Lolita is a movie directed by Adrian Lyne that was released in 1997. Lolita tells the story of Lolita Haze, a precocious girl living in the United States with her mother and stepfather. Lolita catches the eyes of an older man, Humbert Humbert, who makes it his mission to win Lolita’s heart. Lolita has to … Read more
The Bluest Eye is a novel written by Toni Morrison, awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1973. The novel tells the narrative of Pecola Breedlove, an African American girl who prays for her eyes to turn blue so she can escape the reality of living in poverty and being black during the time of … Read more
“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens is a novel that talks about life during the French Revolution. Many characters such as Sydney Carton, Madame Defarge and Dr. Alexandre Manette make an appearance throughout the story, but one revolutionary in particular reoccurs through this narrative: A woman named Madame Defarge. The book starts off … Read more
Macklemore’s song Same Love discusses the controversy surrounding homosexuality in society today. The song talks about how everyone is equal and should be treated the same. It also talks about what Macklemore believes in, which is marriage equality in any state or form of government. The song samples the song “Thou Shall Not Steal” by … Read more
“Oedipus Rex”, by Sophocles, is a tragedy of Oedipus’s life as an outcast and how he became king of Thebes. Oedipus was given away as a baby to be killed because it was prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. However, the child Oedipus survived and grew up elsewhere not knowing … Read more
Eudora Welty’s A Worn Path is a story that tells the journey of an old, poor, and sick woman going into town to get medicine for her grandson. A Worn Path takes place in December when the main character, Phoenix Jackson, still has a lot of strength despite her age and bad health. A Worn … Read more
The Glass Menagerie is written by Tennessee Williams, a playwright who originally hails from Mississippi. The main characters are Tom Wingfield, an aspiring writer; his sister, Laura Wingfield, who has been crippled since the age of seventeen after she was attacked by a man on her way home from school; and their mother Amanda. The … Read more
The Lottery and The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas are two short stories, written by different authors. The similarities between the two are scarce but the impact of each story is very profound. The Lottery is a short story written by Shirley Jackson in 1948. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas was published … Read more
“Le Morte D’arthur is one of the most famous works in English Literature, despite the fact that it was completed almost 600 years ago! Le Morte D’arthur has influenced many writers, including William Shakespeare who borrowed phrases from Le Morte D’arthur. Le Morte D’arthur is really a collection of stories about the knights of the … Read more
Grendel is a novel written by John Gardner. Grendel tells the story of two men: Grendel and his father. Grendel is an outcast, considered evil and ugly by those around him; Grendel’s father is a powerful and respected man who struggles to find favor with his king and among his peers. Grendel and Grendel’s father … Read more
The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world, stretching over 5500 kilometers. It was built to protect China’s northern borders by preventing foreign invasion. Much of it was made of mud dug from nearby pits and held together by sticky rice soup instead of mortar; this allowed it to be quickly … Read more
The solar system is the only source of energy we have for now and solar power has been growing as costs decrease. But new forms of alternative clean energy are on the rise such as hydroelectric, win power, and wind power. Wind power is low cost and environmentally friendly because it uses turbines that use … Read more
There are many forms of education, including book learning, the laboratory school, and life itself. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most famous books in American literature for both its story and the life lessons it teaches us about human nature. Many people believe To Kill A Mockingbird is about racism because so … Read more
To Build a Fire is a short story by Jack London. Originally published as “The Strength of the Strong” in 1907, To Build a Fire tells the tale of one man’s struggle to stay alive in subzero temperatures without proper preparation and equipment. Having traveled alone into the Alaskan wilderness with only his dog and … Read more
Brutus is one of the most important and memorable characters in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Brutus was once a very good and loving individual, but because he trusted too much and was manipulated by Cassius, Brutus became cold-hearted and sadistic by the end of the play. Brutus truly loved Caesar at first, Brutus was … Read more
Sonnet 65 is a Shakespeare Sonnet. Sonnets are poems that have fourteen lines, while following a specific rhyme scheme and a particular meter. Sonnets typically speak of love or relationships in some way, while also being about the author’s thoughts on life. In Sonnet 65, Shakespeare uses an old man as a symbol for time … Read more
Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 has been considered by many to be a book about censorship. The censorship is represented in the book by the burning of books, however, there are other themes, symbols, and ideas that are present in Fahrenheit 451. One theme that ties Fahrenheit 451 together with another story is an allusion to … Read more
Siddhartha is a novel by Hermann Hesse which was published in 1922. Siddhartha is about the spiritual journey of Siddhartha, who becomes a ferryman’s apprentice before experiencing awakening and ultimately leaving society to become a Samana. The major themes are Siddhartha’s quest for knowledge, his abandonment of society, and his understanding that all life is … Read more
Jane Eyre is considered the perfect example of the female heroine in Victorian Literature. Jane’s strength and independence are what make her so admirable amongst other female characters, but she does rely on others at times to facilitate her growth. Jane becomes more independent throughout the novel with positive consequences though she never becomes completely … Read more
For A Rose For Emily, the narrator is an unknown person, most likely someone who witnessed Emily’s life. A few key clues are that the narrator never reveals his or her identity, that the reader learns about Emily after she has died, and that the reader finds out more about Emily through other characters’ dialogue … Read more
Symbolism is a figure of speech that uses an object or action to represent something other than itself and convey some hidden meaning. Symbolism is used throughout the play and Tennessee Williams makes use of it very effectively. Tennessee Williams was born Thomas Lanier Williams on March 26, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi, USA. He studied … Read more
Setting plays an important role in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The book was set partially in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana during several time periods of the 19th century. Uncle Tom’s Cabin helped advance many causes of the abolitionist movement. The house Uncle Tom lived in is very important to the novel because it is where Uncle … Read more
Charlotte Bronte spent her youth in the 18th century when intellectual women were considered heretics. Charlotte knew that intelligence was not accepted in many circles of society and would get her nowhere, so she wore it secretively. Charlotte was 6”0 tall, with big bones. Charlotte used Jane Eyre to express herself- Charlotte wrote this book … Read more
The Anna Karenina of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel is an intriguing, complex character. Despite her adultery and death, she often draws more sympathy from readers than Anna’s lover-husband Vronsky does. But Anna’s lover Constantine Dmitrich Levin also ranks among one of the most interesting characters in literature. The reason for Anna being drawn more sympathetically … Read more
The journey back home is a common theme in The Odyssey. The question of what the exact fate of Odysseus will define The Odyssey, and has been debated for centuries by scholars, with no clear-cut answer. In The Odyssey, Odysseus travels from Troy to Ithaca by way of the land of the Phaecians, The Lotus-Eaters, … Read more
The Chrysanthemums is a fiction novel written by John Steinbeck. The title The Chrysanthemums comes from the name of a flower Elisa Allen loves to grow in her garden. The symbolism behind The Chrysanthemums represents loneliness, femininity, and marital status of women during the depression era. In The Chrysanthemums the key symbols that the story … Read more
In Mother to Son, Langston Hughes discusses the struggles that African American men have faced in the United States throughout history. In this poem, Hughes casts his mother as a symbol of darker races fighting against adversity. Mother to Son was written in 1922 while Hughes was still a student at Columbia University and was … Read more
The first five guests are killed off within the first two days that they are on Indian Island. They arrive by boat to this secluded island, which is mostly used for vacationing. The boat handler brings them over to the island and leaves them with supplies enough to last them about a week. They are … Read more
Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman are two different American poets, Emily Dickinson in the 19 th century and Walt Whitman in the 19 th /20 th centuries. Emily Dickinson wrote in a realistic style while Walt Whitman wrote in free verse . Emily Dickinson’s most famous poem is “Because I could not stop for Death” … Read more
John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath portrays the Joad family’s arduous journey from their home to California during the Dust Bowl Era. John Steinbeck uses various elements in his novel, including animals representing different characters in the story, to convey symbolism and deeper meaning. John Steinbeck repeatedly uses a turtle to represent humanity throughout the … Read more
Macbeth’s arch-villain, Macduff, is in fact Macbeth’s fourth antagonist. Macbeth is preceded by three equally malevolent characters: the witches of Act 1 and 2 (particularly the latter), and Tarquin, the Roman general who raped Lucrece, from The Rape of Lucrece . It has been suggested that Macbeth and Tarquin both represent one aspect of Shakespeare’s … Read more
Jordan Baker is the only woman, other than Jordan’s friend Daisy, who has a major role in The Great Gatsby. Jordan lives her life carelessly and freely, never allowing herself to be tied down by love or domesticity. Jordan is beautiful both inside and out; she is so stunning that many men find themselves attracted … Read more
Henrik Ibsen is the “father of realism” in drama. Henrik Ibsen was an important, influential playwright during his time and even to this day because he wrote about realistic events that could happen in everyday life. Henrik Ibsen used symbolism to represent the characters’ mentalities and reactions that they portray through their dialogue. Henrik Ibsen … Read more
Gulliver’s Travels is a satirical book written by Jonathan Swift and was published in 1726. Gulliver’s character undergoes many changes throughout his adventures, however most of these changes happen gradually throughout the book rather than suddenly. Gulliver starts out as an innocent idealist, but is exposed to evils that corrupt him into a more cynical … Read more
A Doll’s House is a very controversial act written by Henrik Ibsen in the 1800s. A Doll’s House exposes many social concerns during that time. The play deals with issues of women rights and marital expectations. A Doll’s House is a perfect example for a feminist work. A Doll’s House is about a woman, Nora … Read more
The tell-tale heart was a short story by Edgar Allen Poe and it is an interesting, psychological study of a deformed old man who kills the old man and hides its corpse under the floor. The protagonist has premeditated murder because he assumes that his life would be better without the old man who suffers … Read more
Erich Fromm was best known for his revolutionary views on modern society, particularly in the areas of psychological and social development. He was a prolific writer who authored many books on psychology. Although Erich had studied at International Psychoanalytic University Berlin, he did not have an extensive background in clinical psychiatry. Erich had no formal … Read more
The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton, follows the story of two different groups living in mid-western America: The greasers and The Socs (pronounced so-shoes). The novel deals with many problems that were prevalent in society at this time such as poverty, high crime rates, violence between social classes and gang wars. The novel was written … Read more
1984 presents a dark vision of the world with all its oppression, government surveillance, and limitations on individual expression. The most powerful tool used by “Big Brother” in 1984 is Mind Control. 1984’s protagonist Winston Smith is subjected to Mind Control throughout the novel, with an emphasis on “Double-Think”, which can be understood as a … Read more
Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a 1981 novella written by Colombian-born writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The work was originally published in Spanish. Chronicle is the story of a man who dreams his own murder and then wakes up to find himself being hunted down by townspeople because they believe his dream is a premonition … Read more
F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most famous and respected American writers in history. Among his more prominent works are some short stories and novels written during and about the Jazz Age, a time period following WWI known for its change in culture, classism, political unrest, and jazz music. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story … Read more
The poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers was written by Langston Hughes. The poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers is about the black people who were brought to America and enslaved by slave traders, and how that has an effect on them today: The poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers, published in 1921, focuses on … Read more
This essay compares John Locke and John Stuart Mill’s moral theories. It will be shown how Locke is concerned with the consequences of actions whereas Mill focuses on intentions. First, it will be argued that both make use of rules to determine if an act is right or wrong (1). Furthermore, the significance of consent … Read more
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen is a play about Hedda, who is the daughter of General Gabler. Hedda rejects any proposals that are made to her, despite her father’s constant pressuring for her to marry. Hedda elaborates on how she would like to be free and independent: “All my life I’ve dreamed of dramatic incidents … Read more
Scuba diving is a popular sport. It involves diving underwater while breathing from a scuba diving tank (a diving cylinder also called “diving stage”) filled with air or scuba diving gas. The equipment used for this includes scuba diving masks, fins, diving suit and of course scuba diving tanks. Scuba divers breathe compressed air, so … Read more
Edward Albee wrote the play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Edward Albee (1928-2016) was an American playwright whose other well-known plays include The Zoo Story (1958), The Sandbox (1959), and Tiny Alice (1964). Edward Albee received three Pulitzer Prizes for Drama, more than any other living American dramatist at the time of his death. Who’s … Read more
In almost every Shakespeare play, there are moments of humor. Comedy is one of the most prevalent genres in The Tempest. From the beginning to the end, Miranda and Prospero use comedy and funny dialogues to keep the mood light and happy. Comedy also encompasses a large aspect of what The Tempest is about: Prospero’s … Read more
James Dickey (1923-1997) was an American poet, literary critic, novelist, and screenwriter. James Dickey received the National Medal for Literature Award in 1996. James Dickey is most known for his poem “Falling”. James Dickey is also known for his novel Deliverance which was adapted into a film of the same name in 1972. James Dickey … Read more
Diversity is the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization. Diversity can be seen as something that people should not just tolerate but accept and embrace. Diversity is important because it creates an environment where employees feel they can work to their full potential … Read more
Elephant Run is a story that takes place during World War II. In Elephant Run, you get to know about a boy name Nick who has been living in the tea plantation of Burma with his mom and dad for almost all of his life. The time period is from 1942-1945, which definitely makes Elephant … Read more