Literary Criticism essays

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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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1 Page 558 Words
The author analyses why Brutus’ obsession with honor and how it is “called into question by the action of the play” while exploring the character's reasons for using certain rhetorical methods. Having sensed Brutus's 'passions of some difference' regarding Caesar as a potential tyrant, Cassius proposes, like an honest mirror, to reveal Brutus's 'hidden worthiness' to him (1.2.57). He concretizes...
4 Pages 1642 Words
Milton’s Paradis Lost struggles with the idea of free will. Free will is a person’s right to live unencumbered and unforeseen, allowing actions to be of their own and not predestined. If people have free will, they are capable of doing good for others but are also capable of causing harm. Milton is tempted at first with giving up due...
Literary CriticismParadise Lost
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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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1 Page 661 Words
‘Paradise Lost’, first published in 1667 and republished in 1674, is considered to be one of the best, if not the greatest epic poem that was ever written in English. The plot is taken from the Bible – precisely from Book Genesis, as it tells the story of Adam and Eve who lost their place in Eden (also known as...
Literary CriticismParadise Lost
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6 Pages 2596 Words
Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth in multiple ways in Macbeth which change throughout the play. Initially, we find that Lady Macbeth is shown as a strong, manipulative, and powerful character, who is able to push 'brave Macbeth” her husband to do anything for her. This is particularly illustrated in Act 1 Scene 7 where Lady Macbeth tests Macbeth's masculinity when she...
Literary CriticismMacbeth
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1 Page 514 Words
Proof is a play that is written by David Auburn, a production that earned him a Pulitzer Prize for his achievement. The book tells the story of Catherine, a young girl with a mental disorder who spent years caring for her father and learning mathematics and science. The story's theme includes the issues of trust and betrayal, both of which...
Literary CriticismTrust
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3 Pages 1267 Words
There are resurrection themes in every society and it is not just because we fantasize about the possibility of resurrection and recovery, but it actually happens a lot. Resurrection is the act of rising from the dead. Resurrection is not only rising from the dead, but it can also mean being reborn into a new person or personality. It means...
A Tale of Two CitiesLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 890 Words
Odysseus is renowned for his intellectual brilliance, guile, and versatility. He is the son of Laertes and Anticlea, the spouse of Penelope, and the father to Telemachus. Odysseus is best known as the Odyssey's eponymous hero. This epic depicts his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War to reclaim his rightful throne as king of Ithaca. Intelligence is a vital...
Literary CriticismOdysseus
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4 Pages 1882 Words
Definition of Epic: The word epic has been derived from the Greek word 'epikos', it means a speech, song, or word. Epic is defined as a grand long narrative poem in verse that revolves around an important theme in a very elegant style as well as language. It deals with the heroic characters and their heroic deeds. According to Webster's...
Literary CriticismParadise Lost
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2 Pages 766 Words
The masterpiece “Paradise Lost” by John Milton is undoubtedly the greatest poem in English Language and in poetic value. With a fascinating congruity between versification and syntax, Milton portrays all the situations that he is going to deal with - death, sin, restoration, disobedience, and loss of Eden through that “one greater man”. “of man’s first disobedience and the fruit...
Literary CriticismParadise Lost
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6 Pages 2522 Words
More Than This, There Is Nothing: Simplicity in Lost In Translation Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film, Lost In Translation, centers around the platonic relationship between protagonists Bob Harris and Charlotte. Bob is an aging American celebrity in his fifties who has begrudgingly traveled to Tokyo to do a series of advertisements for a Japanese whiskey company. Bob spends the majority of...
Literary CriticismLost
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3 Pages 1379 Words
Brutus: Innocent Your honor; ladies and gentlemen of the jury, imperial Prosecutor, John Smith, would have you convict my client, Marcus Junius Brutus of conspiracy, negligence, and regicide. My client pleads guilty to the charge of negligence, but to the charges of conspiracy and regicide, he pleads not guilty. Let's consider the testimony of key witness William Shakespeare, in Act...
6 Pages 2925 Words
“Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity” (Arthur, n.d.). The film Lost in Translation follows the lives of an isolated, waning movie star named Bob Harris and an emotionally confused, newly married woman named Charlotte as they visit a new country. The two strangers meet...
Literary CriticismLost
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2 Pages 715 Words
Lonely aging movie star meets a bored newlywed girl while both are briefly in Tokyo. The basic story may not seem particularly novel or interesting, but the actual film stands in stark contrast to such an assumption. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson discover that jetlag in Tokyo is perfectly daijobu Lost in Translation marks the second film by writer-director Sofia...
Literary CriticismLost
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2 Pages 741 Words
Every story has an antagonist but sometimes the antagonist plays the most important role in the story. Julius Caesar is a play written by Shakespeare that is based on true events from history. It shows ambition, destiny/fate, and much more. However, I will be writing about how Cassius plays the most important role in the play even though he is...
Literary CriticismThe Tragedy of Julius Caesar
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2 Pages 995 Words
The extract which is taken from William Shakespeare`s Julius Caesar allows us to examine closely the distinct rhetorical strategies, figures appeal that Cassius uses throughout Julius Shakespeare and specifically in the monologue Cassius presented to Brutus in Act 1, scene 2. There is a theme of power, manipulation, and persuasion carried through Cassius' speech in the act to convince Brutus,...
Literary CriticismThe Tragedy of Julius Caesar
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2 Pages 1130 Words
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Have you ever wanted something or someone so bad you would do anything for it, even kill? “Some Dreamers of a Golden Dream” by Joan Didion is about a murder trial that captivated the town of Rancho Cucamonga, California, in October 1964. Didion focuses on a woman, Lucille Miller, who ends up burning her husband, Gordon Miller, to death in...
Literary CriticismShort Story
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2 Pages 712 Words
A tragic hero is a character in the play that is portrayed as having an important position. Tragic Hero has to undergo certain misconceptions in discernment which can lead to their own death. Shakespeare shows these characters as those who are expected to fulfill their goals but somehow fail to do so which may be caused by tragic weaknesses, which...
Literary CriticismThe Tragedy of Julius Caesar
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4 Pages 1832 Words
If one was to describe the hero, he or she would say that hero may be a person of action and not of thought. They possess extraordinary skills and skills and sometimes surpass their peers in intelligence, strength, wittiness, and bravado. they typically affect wars or other dangerous ventures and are therefore ruled by the code of honor which makes...
Literary CriticismParadise Lost
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2 Pages 1036 Words
Three elements that yield a heroic warrior include Bravery, Courage Confidence, and Honor. Beowulf shows his bravery in his battles with monsters much larger than himself. He fights without weapons and when he has aged shows his confidence in himself, and his courage to never back down. He is honored by the Geats and the Danes throughout the poem as...
BeowulfLiterary Criticism
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1 Page 629 Words
In 1599, William Shakespeare composed the misfortune play of Julius Caesar, a play dependent on the existence of Caesar. It recounts an account of a Roman government official named Brutus who contrived with others to assassinate Caesar. This essay seeks to discuss the nature of honor as a main theme in Julius Caesar. The play is composed of the nature...
2 Pages 884 Words
‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson is a short story in which there is an isolated character, Tessie Hutchinson. There are many themes and techniques in the story such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and setting which highlight Tessie`s isolation from society. In the story, there is a village that takes part in a lottery each year when someone is chosen by a...
Literary CriticismThe Lottery
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2 Pages 1022 Words
Characters of this story by Thomas King include the strong-willed mother who feels as if she declares herself a “Canadian” she is denouncing her native roots. She sees the Blackfoot as a whole and refuses to acknowledge the “border” around it. She is loyal and stands her ground as a member of the Blackfoot tribe. Her son who is also...
Literary CriticismShort Story
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3 Pages 1204 Words
Peter Fritzsche’s Life and Death in the Third Reich gives personalized accounts of the Nazis’ different approaches, rationales, and justifications for their actions in their relationship with the German people between 1933 and 1945. Rather than blaming the German citizens for allowing Nazi ideology, he focuses on the complex relationship between the German population and the Nazis. He argues that...
Book ReviewLiterary Criticism
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2 Pages 875 Words
The primary concern of good literature is the representation of the human experiences of surviving, to successfully engage and provoke their readers to morally question their own values and identity. Yan Martel humanizes his characters through the process of spiritual experiences that are developed throughout his novel in order to establish a bond between the audience and the characters. The...
Life of PiLiterary Criticism
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4 Pages 1612 Words
A Marxist Take on Sonny’s Blue The oppression and social status of African Americans in the late 1950s were harsh. This essay will be viewing the story through a Marxist critical lens. During this time frame, there were major Culture differences. African Americans were often looked down upon strictly just because of their nationality. We see many examples of oppression...
Literary CriticismSonny’s Blues
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4 Pages 1609 Words
Addiction to drugs is an overall theme in “Sonny’s Blues”, impacting both those with the addiction and their loved ones. In the story, heroin takes a toll on lives, families, and talent. From another perspective, it offers a period of time where the user can escape from depressing physical and emotional environments. Sonny uses heroin as a way to cope...
Literary CriticismSonny’s Blues
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3 Pages 1180 Words
My essay is going to be based on the reading passage taken from the short story written by Edgar Allan Poe; ‘The Black Cat’, which was published in 1845. What I first notice when reading this passage is that the cat idolizes and admires its owner. He says in the text that when he gets up to walk, the cat...
Edgar Allan PoeLiterary CriticismThe Black Cat
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4 Pages 1705 Words
The epic poem, Paradise Lost which is a masterpiece of John Milton is a work of amazing resourceful genius that continues to have an impact on English literature today. It relates the account of the combat for heaven and man's expulsion from Eden, which is written in more than 10,000 traces of clean verse. Its sections try to recognize the...
Literary CriticismParadise Lost
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