Focus Questions 1. In the novel, Outliers, the author, Malcolm Gladwell, defines key factors that leads one to be successful. To begin with, Gladwell asserts that “parentage and patronage” are key factors of success (19). In other words, success is measured based on one’s maturity level. For example, a younger child in the same grade … Read more
In the novel The Other Wes Moore One Name Two Fates written by Wes Moore, each Wes led similar lives but due to seemingly minor decisions in their lives their outcomes drastically differ. There are choices that will come up in life and as seemingly irrelevant or innocent those choices seem can come back and … Read more
Discoveries deepen our understandings of ourselves and the world and have a transformative effect on those who discover. In William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, and Gwen Harwood’s poem ‘The Glass Jar’, the authors use the characterisation of main characters in their texts to explore the ways in which discovery affects people and how it changes … Read more
Change does not occur easily or without conflict. Change does not occur quickly nor smoothly. Many characters go through change in a novel, like Edna from The Awakening. Edna lives as a simple mother-woman and follows the general rules of society. She later experiences new bearings which lead to her self-discovery toward a better life. … Read more
The novel, ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ is an illustration of the various challenges that women faced prior to the emergence of the feminists and gender advocates (Gilman, 2013). The story by Gilman elaborates fully on the challenges the character (unnamed female) undergoes after her post partum. This condition was merely a nervous condition that needed to … Read more
In the year of 1949, George Orwell saw a possible future from his reflection of the totalitarian regimes of World War II and experience in Spain as well as Russia, especially with Stalin. This would culminate into the novel known as 1984, in which the Party and their leader – Big Brother – have complete … Read more
In the novel the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini he illustrates the sacrifice one gives for love. Over the course of the novel, Amir, Hassan, and Baba all face dramatic events that shape them to the person they are. Each one of them sacrifice a piece of their own happiness for the one they love. … Read more
The pieces of literature Perfume by suskind and Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Garcia-Marquez usage of diction and imagery create a memorable impact on the reader; these details linger within the minds of the readers to further incite the overall plot of the story. In Suskind novel Perfume the author is able to demonstrate … Read more
I chose Holes by Louis Sachar for the book that I would save if I could only save one book. Although I read it about eight years ago, I have very fond memories of this story. I remember when I was about eight years old, my family and I listened to the audiobook while we … Read more
Imagine a world devoid of colour and emotion, a world without individuality. This is the kind of world that Jonas lived in, a world where no one knows their real parents, where they don’t celebrate birthdays, where they don’t truly know all of the joys of life. That was all Jonas knew; at least, until … Read more
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is the first in the bestselling “Millennium” trilogy by Scandinavian author Stieg Larsson. It is a complex, passionate and compelling thriller centred on the intrigues of financial fraud, corrupt minds and on an affluent family’s dark past. Henrik Vanger, the head of Vanger Corporation, is convinced that his niece, … Read more
The reading, “Shooting an Elephant” takes place in Moulmein. He starts of the story in spectacle as to why the locals have so much hatred toward the Europeans when in all reality his main goal was only to help and protect the townspeople from any hurt, harm or danger that may come their way. In … Read more
Dragons, witches, princesses and knights. These are the imaginary friends in so many children’s lives. For young adults, those fairy tale characters give way to darker characters and more realistic situations. However, what do they all have in common? They live in short stories Two stories that are interesting are “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty … Read more
Art is expression through creativity that allows us to deliver a message that may be more significant than just words on a page. Art connects with people on a more emotional and spiritual level, and it is this that can help to drive home the artists message in his or her works. Natalie Czech’s “A … Read more
As my creative response to the poem, The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe I chose to make a collage because I felt it was the best way to represent the various themes throughout the poem. My intentions for the creative response were to make a heart sharped collage with a break down the center, on … Read more
In this world honesty and respect play an important role in the daily functions of lives. Without these two important characteristics it can cause conflicts and chaos within humanity. In the short stories “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, “The Open Window” by Saki, and “A sound Of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury demonstrates how … Read more
Have you ever watched curiosity get the best of someone, or heard the age old saying curiosity killed the cat? In the story Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates this perfectly by showing just what happens when you start to question those around you. Young Goodman Brown represents an allegory by using religious imagery, character … Read more
When a person concentrates on one single thought, a broader more important lesson might be missed. In “The Student,” Ivan Velikopolsky, a seminary student, tells the story of how Apostle Peter denied knowing Jesus three times the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. After telling this story to two widowers, he finds that the widowers are crying. … Read more
Much like poetry, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. ” Music and poetry are two platforms in which artists from the beginning of time have chosen to circulate their ideas, feelings, and opinions. Although different in popularity, these mediums are alike in various ways. Nonetheless, not … Read more
Education is the key to human survival To Kill a Mockingbird is the perfect book to ensure that young adults enter the real world prepared for the challenges they will face. Harper Lee shines a light on many important morals that are continuously overlooked in society today. This novel benefits high school students because it … Read more
Kubla Khan is a fascinating and exasperating poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (. Almost everyone who has read it, has been charmed by its magic. It must surely be true that no poem of comparable length in English or any other language has been the subject of so much critical commentary. Its fifty-four lines … Read more
Narnia…. a land of fantasy and adventure where magic and a Great Lion prevail. A land where so many people wish to be, a land from start to finish in The Chronicles of Narnia. Seven books written by Clive Staples Lewis have proven to be the most enchanting and mesmerizing books of all time. Pure … Read more
In a psychoanalytic view of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Robert Walton develops, during a dreadfully severe trip through the Arctic, a type of schizophrenia; this mental condition enables him to create a seemingly physical being representing each his superego and his id (9). In his mind, Walton creates Victor as his very own superego and the … Read more
The Theatre department at Stony Brook University recently reenacted John Guare’s play Six Degrees of Separation. These talented young actors and actresses did a truly fabulous job of presenting each of the individual characters and their personalities. Although there were a few minor mistakes along the way the play turned out to be quite funny, … Read more
‘The novel has long ignited disapproval, and it was the most frequently banned book in schools between 1966 and 1975. Even before that time, however, the work was a favorite target of sensors. In 1957, Australian Customs seized a shipment of the novels that had been presented as a gift to the government by the … Read more
“Who the hell am I? ” (Ellison 386) This question puzzled the invisible man, the unidentified, anonymous narrator of Ralph Ellison’s acclaimed novel Invisible Man. Throughout the story, the narrator embarks on a mental and physical journey to seek what the narrator believes is “true identity,” a belief quite mistaken, for he, although unaware of … Read more
The novels Jane Eyre and Little Women are strikingly similar in many ways, and the characters Jane Eyre and Jo March are almost mirrors of each other. There are many similarities between Jane and Jo, and also some differences, as well. From childhood, although they find themselves in completely different situations, both girls experience many … Read more
The Joy Luck Club is the stories of four families that migrated from mainland China in the last generation. It is the story of four mother-daughter relationships in the United States and the story of the four mothers’ lives in a repressive and sexist Chinese society. These stories are told in such a manner that … Read more
Theodore Roethke uses imagery and a unifying structure to convey the loving relationship between a daughter and her father in the poem “My Papa’s Waltz. ” Together these elements make it possible to communicate the emotional bond between parent and child to the reader. The first paragraph uses a clash of idea’s to illustrate the … Read more
We can trace the origin of Comedy to Dionysis- the Greek God of Wine who was hilarious, satirical and irreverent in spirit. Ben Jonson in Volpone’ (1605) that is considered to be the greatest comedy in English epitomized the classical spirit of comedy. Shakespeare was aware of the classical tradition by the chose to follow … Read more
Many of us like to think that humanity as a whole is progressing to a better future where we will live united and in peace with one another, a time of a more enlightened society. But there are those among us that do not share these beliefs. In A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess, the … Read more
Catherine Barkley and Frederic Henry in A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway present a contrast in personalities: in the ways they are playing opposite roles, in Catherines maturity and leadership and in Frederics immaturity and ineptness, and in the ways they view love. Frederic Henry is the narrorator and the protagonist in the novel. … Read more
Grendel lives in a dark and gruesome underground cave with his mother and dozens of cold, unmoving creatures. He is very curious and, in his early years, finds a way to escape this terrible place and enter the world. Every night he wanders outside his cave, exploring the land around him. One night, he gets … Read more
A new society is created by a group of people who strengthen and maintain their power by any means necessary including torture and death. Margaret Atwood’s book, A Handmaid’s Tale, can be compared to the morning after a bad fight within an abusive relationship. Being surrounded by rules that must be obeyed because of being … Read more
Susan Glaspells Trifles explores the classical male stereotype of women by declaring that women frequently worry about matters of little, or no importance. This stereotype makes the assumption that only males are concerned with important issues, issues that females would never discuss or confront. The characters spend the entirety of the play searching for clues … Read more
Andre Dubus, Raymond Carver and Shirley Jackson have changed the landscape of contemporary fiction both culturally and stylistically. All three comment about the affect upon the individual whose life circumstances have caused them to act the way that they do. When reading their short stories you can’t help but notice that Dubus and Carver have … Read more
Drearier enough it all began with a choice to chose what was to be read this summer. Many book to select from, yet one with a magical tone to it caught my eye, Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. Reading it gave a 2nd person point of view, interchanging with Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. I read it … Read more
In the novel The Killer Angels, Mr. Shaara’s historical accuracy is unquestionable. He has written this fabulous (Pulitzer Prize winning) novel. Although the heroic suicidal charge of the 10th Minnesotans on the second day of the battle was left out, Shaara focuses on Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th Maine which makes up for … Read more
Shakespeare constantly plays with metadrama and the perception of his plays as theatre and not life with the complications inherent that in life we all play roles and perceive life in different ways. The play has recognition of its existence as theatre, which has relevance to a contemporary world that is increasingly aware of precisely … Read more
The short story “The Yellow Wall-Paper” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a cry for freedom. This story is about a woman who fights for her right to express what she feels, and fights for her right to do what she wants to do. The narrator in this short story is a woman whose husband … Read more
Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth presents an interesting study of the social construction of subjectivity. The Victorian society which Wharton’s characters inhabit is defined by a rigid structure of morals and manners in which one’s identity is determined by apparent conformity with or transgression of social norms. What is conspicuous about this brand of … Read more
The Importance of Biffs Role in “Death of a Salesman” The play “Death of a Salesman”, by Arthur Miller, follows the life of Willy Loman, a self-deluded salesman who lives in utter denial, always seeking the “American Dream,” and constantly falling grossly short of his mark. The members of his immediate family, Linda, his wife, … Read more
Everyone is faced with struggles in life, whether physical or emotional. These struggles inevitably shape an individuals personality and outlook on life. Timothy Findleys novels, The Wars and Stones, suggest that the consequences of struggles in life result in a journey of self- discovery. War exists in the characters physical and psychological accounts of the … Read more
History is filled with instances in which an outside culture invades an occupied area and dominates the native culture. As these invaders attempt to destroy the native civilization, permanent scars are left on the spirits and hopes of those oppressed. When oppressors rule another culture, that culture seems to loss vital components of their heritage. … Read more
The passage of adolescence has served as the central theme for many novels, but J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, long a staple in academic lesson plans, has captured the spirit of this stage of life in hyper-sensitive form, dramatizing Holden Caulfield’s vulgar language and melodramatic reactions. Written as the autobiographical account of … Read more
In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn the society of a Puritan town of Salem excludes anyone who is in any way deviant and renders that person sinful. However, the society, the townspeople themselves, is not without fault. However they try to conceal and contain their passions and all their faults because of … Read more
Surrealism is a dangerous word to use about the poet, playwright and critic T. S. Eliot, and certainly with his first major work, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock “. Eliot wrote the poem, after all, years before Andre Breton and his compatriots began defining and practicing “surrealism” proper. Andre Breton published his first … Read more
In order to really understand Willy Loman, from Arthur Miller’s play Death Of A Salesman, the reader must analyze the way his character is developed. Studying his thoughts, actions, how he relates to other characters and how other characters relate to him enables the reader to come to an understanding of the world in which … Read more
I believe that Holden Caufield should be in a hospital, at least for a short term stay. There are two main reasons that he should do this. The first is that it will help him get back on his feet and get all his school work under control. The second is that he will be … Read more
The amount of change people go through in their lives is remarkable. One day, you can be a devious criminal, while the next you could turn a new leaf and become a saint. The change that Jack goes through in All the Kings Men, is comparable to that of the patient who receives a lobotomy. … Read more