Shakespeare was most definitely not the first one to come up with the general plot lines contained in King Lear. Though the play revolves mainly around the conflict between the King and his daughters, there is a definite and distinct sub-plot dealing with the plight and tragedy of Gloucester … Read more

Barn Burning is a sad story because it very clearly shows the classical struggle between the privileged and the underprivileged classes

“Barn Burning” is a sad story because it very clearly shows the classical struggle between the privileged and the underprivileged classes. Time after time emotions of despair surface from both the protagonist and the antagonist involved in the story. This story outlines two distinct protagonists and two distinct antagonists. The first two are Colonel Sartoris … Read more

Glass Menagerie: Fantasy Worlds and Their Symbolism

Everyone has their own little world in which they indulge themselves in whether it be real or just a fantasy. In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, everyone in the play experiences their own little world, and the shock it is to be thrown from it. Tom supports his family despite his unhappiness. He tries … Read more

The Bridge Of San Luis Rey

People who thinks of Thornton Wilder primarily in terms of his classic novella “Our Town,” The Bridge of San Luis Rey will seem like quite a switch. For one thing, he has switched countries; instead of middle America, he deals here with Peru. He has switched eras, moving from the twentieth century back to the … Read more

Beowulf: Anglo-Saxon Hero

There are many heroes in are history and all of them tried to do one thing to stop evil and if they succeeded they became heroes in todays world. Beowulf as a legend from Anglo-Saxon period became known. Due to this Beowulf is a hero for Anglo-Saxon people. They admire him and look up to … Read more

Maturity in the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” Holden Caulfield

The theme of maturity shows that in order to mature, people must except change and lose their innocence. In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” Holden Caulfield shows many times he does not like change, and neither does he want to accept it. During the story, Holden get depressed thinking of all the changes … Read more

A Doll House Review

A Doll House is no more about womens rights than Shakespeares Richard II is about the divine right of kings, or Ghosts about syphilis. . . . Its theme is the need of every individual to find out the kind of person he or she is and to strive to become that person. (Bloom 28) … Read more

Analysis of the Women in The Picture of Dorian Gray

Sibyl falls head over heels in love with Dorian Gray, willing to commit her life to him after only two weeks. Lady Henry hardly knows her husband, to whom she has been married for some time. Because neither woman is in a stable and comfortable situation, both eventually take drastic measures to move on. Therefore, … Read more

Beowulf Analysis

A hero is a person noted for their act of courage and nobility of a purpose. There is a hero in the story Beowulf. In Anglo-Saxon literature Beowulf is described to be a perfect hero who fights for his people and vanquishes evil with his extraordinary abilities to bring peace and justice. Beowulf fits the … Read more

Analysis of Joy Luck Club

Ask any typical-looking Asian students around campus whether they are Chinese or Japanese and the reply will probably be universal: “Neither, I’m Chinese-American. ” In reality, developing a clear concept of exactly how they define themselves as a “race” has become a difficult thing to do in this day and age for most Chinese-Americans. Many … Read more

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Why would a civilized and peaceful town would ever suggest the horrifying acts of violence can take place anywhere at anytime and the most ordinary people can commit them. Jackson’s fiction is noted for exploring incongruities in everyday life, and “The Lottery”, perhaps her most exemplary work in this respect, examines humanity’s capacity for evil … Read more

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Portrait of Slavery in America

At the surface, Mark Twain’s famed novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a thrilling narrative told by a 13-year-old boy who embarks on a perilous journey down the formidable Mississippi River aboard a tiny wooden raft. The story’s sensationalism sometimes makes Huck’s journey seem unbelievable. Underneath, however, lies an authentic portrait of the institution … Read more

Personality in John Updike’s A&P

Character can be defined as the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another. Authors usually embrace a distinct choice of personality on a character to make them stand out in a story. In “A & P” by John Updike, Sammy starts off as a young man discontent with … Read more

Nick – Detached Or Dishonest?

The Great Gatsby is a difficult book to interpret, particularly because of the style in which it is written. Not only must the reader differentiate between the separate views of Nick as the narrator and Nick as the character, but he or she must also take into consideration at what time period, relative to this … Read more

Jane Eyre: Role of Male Dominance

Jane Eyre: Role of Male Dominance Somewhere, The Dark Sheds Light “Never, never, never quit… ” -Winston Churchill If women on this Earth had given up, they would be where they were in the time of Charlotte Brontë. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, tells the story of a woman on a lifetime journey, progressing on … Read more

Death of A Salesman

A major turning point in the story Death of a Salesman occurs on pages 1394 and 1395. The scene is Willy walking into Charley’s office and he sees Bernard (Charley’s son) waiting in the waiting room. Willy sits next to Bernard and starts to have a conversation with him. The conversation starts out casual, then … Read more

The Great Gatsby – a masterpiece full of controversy about the 1920’s life

The Great Gatsby is considered a masterpiece full of controversy about the 1920’s life style. Fitzgerald uses symbolism to express in a more detailed way this life style of carelessness and corruption. These symbols are shown through out the characters’ actions and thoughts as well as in the setting created by the author’s imagination to … Read more

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

‘How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? ‘; (Shelley, 42) In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, who has spent two long years laboring in Ingolstadt to create this scientific marvel known only as ‘the monster,’; wrongly assumes … Read more

Tom Clancy’s work

When choosing an author for my paper, I chose international suspense because I am very interested in foreign relations and the technology of modern day war. I have read stories by Edgar Allen Poe, with suspense and vivid imagery, which reminded me of Clancy’s work. I decided to choose Tom Clancy because of his talent … Read more

Great Gatsby: Fitzgerald’s View of American Societ

“What people are ashamed of usually makes a good story,” was said of Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby is about the American Society at its worst and the downfall of those who attempt to reach its illusionary goals. The idea is that through wealth and power, one can acquire happiness. To get … Read more

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in 1850. It was based on the Puritans of the 1600’s, which were revived in Hawthorne’s era. Hawthorne descended from Puritan heritage and harbored a sense of guilt and hatred for their way of life. He used many themes and literary techniques in The Scarlet Letter including … Read more

The Odyssey

The great muses are called upon by Homer to tell the great adventure of Odysseus in his travel back to his home. Prayers are given to the Greek Gods and muses by Homer in order to proceed this story. The Greeks life revolved around the gods in a matter of fashion as we presently revolve … Read more

Apocalyptic themes, eschatology, and for some, teleology in literature

In the course Y2k and The End of The World, we’ve studied apocalyptic themes, eschatology, and for some, teleology. Apocalypse, which is to unveil or reveal, eschatology, which is a concept of the end, and teleology, the end or purpose to which we are drawn, are all themes used in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. … Read more

The Tale Element in Beowulf

The genre of Beowulf eludes classification, and yet this is its beauty. The multi-layered body of the work is made up of different building material: there are the tale bricks; present is the epic element; the chronicle planks havent been left out either. The very diversity in the storys makeup gives it its unique appeal, … Read more

A Quick Analysis of Dorian Gray

The story begins as Basil Hallward, a painter, is working on a portrait depicting a young man named Dorian Gray. His friend, Lord Henry Wotton, is visiting and tells him that he thinks it is the best work Basil has ever done. He wants to know who the young man is in the painting, as … Read more

Book Review Guide to Getting It On

Since the Victorian era the subject of sexuality has been carefully confined to the private arena of the home. Sexuality has been restrained to the function of reproduction. Sex has become something that people feel that they need to hide from others. During the past three hundred years sex has become associated with sin and … Read more

Jay Gatsby: Shattered Dreams

F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is a tragic tale of love distorted by obsession. Finding himself in the city of New York, Jay Gatsby is a loyal and devoted man who is willing to cross oceans and build mansions for his one true love. His belief in realistic ideals and his perseverance greatly influence … Read more

I play the villian – A comparison of Iago and Uriah Heep

Evil is not an entity that lends itself to quantification. However, there are various ways to measure levels of malevolence, and there are certainly some baseline requirements that one must meet to be truly evil. Therefore, I present six guidelines to evil: conscience, understanding, method, reason, effectiveness, and response. These will be elaborated on in … Read more

The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is about the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to capture its illusionary goals. This is a common them central to many novels. This dream has varying significances for different people but in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that through … Read more

Literary Terms Analysis With Examples

Literary Terms Analysis with Examples 1) Allusion: An allusion describes a famous literary figure or historical event. In an allusion, the author of a literary work refers to a well-known episode from a book or occasion. Thus, the two things most often alluded to in literature (the two greatest known literary works) deal with Shakespeare’s … Read more

Humble Humbert: Mastermind Behind Lolita

Humbert Humbert. A delusional, sick, middle aged man obsessed with a self created love for pre-pubescent girls he has namely dubbed nymphets. Right? Wrong, this is only the skin-deep image we are given of the main character in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. Rather, He is a highly intelligent chess master who is constantly aware of his … Read more

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Stephen Dedalus

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is above all a portrait of Stephen Dedalus. It is through Stephen that we see his world, and it is his development from sensitive child to rebellious young man that forms the plot of the novel. There are many Stephens, often contradictory. He is fearful yet … Read more

“The Fall of the House of Usher” by E. A. Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, renowned as the foremost master of the short-story form of writing, chiefly tales of the mysterious and macabre, has established his short stories as leading proponents of Gothic literature. Although the term Gothic originally referred only to literature set in the Gothic (or medieval) period, its meaning has since been extended to … Read more

King Arthur Myth short summary

There has been a lot of material written about King Arthur and his court. He has been a popular figure in literature for over 800 years. People believe he was only a myth and some people believe he was an actual person. Not a lot of information on King Arthur is fact; most is fictional … Read more