Literature Essays

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‘The Metamorphosis’: Masks, Strangers and the Existential Anxiety

4 Pages 1864 Words
'I am separated from all things by a hollow space...and I do not even reach to its boundaries” - Kafka‘s diaries. It is no wonder that Kafka felt such a hollowness between himself and everything around him, considering that he existed within a monotonous, traditional, patriarchal and a habitual society. Such anxiety and separation from meaningfulness in life has not...

Narrative Voice in 'Frankenstein' and 'North and South'

4 Pages 2021 Words
The extract from ‘Frankenstein’ demonstrates how Shelley utilises first person narrative to express the inner thoughts and workings of Victor Frankenstein’s brain and conscious. Whereas in ‘North and South’, Gaskell employs the use of third person narrative to contrast Margaret’s sophisticated way of life with the working-class characters in the novel. Narrative voice and perspective are important in every novel...

The Theme of Abandonment in Toni Morrison's 'Sula'

3 Pages 1436 Words
Abandonment is defined as leaving completely and finally or to forsake utterly. Sometimes in the case of abandonment it causes women to switch roles with males and become the head of the household. Women can use sex as a means of switching roles also and that is what we see in the book ‘Sula’. Men use sex as a way...
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Gloria Anzaldua's and Amy Tan's Growing Up with Language Barriers

3 Pages 1171 Words
Individuals tend to evade things they don't comprehend, to abuse the new. This is something that Gloria Anzaldua and Amy Tan know all too well. The author of 'How to Tame a Wild Tongue' Gloria Anzaldua was an American scholar of Chicana cultural and feminist theory. She grew up on the Mexico–Texas border and incorporated her lifelong experiences of social...

Phillis Wheatley's Poem 'To the University of Cambridge' Review

1 Page 503 Words
'To the University of Cambridge, in New-England' is an early poem by Phyllis Whitley, the first black woman to publish poetry in English. In this poem, Whitley pleads with a group of new Harvard students to be good Christians and never forget the magnitude of Jesus' sacrifice for humanity. The poem is a kind of imaginary sermon or opening speech...

Fatal Consequences of Conforming in Kafka's ‘The Metamorphosis’

2 Pages 891 Words
In ‘The Metamorphosis’, Franz Kafka depicts Gregor Samsa and his acceptance with the the psychological and mental repercussions of an inalterable physical transformation. The local segregation that Gregor faces within his household parallels to the seclusion of the cultural ‘other’, who lies on the outskirts of societal norms. Throughout history, minority groups have been oppressed by dehumanizing stereotypes and stigmas...

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

3 Pages 1398 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...

Reflections on Kafka's Metamorphic Themes

2 Pages 770 Words
Introduction Franz Kafka’s novella, The Metamorphosis, is a profound exploration of existential alienation and familial obligation, presenting a narrative that transcends its initial bizarre premise. At its core, the story revolves around Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect. This grotesque transformation serves as a metaphor for the dehumanizing effects...

Key Motives of Amy Tan's Novels

1 Page 546 Words
In Tan's novels, her Chinese and Western culture and the ultimate attempt at balancing the two is the foundation in which her stories lie upon: the trivial matters such as the manner in which one sits at a table, of the way one speaks and behaves, as well as the rough yet cherished moments of life. These details are perfectly...

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,...

The Depths of Heaney's 'The Thimble'

2 Pages 796 Words
Introduction Seamus Heaney, a Nobel laureate and one of the most lauded poets of the 20th century, has left an indelible mark on literature with his rich, evocative poetry. His poem, 'The Thimble,' exemplifies his ability to interweave personal history and universal themes. In this review, we will delve into the nuances of 'The Thimble,' examining its thematic depth, stylistic...

Materialism and Inferiority in Kafka's ‘The Metamorphosis’

1 Page 622 Words
Have you ever felt out of place in your workplace or community? Society as a whole has several negative aspects with the main being that people are very hollow. One prominent writer such as Franz Kafka laid out some of these critiques in his novel. In ‘The Metamorphosis’ by Kafka society is shown to be extremely materialist as a whole...

Ayn Rand's Moral Model of Objectivism in Approaching Students

1 Page 584 Words
Ayn Rand stated in her essay 'Causality versus Duty': “God said: Take what you want, and pay for it”. As a student of IE, we are all aspiring a professional career, life-enhancing moments, relationships, and happiness in general. In my opinion, Rand’s moral model of objectivism is a necessary approach for our pursuit as a student. She explained in her...

Influence of Romanticism & Enlightenment in 'Frankenstein'

2 Pages 701 Words
In Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’, Victor Frankenstein runs away from his newly animated monster. Appalled by his creation, he collapses into a months-long fever while Henry Clerval takes care of him. This passage takes place during a pivotal part of the novel when Clerval and Frankenstein both spend the summer studying Oriental languages. It is a turning point for Frankenstein as,...

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

2 Pages 736 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...

Flower Symbolism in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway

2 Pages 1138 Words
In Virginia Woolf’s novel, Mrs. Dalloway flowers give the reader much insight into the mind of Clarissa Dalloway. She offers flowers human-like characteristics and personas to them. Perhaps it is that she finds it difficult connecting to other individuals, and when she bestows human-like qualities to flowers, she finds comfort in her connection with them that she does not seem...

Friedrich Nietzsche's and Ayn Rand's Views on Egoism

3 Pages 1261 Words
Egoism in philosophical ethics is having a certain motivation or undertaking an activity that is best suited for you but helps the other person as well, therefore it doesn't make you look selfish; however, it actually is. Egoism is a normative perspective theory, and it is cleared up by two versions. Version one is individual ethical egoism, this portrays having...

Dudley Randall's ‘Ballad of Birmingham’: Literary Techniques

1 Page 582 Words
Each poem often has form factors help deliver the messages that the author has in mind. These factors help shape the story and if presented well, they contribute effectively to understanding, towards the reader. This essay seeks to analyze and explain the literary elements found in ‘Ballad of Birmingham’ written by Dudley Randall in 1965. Dudley Randall was an African-American...

Racism Towards African Americans During the Harlem Renaissance

3 Pages 1338 Words
The Harlem Renaissance was a movement that spoke to a range of issues and concerns like hostility, racism, and anger. Authors spent lots of time aiming to highlight them in ways like power struggles, emotions of hate/animosity towards white people, and even colorism between individuals in their own race. How many African Americans back then faced so much discrimination from...

Interpreting the American Revolution by Harris and Anderson

3 Pages 1322 Words
Both books recognize that the American Revolution was a far more complicated affair than the more traditional narrative provides. In ‘The Hanging of Thomas Jeremiah: A Free Black Man’s Encounter with Liberty', J. William Harris is able to show the hypocrisy of a nation that fights for independence while simultaneously denying the same right to others because of racial differences....

Personal Identification with Transcendentalism

1 Page 655 Words
To me, transcendentalism explores the pursuit of endless happiness and adventure. After observing the actions and beliefs of the infamous Chris McCandless, I can connect through our shared urge and fantasy of traveling isolated in the innocent, tranquil wilderness. After years of elongated education to please society, McCandless felt as if his true path to success was exploring the great...

Perspectives on Death in Poems by Gray, Blake, & Swift

3 Pages 1570 Words
‘Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard’ by Thomas Gray, ‘A Poison Tree’ by William Blake and ‘A Satirical Elegy on the Death of a Late Famous General' by Jonathan Swift are all poems which address death from various perspectives and use various techniques to express this common theme. In this essay, I will investigate how these three poems treat...

Achilles as the Greek Hero Pushed Off Course from His Own Ideals

1 Page 509 Words
The Iliad is a testament to the Greek ideals of war and glory, as it fantasizes the glorious triumphs of Achilles and the Trojans. Famous for his rage made apparent in the opening of the poem, Achilles is the greatest warrior in all of Greece, and his competence and skill are a main driver of the story portrayed and the...
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Review of John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath'

3 Pages 1232 Words
John Steinbeck, one of the most popular authors still known today, has written one of the most popular books ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ since 1939 when it was published. Selling about 150,000 annually, Steinbeck had left his mark on the world with his creative and skillful use of literary elements. His novel consists of the Joad family, the main focus...

W.Scott Poole's and Richard Kearny's Unique Take on Monsters

2 Pages 967 Words
Monsters, as explain by Richard Kearney, are, “…something in us, made manifest in our response to certain experiences of ‘chaos, disorder and desolation’ in nature’” (Kearney, 39). In this sense, our responses to situational conflict can provide the building blocks for monsters; our anxieties from tragedy, horror, and terror will transform reality into fictional and horrific monsters. Poole further solidifies...
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