Literary Genre essays

... samples in this category

Essay examples
Essay topics

Epic of Sundiata': Supernatural in a Book

2 Pages 1070 Words
Upon first inspection, The Epic of Sundiata seems to be a fantastical tale of witches, super human strength, and a man who cannot be deterred from his destiny. While the epic may not contain the classical makings of reliable historical evidence, it is essential to delve deeper into the story so as to explore the many facets of medieval Malian...

Themes of Tragedy, Rebelliousness, Free Will in 'Antigone'

3 Pages 1139 Words
Despite Greek philosophy not having an accurate meaning of “free will”, it can be either considered good or bad. The act of having “free will” generally comes from what you think is the right thing to do. It is a will that allows us to choose what we feel is right based on how we interpret different ideas and the...

A Brief Overview of Tzvetan Todorov's Theory of the Fantastic

1 Page 572 Words
Tzvetan Todorov is a French and Bulgarian literary theorist and cultural critic who is best known for his contribution to literary theory in the form of his definition of the Fantastic in literature. As an important note, when Todorov discusses the fantastic, he is not discussing fantasy literature. Though fantasy critics, theorists, novelists and fans will often refer to fantasy...
like 236

Literary Elements of a Legend

1 Page 432 Words
Reviewed double_ok
A legend is a very old and popular story that may be true. the legends of ancient Greece. If you refer to someone as a legend, you mean that they are very famous and admired by a lot of people. Though customarily told as “true” stories, legends often contain supernatural, bizarre, or highly improbable elements. Types of legends include folk...

Dear Mama' – The Modern Ode by Tupac Shakur

2 Pages 991 Words
An ode can be defined as a ‘ceremonious lyric poem on an occasion of dignity in which personal emotion and universal themes are united’ (Ode, 2012). Although hiphop music is usually known for it’s violent, and often, masculine lyrics, ‘Dear Mama’ the first single from Tupac Shakur’s album, “Me Against the World” produced in 1995, can be considered to be...
Ode
like 432

Tragedy in 'Fire on The Mountain' by Anita Desai

2 Pages 974 Words
The Indian author Anita Desai creates in Fire on the Mountain (1977) a perfect tragedy in the Greek mode. The novel has an abrupt ending in a tragic manner and the tragedy becomes complete when Raka sets the forest on fire. Lonely and isolated Nanda Kaul suffers lot in her life. She chooses loneliness after her husband’s death. She wants...
like 433

Ode to a Nightingale Summary & Analysis

2 Pages 886 Words
The speaker opens with a declaration of his own heartache. He feels numb, as though he had taken a drug only a moment ago. He is addressing a nightingale he hears singing somewhere in the forest and says that his “drowsy numbness” is not from envy of the nightingale’s happiness, but rather from sharing it too completely; he is “too...
Ode
like 432

Suburban Sonnet' Analysis

3 Pages 1152 Words
Gwendoline Nessie Harwood’s poem ‘Suburban Sonnet’ aims to commentate on the harsh reality and expectations of motherhood in the 1960’s. This powerful yet convoluted allegorical poem reveals the extreme burdens and strains that women tackled every day. Life for women in the 1960’s was simply just ‘a pot boiling over’ and Gwen Harwood utilizes her vivid recollection of her childhood...
like 252

Examples of Legends in Literary Texts

1 Page 675 Words
Originated from Latin legendus, legend means “something which ought to be read.” According to J. A. Cuddon, a legend is “a story or narrative that lies somewhere between myth and historical fact and which, as a rule, is about a particular figure or person.” Traditionally, a legend is a narrative that focuses on a historically or geographically specific figure, and...
like 300

Analysis the Poem of A Wedding Sonnet for the Next Generation

2 Pages 1094 Words
Judith Viorst, in her poem “A Wedding Sonnet for the Next Generation,” represents the new definition of love with the help of allusions and symbolism that she uses to redefine the old concepts of love that were represented in the past. Judith Viorst uses a variety of symbolic and allusions to show that her poem may not be a perfect...
like 432

Difference Of Portrayal Of Women In Sonnets

2 Pages 1085 Words
The development of English sonnets is one of the most remarkable features of Elizabethan literature. The sonnet, a short lyric poem of fourteen lines, owes its origin to Italian writers, such as Petrarch and Dante. The theme of Petrarchan sonnet was usually courtly love- worshipful adoration of an idealised mistress and a sense of elevating and even spiritualising the function...
like 432

Gothic Literature on American Ground

6 Pages 2651 Words
Ever read a strange book or watch a scary film, and feel the hairs on your arms stand on end? Ever get the “chills” encountering a creepy story, or have a hard-to-pin-down, icky feeling while standing in a cemetery or house that feels “haunted”? Have you ever had a funny feeling, but can’t quite put your finger on what it...

Captivity Explored in a Free-Verse Poem and a Sonnet

3 Pages 1469 Words
A former captive’s narrative of his or her captivity often captivates a large audience. Readers and listeners are always engrossed when perusing a text or listening to an ex-captive’s narration of his or her time in captivity. Such narratives always involve stories of misery, suffering, and despair that attract the attention and sympathy of the audience. I Fall Asleep, Just...
like 432

Body Writing' in Chimamanda Adichie's 'Purple Hibiscus'

3 Pages 1385 Words
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel ‘Purple Hibiscus’ explores the tumultuous relationships between the members of the Achike family, inflicted by the father, Eugene. The novel is narrated in the first person, by the fifteen-year-old protagonist Kambili. This essay will portray the significance of ‘body writing’ which will be depicted through Eugene and Aunty Ifeoma. The entire family are subjects to domestic...

Reaction to Rebecca Skloot's Novel 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks'

3 Pages 1367 Words
My first reaction to this book was outrage. What an extremely disgraceful way for medical professionals to treat a human being. Henrietta’s story raises questions about ethics, race, and informed consent. John Hopkins University Hospital should be ashamed of themselves! There is an element of time frame that could be used to account for a practice that was status quo...

Comedic Elements in Shakespeare's Hamlet

2 Pages 962 Words
Introduction William Shakespeare's Hamlet is often lauded as a quintessential tragedy that explores themes of revenge, madness, and existential despair. However, intertwined with its somber narrative are distinct elements of comedy that serve to enrich the text and provide a multifaceted reading experience. In a play where the tragic elements are dominant, the occasional humor may seem out of place,...

Review of the Novel 'Purple Hibiscus' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

2 Pages 721 Words
‘Purple Hibiscus’ falls under multiple genres like Bildungsroman and Romance that we see though Kambili’s character but is also a Novel and Domestic Fiction piece. The genres establish many themes and Adichie challenges readers to not just to think about violence, but about religious hypocrisy, family, and politics. The novel is broken up into four parts but does not follow...

Samuel Beckett's 'Endgame': Comedy or Tragedy

4 Pages 1738 Words
In ‘Endgame’, Samuel Beckett explores the dark absurdity of the human condition through the undynamic, loveless relationships between each of the four characters, primarily Clov and Hamm. Tension is maintained throughout the play through the constant suggestion that Clov will abandon Hamm, however the fact that this never happens highlights the repetitive nature of their apocalyptic world, and their painful...

Science vs Religion in 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks'

4 Pages 1658 Words
Religion and science are two mutually incompatible subjects with unattackable opinions. The conflict between the two ideas have been debated for many years and continues on today. These two subjects are expansive on their ideas where faith and fact come into play when persuading someone to believe. Religion and science are two controversies that are displayed in ‘The Immortal Life...

Reflections on Why Papa Didn’t Come of Age in 'Purple Hibiscus'

2 Pages 700 Words
King and queens in the past have made the mistake of abusing their power. King George III Abused his power. He prevented the British government from making judicial decisions. He took complete control over Brittan. This resulted in the USA being founded. In the book ‘Purple Hibiscus’ Papa gets the opportunity many times and takes advantage of his power. He...

John Proctor as a Tragic Hero

1 Page 637 Words
Reviewed double_ok
When someone's journey comes to an end, it is a tragedy. Many people want to carry a story with them after they have passed. Most people want to leave something memorable behind, people want to be seen as a good person, perhaps a hero. According to Aristotle, “A man doesn’t become a hero until he can see the root of...

Book Report of ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’ by Rebecca Skloot

2 Pages 965 Words
The book that I have chosen to read for my book assignment is ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’ by Rebecca Sklott. The first word that comes to mind when I think of after reading this novel is deceived. I think about that when reading how the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore deceived Henrietta Lacks by profiting off her tissue...

The Core Elements of Shakespeare's Works

2 Pages 934 Words
Introduction William Shakespeare, often lauded as one of the greatest playwrights in the English language, has bequeathed a legacy that extends far beyond the confines of the Elizabethan era. His works have been pivotal in shaping modern literature, theater, and even the English language itself. Shakespeare's ability to encapsulate the human condition through his complex characters, innovative narrative structures, and...

Narratives That Shape Our World

2 Pages 797 Words
Narratives have been universally told since the beginning of human existence because they highlight social issues, shaped by their contexts. ‘Purple Hibiscus’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the film, ‘The Color Purple’ directed by Stephen Spielberg are no exceptions of such narratives. Through analysing and comparing narratives, truths about society- both previous and current are revealed. Such narratives allow future...

The Tempest as Comedy or How Tragedy is Related to Comedy

2 Pages 729 Words
Comedy is an integral part of human life. Literary it is a kind of dramatic work and a genre that uses satire as a tone and it is amusing, with which it mostly has a cheerful ending. Comedy creates triumph over all the sad moments by use of comic effects which results to a hilarious conclusion (John, 2014). Comedy, according...

Join our 150k of happy users

  • Get original paper written according to your instructions
  • Save time for what matters most
Place an order

Fair Use Policy

EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via support@edubirdie.com.

Check it out!