Literature Essays

... samples in this category

Essay examples
Essay topics

Essay on Poems about Money and Happiness

2 Pages 1398 Words
Many of the poems we have read in class discuss the struggle to find true happiness. Though they explore different elements of it, they all return to two common themes - that happiness is subjective and that it is often hard to achieve. Lyrical poems are a great medium for themes like these since they can express many emotions through...

Identity in a Color-Conscious Society in 'Invisible Man' Essay

2 Pages 1558 Words
“Still, I was more afraid to act any other way because they didn’t like that at all”. (Ellison, Invisible Man 1952) Ellison’s Invisible Man represents one of the most significant problems of American society which is racism and the conflict it generates in African American life. The degree of psychological trauma the protagonist of the novel suffered due to the...

Comparison of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' Film and Play

1 Page 713 Words
I would like to thank you for inviting me to speak at this year’s Literature Festival. Today, I am going to reflect on Oscar Wilde’s 1895 play, The Importance of Being Earnest, and the 2002 movie adaptation. The play is a satirical comedy about Victorian society and Victorian attitudes to marriage and class. My values, culture, believes, and experiences lead...

Comparative Analysis of 'Of Mice and Men': Novel vs. Film

2 Pages 1081 Words
Introduction John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," a novel published in 1937, has become a cornerstone of American literature, exploring themes of friendship, isolation, and the American Dream. The narrative follows George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced ranch workers, as they navigate the economic hardships of the Great Depression. Over the years, this poignant tale has been adapted into...

Of Mice and Men' Moral Ambiguity Essay

1 Page 584 Words
The novel “Of Mice and Men ” by John Steinbeck tells the tale of two men, George and Lennie, who are opposite, but they travel together, unlike other migrant workers. When settling into a ranch near the Salinas River, they find themselves among many lonely characters, one being Curley’s wife. The two men discover that the pleasure of companionship is...

Masculinity in 'Fight Club': An Analysis of Men's Gender Roles

2 Pages 806 Words
Introduction The film "Fight Club," directed by David Fincher and adapted from Chuck Palahniuk's novel, offers a profound commentary on modern masculinity and the struggles associated with men's gender roles. Released in 1999, the movie presents a critical examination of the societal expectations placed on men, set against the backdrop of a consumer-driven society. Through its protagonist, the film explores...

Power Vs Honour Essay

1 Page 874 Words
The violence of the dishonorable Thanes of Cawdor led to a snowball effect of civil unrest in Scotland in Macbeth. The Thane of Cawdor, before Macbeth had the title, was dishonorably initiating a rebellion against King Duncan for more power in Scotland. In response to the Thane of Glamis, Macbeth enters the fight for his honor and the honor of...

Essay on What Is Intersectionality in Sociology

3 Pages 2373 Words
Critical race theory began as a scholarly movement in the early 1970s because of the writings of an African American civil rights lawyer Derrick Bell who presented a theory to understand Western racial history as well as the conflict of interest in civil rights litigation (Delgado & Stefancic, 1998, p. 467). As years passed new critical themes to this theory...

Essay on Honour in 'The Odyssey'

1 Page 1000 Words
There was a time when the goal of all good, great, and decent men was to obtain honor. Every motive, dictated by their sense of honor, was aimed at bolstering it or regaining some that had been lost. To fulfill their sense of honor, men of valor would slay the dragon, overthrow an evil villain, or defeat the monster. In...

The Kite Runner' Honour Essay

1 Page 979 Words
Novelist Paulo Coelho once said, “When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change.” Much like this, Amir is influenced by challenges put in front of him by the cultural environment in Khaled Hosseini’s, “The Kite Runner”. This cultural environment, represented by the settings, characters, and the Afghan culture in the...

Internalized Racism in Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye'

2 Pages 900 Words
Introduction Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye' is a profound exploration of race and identity, delving into the pernicious effects of internalized racism on African American individuals and communities. Set in the racially charged environment of 1940s America, the novel focuses on Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl who yearns for blue eyes, symbolizing the societal ideal of beauty. This desire...

Santiago's Transformation: The Hero's Journey in 'The Alchemist'

2 Pages 1103 Words
Introduction "The Alchemist," authored by Paulo Coelho, is a seminal work that intricately explores the protagonist's journey towards self-discovery and fulfillment. Central to the novel is the character Santiago, a shepherd boy whose pursuit of his Personal Legend exemplifies the archetypal Hero's Journey. This narrative framework, popularized by Joseph Campbell, outlines a universal pattern of adventure and transformation that many...

Siddhartha's Transformative Quest: A Heroic Odyssey

2 Pages 879 Words
Introduction The concept of the hero's journey, first articulated by Joseph Campbell in his seminal work, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces," serves as a framework for understanding the transformational odyssey of protagonists across diverse narratives. Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha" exemplifies this archetypal journey, chronicling the spiritual ascent of its eponymous character. Siddhartha's passage from the constraints of societal expectations to...

Commentary Essay on 'The Stranger'

1 Page 1046 Words
Meursault, the protagonist of the novel, discovers that his mother died in an old home. The death of his mother seems to have little effect on him due to his detached emotions and self centered belief of living which makes him look 'The Stranger' to the society. Meursault gets into relationship with his former coworker while celebrating life merry go...

The Importance of Being Earnest' Theme Essay

2 Pages 1598 Words
An Argumentative Analysis of the Themes within “The Importance of Being Earnest” Wilde's 'The Importance Of Being Earnest' investigates different themes of adoration and marriage, particularly in Act 1, where marriage in Victorian culture is generally negated as an 'extremely charming state,' rather utilizing different comedic devices, for example, plays on words, ironic statements and reversals to ridicule its ethicalness...

Essay about Overcome Life Changing Experience

1 Page 516 Words
True Grit is a classic Western-themed novel. It uses several themes and language features to portray the message “that resilience is an important part of a character which helps them achieve goals and personal obstacles and challenges” The message is illustrated through Mattie’s Physical and mental resilience as well as her determination and conviction. These traits help her surpass obstacles...

Essay on Honour in 'Much Ado about Nothing'

2 Pages 1613 Words
Despite being written and set around three hundred and fifty years apart, both William Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Edible Woman’ are regarded, to varying degrees of popularity, as being landmark texts for the Feminist movement. Atwood herself has noted that ‘there was no woman’s movement in sight when [she] composed the book’. Both authors make...

Materialism Essay on 'Fight Club'

1 Page 923 Words
The first support group that Jack joined was for people diagnosed with testicular cancer. These groups are the lone way the narrator is capable of getting any sleep. By visiting various support groups for people with terminal illnesses, and assuming false identities, he can find a sense of belonging that is otherwise missing in his life. This specific support group...

Honour in 'Hamlet' Essay

1 Page 1097 Words
Hamlet and Fortinbras have opposing viewpoints. As previously shown, Hamlet is a thinker who must consider all aspects of a situation before acting. He also appears to need a lot more just before agreeing to do something. For example, Hamlet is unlikely to have reacted in the same way that Fortinbras did in the preceding example. All that is expected...

Essay on 'Ender's Game' Hero's Journey

1 Page 1042 Words
One may believe isolation to be a terrible weakness, but it can be a great advantage: confinement can be used to build individual strength, integrity, and character. In certain circumstances, teamwork may be increasingly beneficial, but that team calls for a strong leader to take them all the way. A capable leader is a vital part of a team, providing...

Drama Analysis Essay

2 Pages 1438 Words
Throughout the drama, “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” author, Robert Emmet Sherwood presents the themes of death, doubt, and war and peace. Sherwood conveys these themes through the use of structure, character development, and language. This Pulitzer Prize-winning drama contains the historical context of Abraham Lincoln’s life and reflects various experiences he faced from his early, unsuccessful days as a postmaster...

Absurdism in 'The Stranger' Essay

2 Pages 1842 Words
The world is meaningless and absurd, and only by embracing the meaningless indifference of the world can humanity achieve true happiness. First published as L’Étranger in 1942, and later translated into English as The Stranger (also known as The Outsider), the novel follows the seemingly irrational character Meursault as he undergoes a murder trial. Written in wartime France, The Stranger...

Sonny's Blues' Central Idea and Conflict Essay

1 Page 727 Words
The injustice of addiction was and still currently is a multidimensional problem in the United States. In Sonny’s Blues James Baldwin illustrates how much of an issue drugs and violence were in the 1950’s and truly captures the constant struggle between failure and redemption. Sonny’s addiction problem provoked his arrest resulting in a disconnection with his brother. At first, the...

Essay on the Minor Characters in 'The Stranger'

2 Pages 1538 Words
The Stranger by Albert Camus begins with Maman’s death, the mother of Meursault, and also portrays the murder of the Arab, committed by him. The post-murder deals with the custody and trial of Meursault. Meursault’s life changes drastically with the circumstances that come along his way. The circumstances and his behavior to it are evident in the novel, through which...

Essay on Marie in 'The Stranger'

2 Pages 1641 Words
A presentation was given about women’s lives in France. Under the Napoleonic code, women had to obey their husbands and had no social status outside of marriage. This gives an insight into Marie’s character and why she is so desperate to marry Meursault who himself is not sure about getting married. In addition, Marie had a se xual relationship with...

Essay on 'The Importance of Being Earnest'

1 Page 517 Words
Living by ideals breeds hypocrisy. This was evident in the Victorian era: the era of contradiction. The societal morality during this time placed a great value on sexual restraint, low tolerance of crime, and a strict social code of conduct. One was expected to live life earnestly. This obsession with the pursuit of earnestness made people, specifically the upper class,...

The Importance of Being Earnest' Character Analysis Essay

1 Page 782 Words
Contrastingly, although duality in The Picture of Dorian Gray is portrayed by dividing one’s self into two, in The Importance of Being Earnest, there are several instances of characters taking on dual identities. Jack Worthing is an especially interesting case of this dual identity because, in the end, he becomes the person he has been portraying all along. This causes...

Essay on Rosaline in 'Romeo and Juliet'

1 Page 1030 Words
In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare portrays Romeo as an impulsive and immature character who is ruled by his emotions. He is presented as a Petrarchan lover and his language at the start of the play characterizes him as an inexperienced lover, however, as the play progresses he has an increased maturity as a lover which is marked in his...
price Check the price of your paper
Topic
Number of pages

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!