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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” is a short story about a scientist who is obsessed with removing a birthmark from his wife’s face. He sees the birthmark as a symbol of imperfection and is determined to get rid of it, even if it means putting his wife’s life at risk. Throughout the story, Hawthorne uses symbolism … Read more
“Checkouts” is a short story written by Cynthia Rylant. It is about a young girl who working at a grocery store and the different customers she encounters. The girl learns about people and their lives through their interactions at the checkout line. The theme of the short story Checkouts by Cynthia Rylant is expressed with … Read more
“Bullet in the Brain” is a short story by Tobias Wolff. It was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1981. The story is told from the perspective of a book editor, who is shot in the head during a robbery. As he lies dying, he reflects on his life and career. Wolff uses sharp, … Read more
Holden Caulfield is the protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye. He is a teenager from New York City who is struggling to find his place in the world. Holden is intelligent and perceptive, but he is also angry and alienated. He has been kicked out of several schools and is now living with his … Read more
Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen that was first published in 1813. The novel follows the life of Elizabeth Bennet, one of five daughters of a middle-class family living in rural England. Pride and Prejudice is a story of love and marriage, and features several proposals of marriage throughout the course of … Read more
It is interesting to note that in the story “Tea” by Saki, marriage is not something that is looked upon favorably. In fact, one could argue that the story takes a rather negative view of marriage. This is made clear through the character of Mrs. Saunders, who is unhappy in her own marriage and does … Read more
Celia Behind Me is a novel by Canadian author Isabel Huggan. The novel tells the story of Celia, a woman in her late thirties, who is struggling to come to terms with her past. Celia was sexually abused by her father as a child, and has never been able to forget what happened to her. … Read more
William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure is a play that has been both praised and criticized for its complex portrayal of morality. At the center of the play is Escalus, the Duke of Vienna, who must grapple with issues of justice and mercy. Some have interpreted Escalus as a symbol of justice, while others have seen … Read more
The Outsiders is a book by S.E. Hinton. It is about two gangs, the Socs and the Greasers, who are divided by their economic status. The Socs are the rich kids who have everything handed to them, while the Greasers are the poor kids who have to fight for everything they have. The book follows … Read more
In Robert Olen Butler’s short story “Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot”, a man is so consumed by jealousy that he comes back from the dead as a parrot to spy on his wife. The husband, who was previously a successful businessman, is now reduced to living in a cage and repeating the same … Read more
Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind” is a beautiful and moving tale of love, loss, and hope. The story follows two young lovers, Kitesako and Setsuko, as they navigate their relationship against the backdrop of a war-torn world. Though the setting is one of devastation and destruction, Ray Bradbury’s lyrical prose … Read more
Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian writer and novelist whose writing style reflects the culture and traditions of Igbo people. Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart is seen as a classic work in African literature. The book tells the story of Okonkwo, a man from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, and how he deals with the … Read more
When Jack London wrote “The Love of Life,” he wasn’t just talking about a romantic love affair. He was speaking more broadly about the human condition and our inherent desire to survive and thrive. The title of the story refers to our primal need to stay alive, no matter what challenges we face. The protagonist … Read more
“Fireweed” is a short story by Skye Brannon. It is about a young girl who discovers a mysterious plant that she believes has magical properties. She uses the plant to try to save her family from a fire that threatens their home. The short story Fireweed, written by Skye Brannon in 2009, follows a young … Read more
John Gardner’s Grendel is a novel that features several motifs. These include the struggles of good versus evil, the nature of man, and the cycle of life. Each of these motifs is present throughout the novel and helps to drive the plot forward. The motif of good versus evil is evident from the very beginning … Read more
Doe Season is a novel by David Michael Kaplan about a group of friends who go on a hunting trip in the woods and encounter a Doe. The novel follows the group as they attempt to survive the night and make their way back to safety. Doe Season is a suspenseful, thrilling read that will … Read more
Lu Xun’s Diary of a Madman is a classic work of Chinese literature. The diary chronicles the descent into madness of the protagonist, who is unnamed. The work is Lu Xun’s first published story, and is considered to be a masterpiece of Chinese literature. It is notable for its use of irony and satire to … Read more
American literature is literature written or produced in the United States of America and its preceding colonies. Before the founding of the United States, the American continent was inhabited by a number of indigenous peoples, including the American Indians, the Inuit, and the people of Mesoamerica. American literature reflects the history and culture of the … Read more
“The Tell-Tale Heart” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe that was first published in 1843. The story is about a man who becomes so obsessed with the eye of the old man he is caring for that he eventually kills him. The man then tries to cover up his crime, but the guilt … Read more
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is a book about clones who are raised to be organ donors. Ruth is one of the main characters in the book. Throughout the novel, Ruth portrays herself as a selfless and caring person. She is always looking out for the best interests of her friends, even if it … Read more
Identity is a major theme in Looking For Zora by Alice Walker. The novel tells the story of Walker’s search for information about her ancestor, Zora Neale Hurston. Walker feels a strong connection to Hurston and wants to learn more about her. Walker discovers that Hurston was a groundbreaking writer and anthropologist who made significant … Read more
A Sound of Thunder is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury, first published in 1952. The story is about a group of hunters who travel back in time to hunt dinosaurs. While on their hunt, one of the hunters steps on a butterfly, which alters the future. When they return to their own … Read more
Jack London’s To Build a Fire is a story about a man who underestimates the power of nature and pays the price with his life. The irony in the story is that the man, who is experienced in the ways of nature, does not heed the warnings of his companions and ultimately dies because of … Read more
Atonement is a novel by Ian Mcewan. It tells the story of a young girl’s coming of age, and her relationship with her family and friends. The novel centers around the theme of atonement, and explores the idea of forgiveness and redemption. Atonement is a beautifully written novel that will stay with you long after … Read more
“The Scarlet Letter” is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was published in 1850. The novel is set in Puritan New England and tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her clothing after she is convicted of adultery. The novel explores themes of sin, … Read more
“Here’s Herbie” by Mike Feder is a short story about a young man named Herbie who tries to find his place in the world. He doesn’t quite fit in anywhere, but he eventually finds a home with a group of misfits and outcasts. The story follows Herbie as he tries to find his way in … Read more
That Was Then, This is Now is a novel by S. E. Hinton. It was first published in 1971. The novel is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and follows the lives of two teenage boys, Mark and Bryon. Mark is from a wealthy family, while Bryon is from a poor family. The novel deals with issues … Read more
D.H Lawrence’s “Tickets Please” is a short story about a young woman working as a ticket inspector on a train. She is attracted to one of the passengers, a young man, and they begin a relationship. However, the relationship is not without its problems, and the two eventually break up. In the beginning of your … Read more
Feminist literary criticism is literary criticism that is informed by feminist theory, or more specifically, byfeminist politics. It can be understood as a political act that seeks to correct the imbalance of power between men and women within the literary canon. Feminist literary criticism has its roots in the early women’s movement and the belief … Read more
“Lamb to the Slaughter” is a short story by Roald Dahl that was first published in 1953. The story is about a woman who kills her husband with a leg of lamb and then cooks it and serves it to the detectives who come to investigate the murder. The story has been adapted into several … Read more
There are many similarities between Laurie Halse Anderson’s Fever 1793 and the real-life story of Matilda Cook. Both girls are from Philadelphia, both contract yellow fever, and both eventually recover from the disease. However, there are also some significant differences between the two girls. For one, Fever 1793 is set during a specific outbreak of … Read more
Marley is warning Scrooge that he must change his ways or suffer the same fate as Marley did. Marley was a greedy, selfish man who only cared about himself. As a result, he was cursed to wander the earth forever, unable to find peace. Marley wants to prevent Scrooge from suffering the same fate, so … Read more
Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen that was published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she navigates life, love, and marriage in early 19th century England. Pride and Prejudice has become one of the most popular novels in history, and its themes of love, family, and social … Read more
Mines by Susan Straight is a short story about a group of friends who find an abandoned house in the woods and decide to explore it. Soon they realize that the house is not as abandoned as they thought and that they are not alone. Mines is a story of friendship, loyalty, and courage. It … Read more
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Purple Hibiscus is rich in symbolism. From the title itself, to the characters and events in the story, there are many hidden meanings and messages conveyed through the use of symbols. The hibiscus flower is a significant symbol in the novel, representing both hope and tragedy. The purple hibiscus in particular … Read more
Humans are so strange. We put so much value on things that, in the grand scheme of things, don’t really matter. For example, take onions. Most people think they’re gross and smelly. But to some people, onions are amazing. They add flavor to food and make it more interesting. Onions have been around for centuries, … Read more
Ithaca is a poem by Constantine Cavafy that was published in 1911. The poem makes allusions to the Greek island of Ithaca, home of the legendary hero Odysseus. The poem begins with the narrator describing how Ithaca has been his home for many years. He talks about how he has seen the island change over … Read more
Wes Moore is the author of the book “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates”. In it, he tells the story of his life and how he ended up in prison. He also tells the story of another man with the same name who ended up on death row. Both men had similar childhoods; … Read more
Robert Frost’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is a poem about the inevitability of change. The speaker in the poem talks about how everything that is gold—meaning anything that is new or beautiful— eventually fades away. The poem is often interpreted as being about the loss of innocence, and this interpretation is supported by the fact … Read more
Frank Norris, through the work of his novel McTeague, changed America in several ways. Norris was born in Chicago in 1870, during a naturalistic time period (The Literature Network). This novel was written with many themes that define naturalism, such as greed and lust. Social Darwinism, which can be defined as “survival of the fittest” … Read more
In the book Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Jane travels many places as a young woman. It begins with her at Gateshead, where she lives as a young child. She then goes to a private school called Lowood. Here, she learns many disciplines and gains wisdom. After being a teacher for two years at Lowood … Read more
Imagine living with someone who despises you because of your eye. That’s exactly what was happening with the old man and the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe’s story “Tell Tale Heart”. The “Tell Tale Heart” is about a narrator having an urge to kill the old man because of his vulgar eye, but when the … Read more
02. 20. 16 Identical in Independence or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Loons In Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the significance of conflicting values is present around every corner McMurphy hates the idea of being locked up inside the institution; however several patients turn out to be enrolled … Read more
Oversimplified ideas regarding the expected behaviors of human kind have been the leading causes of conflicts from the beginning of time. Called stereotypes, these beliefs have played key roles in defining how much the 21st century has improved in terms of acceptance of differences. Stereotypes often dictate the plot of a book or movie, such … Read more
The play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, is about a family that lives in a cramped apartment in Chicago. One of the characters, Ruth Younger, finds out that she is pregnant. A child is a lot of responsibility and are very costly. The Younger family is stressed as it is, bringing a … Read more
There is not a single person in this world that does not want to belong to something. Every individual wants to feel like they have a purpose somewhere in life. in the poem “June 23rd 1973″ by Bruce Hunter two boys chase every teenage boys dream to fit in with the popular crowd and be … Read more
Lies are told around the world multiple times during the day. Everyone sitting in this room has probably once today, said a lie. Sometimes lying is understandable for someone’s protection but sometimes the truth is essential to the person. There are multiple things people say in a day that are seen as lies such as … Read more
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, Annabel Lee, And The Bells Edgar Allan Poe was a famous American poet, and many of his works are still read in classrooms today. Some of his most famous works include “The Raven”, “Annabel Lee”, and “The Bells”. Across these three poems, there are multiple literary devices used. Poe’s use … Read more
Some people in the world may believe that rebellion is way better than conformity. On the other hand, some believe that conformity is way better than rebellion. My primary sources, “The Bridegroom” and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, show that conformity causes or creates problems within the world while rebellion causes or … Read more
One makes many errors throughout his or her life, yet the way that the individual copes with their imperfections defines their other weaknesses. In most cases, imperfections are found once a single fault is discovered, which may cause the person to grow angered or fretful of their fate as the voices of the world may … Read more
