Literary Criticism essays

1284 samples in this category

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1 Page 622 Words
Introduction: "Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminal Insane" by Etheridge Knight is a powerful poem that explores themes of identity, oppression, and resistance within the context of the prison system. Through the narrative of Hard Rock, a former inmate who returns to prison after being in a mental hospital, the poem delves into the struggle...
Literary CriticismOppressionPoetry
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1 Page 518 Words
Introduction: James Joyce's short story 'Araby' offers readers a glimpse into the life of an unnamed young boy living in Dublin, Ireland. The story is narrated in the first person, allowing us to delve into the mind of the protagonist. This character analysis essay will examine the narrator in 'Araby,' exploring his personality, motivations, and the transformation he undergoes throughout...
ArabyCharacterLiterary Criticism
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4 Pages 2024 Words
The novel The Call of the Wild, written by Jack London, begins with a portrayal of Buck's happy life. He resides in the Santa Clara Valley with his owner, Judge Miller, but difficulties arose for the innocent dog when gold was discovered up north. Buck, a muscular dog, was in high demand among gold-rushers. Buck was walking through an orchard...
Literary CriticismNovelThe Call of The Wild
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1 Page 644 Words
Introduction: William Shakespeare's play 'Julius Caesar' is replete with instances of irony, a literary device that adds depth and complexity to the narrative. Irony, often used to convey hidden meanings and unexpected twists, serves as a powerful tool in shaping the audience's understanding of the characters and the events unfolding in the play. This critical essay explores the significance of...
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1 Page 544 Words
Introduction: William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Othello' is renowned for its masterful use of irony, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative. Irony, a literary device that involves a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, plays a crucial role in shaping the audience's perception of the characters and their motivations. This critical essay explores the significance of irony...
IronyLiterary CriticismOthello
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1 Page 535 Words
Introduction: Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book' is a beloved classic that has captured the hearts of readers for generations. However, beneath its enchanting storyline and memorable characters, there are elements that raise questions about racial representation and stereotyping. This essay critically examines the issue of racism in 'The Jungle Book,' exploring the portrayal of characters and the underlying messages conveyed....
Literary CriticismRacial Realism
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1 Page 562 Words
Introduction: Junot Diaz's short story "How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie" delves into the complexities of identity, race, and cultural expectations. Through the use of vivid descriptions, colloquial language, and a distinct narrative voice, Diaz explores the narrator's perspective on dating girls from different racial backgrounds. This essay will conduct a rhetorical analysis of the story, examining...
1 Page 506 Words
Introduction: Ruby Bridges, an iconic figure in the Civil Rights Movement, captured the nation's attention when she became the first African American student to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960. Through a rhetorical analysis of Ruby Bridges' story, this essay will explore the use of rhetorical strategies to convey the themes of courage, perseverance, and the pursuit...
Literary CriticismPerspectiveRuby Bridges
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1 Page 572 Words
Introduction: The Disney animated film "Mulan" tells the empowering story of a young Chinese woman who defies societal expectations and embarks on a courageous journey to protect her family and honor. Mulan's hero's journey, as depicted in the film, showcases her transformation from a young woman burdened by societal norms to a fearless warrior who discovers her true identity and...
Hero’s JourneyLiterary CriticismMulan
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1 Page 614 Words
Introduction: William Shakespeare's play 'Julius Caesar' is a masterful work of literature known for its intricate characterization, political intrigue, and profound themes. Among the many literary devices employed by Shakespeare, parallelism emerges as a significant technique that adds depth and complexity to the play. This essay critically examines the use of parallelism in 'Julius Caesar,' exploring its role in character...
3 Pages 1278 Words
“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” This statement, said by Albert Einstein, restates one of the main themes of Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye. This novel takes us through the life story of a young African American...
Literary CriticismPrejudiceThe Bluest Eye
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6 Pages 2905 Words
In both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini uses the official modern-day language of Afghanistan, Iran, and Tajikistan Farsi. The use of Farsi in The Kite Runner partially distances the reader from the sensitive topics that appear as well as ostracising the Western readers from having a full understanding of the tumultuous events of Amir's life...
3 Pages 1197 Words
The Lord of the Flies is one of the considered essential books of contemporary literature, written by William Golding. Its title refers to a demon that in some gospels is also called Lord of the Flies for his evil. Early August 1945: the Hiroshima bomb had just exploded, the war was in full swing and a group of English children...
CharacterLiterary CriticismLord of The Flies
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3 Pages 1211 Words
The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer that details Odysseus’ quest for homecoming after the Trojan War, is a work that has remained relevant for thousands of years because of its ability to examine and discuss many different important aspects of being human. The hero of the narrative experiences heartbreak, fear, and eventually victory as he completes this decade-long journey....
Literary CriticismLiterary DevicesThe Odyssey
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2 Pages 809 Words
'The play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare is a superlative play. It is often considered a 'tragicomedy' because it has many impediments like a traditional comedy, but not knowing that the impediments could be disastrous and that there is always a probable chance of it turning into a tragedy. In society, particularly the one portrayed in Shakespeare's play,...
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2 Pages 946 Words
Introduction Benvolio, a character often overshadowed by the more prominent figures in William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," plays a crucial role in the narrative's development. In the chaotic world of Verona, where family feuds dominate social interactions, Benvolio emerges as a character embodying reason and peace. His presence, though subtle, adds layers of complexity to the play, serving as a...
CharacterLiterary CriticismRomeo and Juliet
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4 Pages 1980 Words
Intro The themes of racism, gender inequality and social influence is explored in the novel The Help written by Kathryn Stockett and the film Forrest Gump directed by Robert Zemeckis. Stockett explores the idea of a social influence on a narrow minded society through the three main protagonists Aibileen, Skeeter, and Minny who take turns narrating the story. Zemeckis highlights...
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1 Page 419 Words
After reading the novel, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, I believe that the author's intended message is to express the effects of imposing whiteness as an ideal beauty standard on black people. At the beginning of the book, Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl has a deep desire to obtain blue eyes to feel accepted, beautiful, and loved by...
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2 Pages 944 Words
The erosion of traditional gender ideologies is expedited by William Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing which exposes the role of truth and gender during the Elizabethan Era. With extensive literature on the role of women at this time, the controversial rise of the unruly female has a central impact on audiences, Elizabethan and modern alike. Under strain was the...
GenderLiterary CriticismMuch Ado About Nothing
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2 Pages 762 Words
Romeo and Juliet, a play written by William Shakespeare based in Medieval Verona during the Elizabethan Era was a play that outlined the tragic romance of two teenagers who risk everything to be together because of their family’s longstanding feud. Baz Luhrman adapted the play to create a modern version based on Venice Beach in Miami in 1996. Luhrman has...
IronyLiterary CriticismRomeo and Juliet
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6 Pages 2559 Words
Humankind’s proclivity to racism, intolerance, and bigotry has provoked an outcry from all levels of society. Toni Morrison and Jodi Picoult typify authors who have sought to represent the victim’s voice. In The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison a black African American gives a haunting torturous account of Pecola Breedlove, a child, within a culture dominated by racial segregation and prejudice....
Literary CriticismLiterary DevicesThe Bluest Eye
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2 Pages 998 Words
Psychological tests observe emotions and behaviors to help diagnose a patient and create a guide for treatment. However, you cannot be assessed correctly because you are not as important, you’ll be treated like a child, and your emotions are automatically invalidated. In the 19th century, that is what women went through when being psychologically evaluated, if a woman were going...
like 219
2 Pages 1009 Words
No novel may have as clearly exemplified the profound impacts of oppressing an individual’s freedom of speech as effectively as Margaret Atwood’s, ’The Handmaid’s Tale’. Despite much of Atwood’s story encompassing the various mechanisms ‘The Republic of Gillied’ used to oppress, degrade, and dehumanize its populace. Atwood’s depiction and philosophical stance of the controlled use of language in Gilead society...
like 217
4 Pages 1619 Words
Themes such as war, guilt, murder, and corruption are common within many texts. These themes are always intertwined with each other throughout texts. two texts that contain these themes are ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare and ‘The War Works Hard’ by Dunya Mikhail. The story of Macbeth is in medieval times, about a nobleman (Macbeth) who wanted the mantle of king,...
CorruptionLiterary CriticismMacbeth
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2 Pages 714 Words
In The Great Gatsby, jazz music is played throughout the text, adding energy and life to the novel. From Gatsby's extravagantly chaotic parties to the most introspective moments in the book, the jazz style of music seems to weave itself into the text. Like jazz has its exciting ups and mellow downs, the novel seems to follow a similar style,...
Literary CriticismNovelThe Great Gatsby
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5 Pages 2246 Words
Cultural Identity is an important point of focus in Sam Selvon's 'The Lonely Londoners' and Grace Nichols's' 'The Fat Black Woman's Poems' as both explore the experiences of West Indian Migrants in Postcolonial Britain. After World War Two (1945) black workers were invited and welcomed back to the 'mother country' between 1948 and 1973 to help reverse any environmental or...
Literary CriticismPoetryShopping
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3 Pages 1550 Words
Dear Diary, It is my first day on this mysterious island at least that’s what I assume, I don’t have the clearest idea of how I got here. While walking around I bumped into a kid around my age, his name is Ralph. He didn’t state much, answered my questions in short sentences, and kept to himself most of the...
Literary CriticismLord of The FliesSymbolism
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1 Page 632 Words
Pecola’s insanity signifies internal and external racism, it is the discourses imposed on black girls that drove Pecola insane as stated within the novel, “she, however, stepped over into madness, a madness which protected her from us just because it bored us within the end”. Pecola Breedlove is the definitive illustration of the persistent damaging effects that internalized racial favoritism...
Literary CriticismSymbolismThe Bluest Eye
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1 Page 510 Words
Whenever I think of trains, I think of it as the start of an adventure, the start of discovering something new about ourselves. I think of all the accomplishments that led to our modern train. It symbolizes freedom, a transportation that enables from being confined in one place. However, in the story, we see the repeated significance of trains and...
Literary CriticismSymbolismThe Namesake
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1 Page 644 Words
Sometimes the only way to see the whole picture is to take a few steps back because we can easily lose sight of the truth in our imaginations. In The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, the truth is often lost by nebulous dreams, characters such as Gatsby live in a false augmented reality created by his very own imagination, other...
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