Literature Essay Examples and Topics. Page 33

8,505 samples

Deconstructing Elizabeth Bishop’s Poem ‘The Fish’

As she describes it, the reader gets the impression that this fish is quite ugly and undesirable. In the first line, the poet calls this fish "tremendous", and according to the experience of the reader, [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1157

“Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell

However, his job required him to support the imperialist rule and even as he knew the reasons for the British occupation, he also knows that by treating the people the way they did, the Brits [...]
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 593

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Ancient Egyptian Culture

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the culture of the ancient Egypt have their own similarities and differences based on the historical events that took place in this cultures and the religious beliefs of the two [...]
  • Subjects: Mythology
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 679

The Concept of Shakespeare’s Creativity

Shakespeare's creativity is the top of the English Renaissance and the maximum synthesis of traditions of the all-European culture. The variety of Shakespearian works is worth paying attention to.
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 1865

Jonathan Kozol’s “Amazing Grace”

Through this book, Kozol tries to reach out to the human conscience and in his thought-provoking style, takes the reader on a journey into the lives of the poorest of poor children, shedding light on [...]
  • Subjects: American Novels Influences
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 749

“Incident” by Countee Cullen

In 1923, he graduated from the New York University and published his first book of poetry, "Color". His works are in the tradition of Keats and Shelley, resistant to the techniques of modernism.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 904

What Is American Literature?

In today's literature, it is possible to observe the artistic, historical, social, and political value of literary work in connection with the social and political conditions of the definite epoch.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1104

“The Funeral Blues” by WH Auden

The theme of the poem is about the manifestation and display of his grief and his obsession with the loss of his partner.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 566

The Significance of Fences

By naming his play Fences, the plural form of the word even though only a single physical fence is evident in the play, August Wilson brings attention to the symbolism of the fence itself as [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1657

Realism in American Literature

Corresponding tendencies in the drama are shown in the writings of Ibsen, Hamptman and Galsworthy."In the United States, Wolfe, Hemingway and Faulkner are among the leading representatives of the modern school of realism"..
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2222

“The Grapes of Wrath” the Novel by John Steinbeck

The novel "The grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck is claimed to describe the lives of ordinary farm workers all over the United States of America who moved to California during the period of the [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2861

Themes of Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia

To emphasize the difference between the characters' political views the author chooses the country's portrayal through insider and outsider perspectives, on the one hand, showing the evocations of those who remained in Cuba and, on [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1295

Racism in Shakespeare’s “Othello”

The purpose of this essay is to detect and analyze various traits of racism in Shakespeare's famous piece Othello and how it relates to the character of Othello.
  • 5
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 13
  • Words: 3780

Contrasting Deception in the Inferno and the Decameron

In the present work, we will analyze this similarity and will seek for possible differences using particular parts of the great epic poem and the collection of novellas, namely, we will explore the fifth story [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1227

Racial Fire in “We Wear the Mask” by P. L. Dunbar

The "we" in the poem is the black folk collective, the speaker a Dunbar persona, or perhaps the real Dunbar lifting the mask to speak plainly and unequivocally about the double nature of the black [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1093

“Hamlet” by William Shakespeare: To Be or Not to Be

It begins with supernatural such as the presence of the ghost and Hamlet attempting to glance into Claudius' soul, to the mystery of the crime and the need for revenge. The masterful use of style, [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 827

How to Win Friends and Influence People by D. Carnegie

The simple truths in the book were relevant to all generations and hence the book is of universal appeal."How to Win Friends and Influence People" tapped into the insatiable hunger for self-improvement and success in [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2322

The Bible God and the Greek God Comparison

Greek God and Goddess have not been given any proper mention in The Bible, but at more instances it has been given reference as unknown gods and the goddess to the people of Asian origin [...]
  • Subjects: Mythology
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 259

Irony in Frank O’Connor’s “First Confession”

When she answered in the affirmative, Jackie became sure that he was a terrible boy and a sinner who had broken all commandments all because of his old grandmother."I was scared to death of confession".
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1066

Gilgamesh’s and Joseph’s Dreams Comparison Review

The functions of dreams in both works are studied by the researcher, their significance is underlined, differences and parallels between the usage of dreams in both works are established, the enduring values that the works [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 599

The 1930s English Poetry: Pen at War

Auden's poem uses conventional structure in the form of a sonnet although the the rhymes are not as smooth and lyrical, but the substance of the poetry remains in the era of the 1930s.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1172

Hypocrisy in Flannery O’Connor’s “Revelation”

These assessments are made based upon the appearances of others, such as in her identification of the cotton print dress that is recognizable to Mrs. Through imagery and setting, O'Connor is successful in heavily lacing [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 597

Feminism in “A Long Day in November” by Ernest Gaines

The situation, however, was aggravated by his attachment to his car and staying out late until the early mornings as a sign of his manhood, and the symbol of masculinity and independence in American culture.
  • Subjects: Concepts in American Novels
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 631

Sharon Olds’ “Rites of Passage” Poem

Having already presented the boys as a group of older men in characteristic business behavior, this comparison serves to bring into focus the concept that while the speaker's son is ostensibly the 'king' of the [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 831

Slavic Literature. Tolstoy’s Childhood and Narrative

He relates the story of his spiritual crisis in his work, A Confession."Do in the afterlife the freshness and life heartedness, the craving for love and strength of faith, ever return which we experience in [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 931

Shakespeare’s Presentation of Henry V as a Hero

Thus, Henry is not a hero to everybody in the play including the French and Catherine. If at all, the women in the play offer a challenge to the values of Henry and his male [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1043

Faith and Divine in Lewis’s The Horse and His Boy

Through the character of Aslan, the lion, the author explains the Christian ideas and teaches the readers that humility and sincerity are better than all the wealth of the world.
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 822

Conformity in “The Wars” by Timothy Findley

It is equally important to stress that the issue of conformity is based on the person's ability and willingness to fit into a group or culture. One can argue that Ross's decision to join the [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1086

Rama and Odysseus as Eastern and Western Heroes

Similarly to Rama, Odysseus belongs to the descendants of Zeus, the king of all gods, and uses a special bow as his favorite weapon. Another difference between Odysseus and Rama is their attitudes to family [...]
  • Subjects: Comparative Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1191

Irony in “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings”

The news spreads far and quickly, but the creature fails to live up to the expectations of the curious crowd and is soon forgotten. It is likely that the angel's stay was exactly as he [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 217

Act 1 Scene 2 of the “Hamlet” Play by Shakespeare

The use of honorifics, stichomythia, and imagery is discussed, as well as the aside, the motif of spying, and the overall mood of the scene will be discussed and evaluated. The overall mood of the [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 577

1950s in Wilson’s “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit”

Happiness becomes accessible through product attainment, and even the opening of the story deals with the fact that the protagonist and his wife, Tom and Betsy Rath, want to live in a better house.
  • Subjects: Themes in American Novels
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1474

“The Monster” Story Analysis

The identity of the character is not clear, and although the writer tries to engage the reader into understanding the uniqueness of the featured characters, there is still some aspect of ambiguity, which makes the [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 573

Archetype Prophetic Characters in Literature

In contemporary literature, due to the development of different genres and literary schools, there may be observed a huge amount of different archetype prophetical characters. In childrens literature, the archetype of an orphan is very [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 610

“Tangled Up in Blue” Lyrics by Bob Dylan

The song manages to tell the whole story of the life and love of the lyrical hero. The future is unpredictable but we see glimpses of it in the past and present.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 306

Technology Control in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”

They leave you with a, but there is a self-limiting effect of all of our contemporary psychotropics and mood-alterers. The tabloid news is full of people who have become addicted to prescription drugs, or find [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 11
  • Words: 3087

Integrating Sources: A Deeper Look at Beauty

Quotation: "The philosophical dimension of beauty does not depend on the limits of the physical world; true beauty far exceeds our earthly bounds". It is necessary to consider the beauty's "subtle qualities" such as "tone, [...]
  • Subjects: Comparative Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 456

“Endgame” a Play by Samuel Beckett

Speaking about the things that make the chosen play different from the other plays included in the course materials, it is pivotal to note that the play's themes are unique, and the author actively uses [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 939

“A&P” a Short Story by John Updike

This product display forms a landmark for the narrator to track the progress of the trio of girls. This is a big car to hold the screaming mom and kids.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 949

Motherhood and Maternity: Gwen Harwood’s Poetry

The language used in many of her poems lacks a clear rhyme and at times is borderline prose, and yet still it manages to pluck at the strings located in a reader's heart, painting vivid [...]
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 809

Paulo Coelho: The Lesson of Finding One’ Purpose in Life

One of the most common themes in Coelho's books is finding one's purpose in life and seeking after the attainment of ones dreams.'The Alchemist', 'The Witch of Portobello', 'The Zahir' and 'Brida' have this theme [...]
  • Subjects: Writers
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1594

Bhagavad Gita as a Spiritual Book

Lord Krishna is believed to be the inspiration behind the book known as the Gospel of the Lord. From this knowledge, the history of the Gita, the purpose of yoga, and a guru becomes significant [...]
  • Subjects: World Philosophy Literature
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 783

“Thus Spoke Zarathustra” a Book by Friedrich Nietzsche

Zarathustra argues that, wandering in mountains is a pleasant experience, which is going to shape his fate, for he believes that he has control of his life and will not allow fate to overtake him.
  • Subjects: World Philosophy Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 881

Childhood Fantasies in “Monsters” by Anna Quindlen

After high school, I decided to pursue theology in college, which, in my opinion, explains the mysteries that surround the origin of the universe, life's purpose, and mankind's destiny.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 825

“The Road of Lost Innocence” a Book by Somaly Mam

The first sign that showed Somaly the wickedness of her grandfather was when he struck her after she was afraid of climbing on to the logging truck. The reason behind this is that the woman [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 893

Symbols in Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”

In "The Masque of the Red Death", Poe uses space to define division and a sense of safety. For human beings, the end of a day is dark and sad, typical of the representation of [...]
  • Subjects: Concepts in American Novels
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 435

“Doubt” Play by John Patrick Shanley

This concerns what she refers to as "having doubts" in her conversation with Sister James at the last act of the play "Doubt" by John Patrick Shanley.
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 657

“Writers in Hollywood” Story by Raymond Chandler

The importance of inspiration in writing is discussed in the story Writers in Hollywood by Raymond Chandler. The author questions Hollywood's screenplays as an art of writing because he rejects the presence of the writer's [...]
  • Subjects: Writers
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 272

Psychology in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”

The reading of Gilman story's few initial lines suggests that the reason why the narrator and her husband John decided to spend the summer in a secluded mansion is that this was supposed to help [...]
  • Subjects: Aspects of American Novels
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1729

“About Men” a Book by Gretel Ehrlich

She starts by introducing herself and where she comes from and thus informing the reader that she has experience of whatever she is about to discuss. The theme is developed throughout the essay by a [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 568

“Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls

The entire story is a documentation of the happiness that the dogs brought to Bill, and its conclusion is practically an illustration of how fond memories always stay with the individuals left behind after the [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 232

Psychological Disposition in Sylvia Plath’s Poems

The secondary argument supporting the claim of the psychological temperament in Plath's works is based on the interpretation of her state of mind when she forcefully vilified her father as a Nazi sympathizer.
  • Subjects: Poems
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1104

Masculinity in “Disposable Rocket” by Updike

The central idea of the essay is that the male body has a specific purpose of reproduction, as it is compared to a "delivery rocket" of children, and therefore cannot last forever.
  • Subjects: Gender in Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 608

“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving

At the same time, the story draws a parallel to the uprising itself, with the tyranny of Rip's wife leading him to try and escape, only for this woman to disappear before his return.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 843

“The Yellow Wallpaper” and The Laugh of the Medusa

The topic of a woman's voice being silenced by society and becoming heard in writing appears to be among the similar themes of the critical essay "The Laugh of the Medusa" by Cixous and the [...]
  • Subjects: Comparative Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1203

Xiao-Pin-Wen Genre and Modern Chinese Literature

Modern Chinese writers pay much attention to such topics as the essence of life, the importance of understanding the landscapes of culture and life, and the necessity to never forget about the worth of travels [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 865

Virginia Woolf’s Book “Three Guineas”

The motif of guineas represented the money in the hands of a woman as well as a symbol of power since education was only available to the rich and powerful.
  • Subjects: Gender in Literature
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1385

Different Images of the Countryside in Literature

Throughout the story, the image of the countryside is displayed in two instances: first, as a backdrop against which the reader follows the journey and the conversation of H and Tong-I, and as an environment [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 8
  • Words: 2005

“Wuthering Heights” a Novel by Emily Bronte

The dilemmas of the communication between the members of different classes and social strata become the most evident in the conflicts that are related directly to the relationships between the characters in the Wuthering Heights.
  • 5
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1940

“The Cherry Pickers” by Kevin Gilbert

At the moment of the initially rehearsed interpretation of The Cherry Pickers, Gilbert was named the first Indigenous dramatist to have his play performed.
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1102

“Everyday Use” Story by Alice Walker

As a result, she can be considered a reliable narrator as she describes both of her daughters honestly and without skipping over any of the unpleasant bit of their backgrounds such as the fire that [...]
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 648

“Murambi, the Book of Bones” by Boubacar Boris Diop

Notably, the fragments encompass all the phases of the genocide, which are planning and political propaganda, the butchery, and the aftermath of the oppression leading to fragmented communities.
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1229

“Le Morte d’Arthur” by Thomas Malory

It is imperative to consider Merriam-Webster's definition of a knight: "a man who is given special honor and the title of Sir by the king or queen of England", to understand the first component of [...]
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 844

“The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James

The theme of class and society is represented in the depiction of relationships between the servants, the governess, and the children.
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 2510

“The Day of the Locust” and “Play It as It Lays”

This paper aims to explore the themes relating to the American dream and its associated emptiness and un-attainability as depicted in the two novels, The Day of the Locust and Play it as it Lays.
  • Subjects: Themes in American Novels
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1654

“To Build a Fire” a Story by Jack London

Another of the details that support the postulation that the main idea of the story is that assumptions can kill is the inability of the main character to recognize his limitations.
  • Subjects: American Literature
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 848

Unreliable Narrator: “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov

The separation of the author and the text and the presence of an unreliable narrator who is also the pedophiliac hero of the story put the readers in a dilemma, and they have to actively [...]
  • Subjects: World Literature
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1980

“King Hedley II” a Play by August Wilson

Most of the play is dedicated to investigating the nature of people's feelings, trying to "plant seeds" where nothing will be able to grow, becoming a metaphor for the life of the main character as [...]
  • Subjects: Plays
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1127

Different Portrayal of Love in Shakespearean Sonnets

The usage of this vocabulary of this poem assists in seeing the controversial and confusing nature of love, and it creates a perception that beauty is not the definer of attraction while being close to [...]
  • Subjects: British Literature
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1379