Literary Criticism essays

1291 samples in this category

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3 Pages 1235 Words
“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism” (Hamilton, 45). A Hero’s Journey is never an easy one, but what defines a Hero? The best way to define a hero is by looking at literary examples such as the Odyssey or the Illiad. Focusing on the first work...
HomerLiterary Criticism
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1 Page 424 Words
In his work, William Shakespeare uses the elements of drama to analyze and explain the universal themes present in each of his plays. The Shakespearean play ‘Julius Caesar’ demonstrates the universal themes of betrayal and tragedy. Julius Caesar is a tragedy play written in 1599. It’s about a conflict/rivalry between two people, named Brutus and Caesar. In the end, Brutus...
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1 Page 500 Words
Within every story, there is a particular character that changes the entire storyline and contributes to the outcome of the plot. In plays, character placement and attributions are very important for helping the audience better understand and interpret the meaning throughout the play. The Chorus in Oedipus, Roderigo in Othello, Mrs. Linde in A Doll’s House, and Bono in Fences...
CharacterFencesLiterary Criticism
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1 Page 674 Words
Chris McCandless’ literary heroes were not opposite from each other but they were not the same either. Tolstoy, London, and Thoreau were all considered great minds of their times, just reading their works gives me an understanding of why he would be influenced by these great minds. ~These authors influenced Chris in his moral principles and his aspirations to embark...
Into The WildJack LondonLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 839 Words
The play the “ Crucible” is written by Authur Miller and was published in 1953 as a response to what is known as the “communist scares” in America in the 1950s. The definition of a crucible can be defined as a severe test. Although it also can be defined as a container that can withstand high temperatures, it is often...
Arthur MillerLiterary CriticismThe Crucible
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1 Page 579 Words
Masculinity has numerous meanings among many. The most common meaning of masculinity having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men, especially strength and aggressiveness. To be masculine means to be have strength, courage, independence, leadership, and assertiveness. Sometimes violence gets tied in with masculinity because some men believe that is their way to be masculine. Most of these qualities are...
Epic of GilgameshLiterary Criticism
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4 Pages 1910 Words
Why do Greek figures suffer punishment from the gods? Gods had a very benevolent attitude to life. They were not constrained by family relationships, which is why brothers could marry their sisters and could kill their fathers with children or a son. Many moral rules deities can commit would not apply to us, one could say the gods are amoral....
Literary CriticismOedipusOedipus the King
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3 Pages 1332 Words
Tablet IX begins with Gilgamesh lamenting over the Enkidu’s death, wandering wild alone, and pondering “I shall die, and shall I not then be as Enkidu” (70). Gilgamesh was completely desolated by the sorrow and frightened by their friend’s death. He had a fear that he would die the same as Enkidu died from the sickness. His reaction after Enkidu...
Epic of GilgameshLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 862 Words
Introduction George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is a seminal piece of literature that utilizes allegory to convey complex socio-political themes. Published in 1945, the novella is a satirical reflection on the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism, presented through a narrative involving farm animals. Orwell, a staunch critic of totalitarian regimes, employs allegory not only to critique the events...
AllegoryAnimal FarmLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 860 Words
Martyrdom is described as an act by a person or group, who willingly suffers death for their beliefs or principles. In today’s society, death is an uncomfortable subject, where the acts of martyrdom would be seen as particularly shocking and unusual. This notion contrasts the idea of historical sources, with self-sacrifice often would be applauded for their bravery, such as...
Epic of GilgameshLiterary Criticism
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3 Pages 1497 Words
From communicating on clay tablets to typing on computers or other technological devices, our history has come a long way. To this day, fortunately enough we still have one of the oldest pieces of literature in history. Throughout time and civilization, people have found a way to continue telling stories in order to communicate the roles and purpose of society...
Epic of GilgameshLiterary Criticism
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3 Pages 1200 Words
Antigone is a Greek tragedy by Sophocles, that centers around a young female, Antigone, after the deaths of her two brothers. Antigone’s two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, were battling for the throne of Thebes. As the brothers were dueling against each other, they ended up defeating one another. Since Eteocles was the King of Thebes and was seen as defending...
AntigoneLiterary CriticismTragedy
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1 Page 533 Words
Death of a Salesman is regarded as one of the three most remarkable tragedies in America. The author, Arthur Miller, emphasized that the drama should not only express characters’ psychological and subjective world but also convey the real complex social situation. It has successfully characterized the tragedy of a common salesman in America. It is significant to analyze why Willy...
Death of a SalesmanLiterary CriticismTragedy
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2 Pages 947 Words
In the given passage from Miller’s play, Death of A Salesman, Biff confronts Willy about his decision to leave the family. An argument ensues between the two of them after this revelation. This extract of Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller from Act 2 describes the events that occur after Happy and Biff are confronted by Linda for abandoning...
Death of a SalesmanLiterary CriticismTragedy
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6 Pages 3021 Words
Abstract: This research paper studies the novella “The Metamorphosis” from absurdism and existing ways and how those two theories reflect on the novella from the point of view of Gregor Samsa the protagonist and from the writer's POV which is “Franz Kafka”. Also, this paper will show how Franz Kafka mirrored himself through the protagonist in the novella and how...
CharacterKafkaLiterary Criticism
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3 Pages 1367 Words
Harper Lee was an American novelist best known for her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Before she became a famous writer, Lee studied at Oxford and was planning to become a lawyer just like her father, but eventually dropped out of law school. Harper Lee only published two books during her lifetime: To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set...
Harper LeeLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 1067 Words
Long before daytime soap operas, Sophocles regaled the masses with the tragic tale of Oedipus the Tyrant. It is the first of its kind to enmesh the reader in a complicated web of incest, patricide, and regicide whilst featuring a protagonist who evokes rage and pity in the same breath. Centuries after its first performance, the tragedy remains a focus...
Literary CriticismOedipus the KingTragedy
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2 Pages 853 Words
The “The Tale of Sohrab” and “Oedipus Tyrannus” are two distinct stories that showcase the timelessness of the Shahmaneh. The two stories are not only entertaining but also reflect on various themes that are relevant to the social structure of society and can also apply to the individual lives of people. Upon reading the tales, one can see the undeniable...
Literary CriticismOedipusOedipus the King
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2 Pages 935 Words
'To be, or not to be?' To die, or to suffer eternally? That is the question the two protagonists are faced with, all in order to build resilience. Both protagonists possess the ability to rebel against and challenge their fate to prove their credo, but only one turns into a resilient hero. By comparing the lives of both Oedipus and...
HamletLiterary CriticismOedipus
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1 Page 536 Words
The excerpt from Nectar in a Sieve and “Marriage Is a Private Affair” demonstrate the negative and the positive influences of modern ideas and modern ways on traditional cultures. To begin with, one of the pronounced positive influences of modern ways on traditional cultures in the excerpt from Nectar in a Sieve is the medical expertise that is more advanced...
Chinua AchebeLiterary CriticismShort Story
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2 Pages 822 Words
Introduction The dichotomy of sight and blindness in Sophocles' tragedy "Oedipus the King" serves as a profound metaphor for knowledge and ignorance. This theme is intricately woven into the narrative, where physical sight and insight are juxtaposed to explore the limitations of human understanding. The protagonist, Oedipus, is characterized by his literal ability to see but his metaphorical blindness to...
Literary CriticismOedipusOedipus the King
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2 Pages 827 Words
William Shakespeare`s ‘Sonnet 130’ is an unusual sonnet since it contravenes the concept of female beauty and, instead, provides alternative perspectives concerning beauty and love. Written probably keeping his lover or mistress in mind, Shakespeare compares her physical features and mannerisms with the unlikeliest of natural objects. It stands apart from other sonnets because it breaks the poetry conventions that...
Literary CriticismPoetrySonnet
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2 Pages 699 Words
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The first poem of Neruda’s that illustrates loss through masterful use of imagery, symbolism, metaphor, and allusion is “Sonnet 17.” The poem adopts the form of a Petrarchan sonnet, which often follows an “abb abba” rhyme scheme, this type of verse usually presents a problem within the first eight lines, using the remaining six lines to offer a resolution. In...
Literary CriticismPablo NerudaPoetry
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4 Pages 1963 Words
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is a frightening illustration of a society that has only two classes, specifically a working class and an oppressive wealthy class. Looking at the text through a Marxist lens makes the distinction between classes even more apparent. The bourgeoisie, or the wealthy upper class, are those who hold power over the lower class using oppression. This...
CharacterLiterary CriticismThe Lottery
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2 Pages 880 Words
In Plath’s poems “Contusion’ and “Edge” there is a central theme and image of death that is liberating and perfect. These themes and images are constant throughout many of Plath’s poetry, but in these two particular poems, the idea of death is more forthcoming. “Edge” the last poem that Plath wrote before she ended her life is also another reason...
Literary CriticismPoetrySylvia Plath
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2 Pages 832 Words
Introduction William Ernest Henley's poem "Invictus" and Ayn Rand's novella "Anthem" both explore themes of resilience and individualism, albeit in distinct ways. Henley's work, written in 1875, embodies the Victorian spirit of fortitude, encapsulating the human struggle against adversity with the famous lines, "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." In contrast, Rand's...
InvictusLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 847 Words
To Be Human is to Be Flawed Are humans inherently flawed? Is there something fundamentally imperfect with human nature? These questions have been asked by philosophers from as early as 2000 BCE when the first book was ever written, Gilgamesh, was transcribed. Gilgamesh is an epic poem written by the Sumerians and eventually translated into other languages in the 1900s....
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2 Pages 874 Words
Bigotry in ‘The Prioress Tales’ and ‘General Prologue’ The description in The Prioress’ Tales is full of bigotry and depicts Prioress as a woman of dual character. In the General Prologue, Chaucer describes her as a polite, aristocratic, and godly nun but realistically, she is a bigot whose stories are full of anti-Semitic attitudes. The Prioress’ tales portray her as...
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2 Pages 935 Words
Introduction The Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian narrative, is one of the earliest works of literary fiction. It follows the journey of Gilgamesh, a historical king of Uruk, who is hailed as a mighty ruler and a demigod. However, the evaluation of his kingship remains contentious. Was Gilgamesh a good king? This question invites a multifaceted examination of his...
Epic of GilgameshLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 806 Words
The Great Gatsby is a story set in the 1920s and written by F. Scott Fitzgerald to convey a warning about the state of society. The title character’s goal is to overcome the social class barriers that prevent him and his lover, Daisy, from being together. He is trying to live out what many would refer to as the “American...
Literary CriticismRainThe Great Gatsby
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