Spring Silkworms is a novel by Chinese author Mao Dun. Spring Silkworms was first published in 1932. The novel tells the story of a group of silkworm farmers in China who are struggling to make a living. The farmers are forced to sell their silkworms to a local merchant, who then sells the silkworms to … Read more
The Contender by Robert Lipsyte is a book about a young man named Alfred Brooks who tries to turn his life around by becoming a boxer. The book follows Alfred as he trains and fights his way to the top, encountering many challenges along the way. The Contender is an inspirational story about overcoming obstacles … Read more
When it comes to Flowers For Algernon, there are some key differences between the novel and film versions that are worth noting. For starters, in the book, Charlie is only given intelligence-boosting surgery because he is part of an experiment. In the film, however, Charlie volunteers for the surgery after hearing about its potential benefits. … Read more
The Great Gatsby is a book by F. Scott Fitzgerald that tells the story of Nick Carraway and his time spent living in New York during the 1920s. The novel follows the life of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties at his Long Island estate, and the love affair between Gatsby and … Read more
The Chorus of Antigone is a group of supporting characters in the play Antigone, by Sophocles. The Chorus is made up of a group of old men from the city of Thebes, and their role is to provide commentary and guidance to the main characters. The Chorus plays an important role in Antigone, as they … Read more
Cold Mountain is a novel set in the American Civil War, written by Charles Frazier. The story follows Inman, a Confederate soldier who deserts and makes his way back to Cold Mountain, in western North Carolina, where he had been raised. Along the way, he meets various people and experiences different aspects of the war. … Read more
In Deborah Tannen’s essay “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” she explores the difficulties that arise in communication between men and women. She argues that these difficulties are due to the fact that men and women have different communication styles. Tannen begins by discussing the difference between “report talk” and “rapport talk.” Report talk is used to … Read more
Kate Chopin is considered to be one of the earliest feminist writers in America. However, her work was often met with criticism and controversy. Chopin’s most famous work, “The Awakening,” tells the story of a woman who breaks free from the constraints of society and learns to live for herself. The book was heavily criticized … Read more
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It may be the oldest surviving long poem in Old English and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature. Beowulf survives in a single manuscript, known as the Nowell Codex. The poem deals with legends surrounding a … Read more
Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters. She is strong, ambitious, and cruel. Lady Macbeth is often seen as a symbol of power and gender roles. Lady Macbeth challenges traditional gender roles by being more aggressive and ambitious than her husband. She also shows her power by convincing her husband to kill … Read more
I Stand Here Ironing is a short story by Tillie Olsen. It tells the story of a mother and her daughter, and the struggles that the mother faces as a parent. The protagonist of I Stand Here Ironing is a mother who is trying to do the best she can for her daughter. However, she … Read more
Antigone is a play written by Sophocles that was first performed in 441 BC. The story follows Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, as she battles against her uncle Creon for the right to bury her brother Polyneices. Antigone is a powerful character who is willing to stand up for her beliefs despite the consequences. Many … Read more
Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is a play that was written in 1916. The play is about the murder of John Wright, and the events that take place after his death. One of the main characters in the play is Mrs. Hale, who is the wife of the sheriff. Mrs. Hale is a loyal wife and friend, … Read more
Greek theater is a vital part of ancient Greek culture. It evolved over time, starting as simple performances of poetry and music to the elaborate productions that we know today. Let’s take a look at the history of Greek theater and how it developed over the centuries. Greek theater began in the 6th century BC … Read more
In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith is a character who is struggling against the government that he lives in. He has several characteristics that make him unique and stand out from the rest of the people in his society. First, Winston is rebellious. He doesn’t like the way that his society is run, and he … Read more
Crime and Punishment is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1866. The psychological thriller tells the story of Raskolnikov, a former student who kills an elderly pawnbroker for her money. He then must deal with the consequences of his crime, as he is pursued by a detective named Porfiry Petrovich. Crime … Read more
Gustave Flaubert is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his pursuit of perfect symmetry in his writing. This pursuit is most evident in his novel Madame Bovary, where the plot, characters, and setting are all carefully crafted to create a sense of balance and symmetry. One of the most striking examples of symmetry … Read more
Marc Antony was a powerful Roman politician who is best known for his association with Julius Caesar. After Julius Caesar’s death, Marc Antony sided with Julius Caesar’s adoptive son Octavian in the power struggle that followed. The Roman Senate considered Marc Antony’s actions to be an “abuse of power” and he was ultimately defeated by … Read more
The Shakespeare Globe Theatre was a theatre in London, England, built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named “Shakespeare’s Globe”, opened in 1997 near the site of the original theatre. The Shakespeare Globe Theatre was originally built by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. … Read more
Robert Frost was a renowned American poet who wrote extensively about the natural world. His poetry explores the beauty and complexity of nature, and how it affects human beings. Frost’s poems are often metaphorical, and they offer insights into the human condition. In his works, Frost celebrates the natural world while also examining its darker … Read more
Crime and Punishment is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published in 1866. Crime and Punishment tells the story of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a young man who decides to commit a robbery and murder in order to start a new life. Crime and Punishment is considered one of the most important … Read more
Sonnet 149 is one of Shakespeare’s most renowned sonnets. The poem is about the speaker’s love for his partner, which is unrequited. The speaker expresses how he will always love his partner, even though they do not feel the same way about him. The speaker in Sonnet 149 is desperate for his partner to reciprocate … Read more
In Les Miserables, Victor Hugo paints a grim picture of French society in the early 1800s. The aristocracy is cruel and heartless, while the poor are struggling to survive. Jean Valjean is a prime example of someone who has been victimized by society. He is constantly persecuted by the police, even though he has done … Read more
The philosophy of Ancient Greece is one that has greatly shaped the way that people view society and social structure to this day. One of the main focal points of Ancient Greek philosophy was the examination of human nature and how it related to the world around them. In terms of social structure, philosophers such … Read more
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written by Edmond Rostand. It tells the story of Cyrano, a man with an impressively large nose who falls in love with his cousin Roxane. Cyrano uses his quick wit and sharp tongue to woo Roxane on behalf of Christian, a handsome but shy young man who is too … Read more
War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy, is a novel about the Napoleonic War and its aftermath. The novel tells the story of five families in Russia during the war, and how their lives are affected by it. War and Peace is considered one of the greatest novels ever written, and has been praised for its … Read more
The Canterbury Tales is a compilation of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The Prioress’s tale is one of the shorter tales, and tells the story of a young French girl who is martyred by Jews. The tale is criticized by many for … Read more
Real Women Have Curves tells the story of two sisters, Ana and Georgina, who are Mexican-American. While Georgina is content to stay in their small town and marry a local man, Ana dreams of leaving for New York City and making it big as a writer. When Ana moves to New York, she quickly finds … Read more
Lord Jim, a novel by Joseph Conrad, tells the story of a man who is disgraced after a failed attempt to do the right thing. Jim is an idealist who believes in the honor of seafaring life. When his ship sinks, Jim takes it upon himself to lead the crew in an escape attempt. However, … Read more
Lord Of The Flies is a book written by William Golding. The book is about a group of boys who are stranded on an island and must work together to survive. The boys are forced to confront their own inner darkness, and the story is ultimately a morality tale about the dangers of letting evil … Read more
A Thousand Splendid Suns is a novel written by Khaled Hosseini. The story follows the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila, who are born in Afghanistan in different centuries but share a similar fate. Despite their differences, the two women develop a strong bond and support each other through the many trials and tribulations … Read more
The Catcher in the Rye is set in the early 1940s, and follows Holden Caulfield’s adventures after being kicked out of boarding school and running away from home. The story is set in New York City and takes place primarily in Manhattan. Many of the landmarks and neighborhoods mentioned in the book are still around … Read more
Igor Stravinsky was a Russian composer and pianist who is considered one of the most influential and Igor Stravinsky Biography important composers of the 20th century. He is best known for his ballets, such as The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring, which changed the course of classical music. Stravinsky was born on June … Read more
Jerome Murdoughs was a homeless veteran who died after spending weeks in jail on Rikers Island. Murdough, who suffered from mental illness and was homeless, was originally arrested for allegedly stealing $37 worth of heating fuel from a street cart. He was later found dead in his cell from what officials say was exposure to … Read more
Ray Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder” is a story that explores the consequences of time travel. In the story, a group of people travel back in time to hunt a dinosaur, but they are warned not to change anything in the past. However, one man accidentally steps on a butterfly, and this changes the future … Read more
Gulliver’s Travels is a satirical novel by Jonathan Swift, first published in 1726. The book is divided into four parts. In the first part, Gulliver is shipwrecked and ends up on an island inhabited by tiny people, the Lilliputians. Gulliver is much bigger than the Lilliputians, and he soon becomes their prisoner. Gulliver manages to … Read more
One of the main themes of The Cay is the internal conflict between good and evil. The characters in the book are forced to confront their own inner demons, and this leads to a lot of conflict. Phillip is a young boy who has been sheltered his whole life. When he is shipwrecked, he is … Read more
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a book that tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who sets out on an adventure with Gandalf and a company of dwarves. The story follows their journey as they travel to The Lonely Mountain to reclaim the dwarves’ treasure from the dragon Smaug. The book is written … Read more
Leiningen is the protagonist in the short story Leiningen Versus The Ants, written by Carl Stephenson. He is a plantation owner in Brazil who must face an army of ants that are trying to overtake his land. Leiningen is a very determined and stubborn man, which helps him to stand up to the ants. He … Read more
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a classic work of English literature that is still read and studied today. However, critical analysis of the work can be difficult due to its multi-layered nature. There are many different interpretations that can be made of the tales, and no one interpretation is definitive. One aspect of … Read more
Andrew Carnegie was born in Scotland in 1835. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 18 and started work as a telegraph operator. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In the early 1800s, steel production was limited because there was no way to produce enough … Read more
Michael Oher, an unassuming young man from a poor family in Memphis, was taken in by a wealthy white family, the Touhys. The Touhys saw potential in Michael and decided to help him achieve his full potential. They provided him with a comfortable home and access to the best schools and opportunities. Michael’s life changed … Read more
The Awakening is a novel written by Kate Chopin that was published in 1899. The novel tells the story of a woman named Edna Pontellier who struggles to find her identity and independence in a society that expects her to conform to certain standards. The novel addresses several major themes, including: – The conflict between … Read more
Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God tells the story of Janie Crawford, a woman who is searching for her voice. Janie has been married three times, and each time, she has been forced to give up her voice and do what her husband wants. However, after her third husband’s death, Janie decides that … Read more
F. Scott Fitzgerald is known for his novels such as The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night. However, he also wrote short stories, including Bernice Bob’s Her Hair. The story is about a woman named Bernice who is getting married to a man named Howard. Before the wedding, Bernice spends time with her best … Read more
One of the most important themes in Gulliver’s Travels is that of hypocrisy. Throughout the novel, Swift criticizes the various groups of people that Gulliver meets for their hypocrisy. For example, he condemns the politicians of Lilliput for their lies and manipulation, and the scientists of Laputa for their disregard for the well-being of other … Read more
Holes by Louis Sachar is a novel about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who is sent to a camp called Camp Green Lake for stealing sneakers. The novel follows Stanley’s time at the camp and the strange occurrences that take place there. Holes is an enjoyable read and is perfect for young adults. Sachar does … Read more
In A Rose For Emily, William Faulkner uses exposition to introduce the reader to the story’s main characters and setting. The exposition establishes the tone for the rest of the story, which is dark and mysterious. Faulkner also uses exposition to provide backstory for the main character, Emily Grierson. We learn that she was once … Read more
Barn Burning is a short story written by William Faulkner. It was first published in 1939. The story is about a young boy, Sarty, and his father, Abner Snopes. Abner is a sharecropper who has been accused of burning down a barn. Sarty knows that his father did it, but he doesn’t want to turn … Read more
In Greece during the 5th century BC, the average person’s day was filled with a variety of tasks and activities. They would get up early in the morning to work in the fields, tend to their animals, or do other manual labor. In the afternoon, they would usually take a break for lunch and then … Read more