Newest Literature Essays

What a worthwhile life entails remains unknown, but not undebated. For instance, Leo Tolstoy’s 19th century novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich features Ivan Ilyich, a Russian man devoted to living his life in accordance with the wills of his...

Let who says

‘The soul's a clean white paper,’ rather say,

A palimpsest, a prophets holograph

Defiled, erased and covered by a monk's,—

The apocalypse, by a Longus! poring on

Which obscene text, we may discern perhaps

Some fair, fine trace of what...

In every system of cultural meaning-making, there occur certain words and names which are connotatively "loaded," which have an "emotional valence" in excess of their denotations. Such was the word "Salome" in late nineteenth-century western...

Peter Pan was originally written by James Barrie, in play form. Later on, he converted it into the children’s book that is popular today. There have been many adaptations of this book, including a movie of the same title made in 2003 by P.J....

Belonging is an essential part of life, without belonging we experience a lack of understanding which evolves into the establishment of separation and alienation from our communities. Our connections between people around us and our communities...

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is an American fairytale written by L. Frank Baum.The original story was adapted by director Victor Flemming in 1939 and created into a film. While there are many details from the original story that have been changed,...

As a psychological dramatist who himself had suffered from the cruel ageing process, Williams delves into human nature’s Achilles’ heel: the impact of the passage of time. Through a complex portrayal of the dramatis personae and various elements...

Belonging to fabula palliatae, the argument of originality and contribution has arised in Plautine plays in many phases. Romanising Greek plays, Plautus didn’t merely just copy them, making slight changes here and there. In fact, he redefined...

George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, (1949), and Caryl Churchill’s play Far Away, (2000), explore the harsh truths of the human experience through dystopian concepts. Acting as political statements these texts juxtapose their respective...

James Baldwin’s “On Being ‘White’ and Other Lies” provides a radical interpretation of the term “white” as a completely voluntary identity, formed solely because of the need to suppress Blackness when our nation first gained its footing. Written...

Those in poverty often find themselves frustrated by the lack of opportunity in their lives. In Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, a failing farmer named Ethan and his sick, estranged wife Zeena navigate personal and moral boundaries as life throws many...

In the play A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt, one of the principal characters is “the Common Man.” The Common Man plays various roles, such as the Mores’ steward, his jailer, and his executioner. As the Common Man is meant to represent...

Although sometimes minute details are as they appear, in the short stories “Seven People Dancing” by Langston Hughes and “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J. D. Salinger the minute details paint a larger picture of social alienation. Through the...

Tricksters are a common staple in Indigenous lore, appearing as various animals, such as coyotes and ravens. They teach how to treat others and general mistakes to avoid. The book Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor follows an...

Breaking away from the collective human experience can be difficult but transformative. Anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies of the human experience entice viewers to confront their personal assumptions and challenges their already ingrained...

“Immediately she saw him Janey thought he must be a fine man.”

This quote is from The 42nd parallel written by John Dos Passos in 1930. It is the first volume of the U.S.A trilogy which also includes 1919 and The Big Money. John Dos Passos is an...

Rudyard Kipling was born in India on December 30, 1865, and is the author of many influential and significant books, one of them being the short compelling story of “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.” Kipling was a British author, poet, and Noble Prize laureate...

Guy de Maupassant, born on August 5, 1850, is the author of the famous short story, “The Necklace” written in 1888. Guy de Maupassant was a French author in the 19-century, most famously known for his many short stories, such as “Boule de suif” (“...

Although both Kevin and Yeong-hye begin to change their diets for what they believe to be well intentioned reasons, the reality is that as they undergo the process of starving themselves, their behaviors and mental health begin to deteriorate....

The Help follows the lives of two black maids working for white women during the 1960’s. While helping write a book about their experiences, Aibileen continues to assist her employer Elizabeth, and watches over Elizabeth’s daughter, Mae Mobley....

When the Bible first introduces the establishment of a kingship in 1 Samuel, God vocalizes his dissent since he is the only ruler that his people need to live prosperously. Even so, the Israelites continue to push for a monarch who can lead the...

Sanders, JamesProfessor KraemerEnglish 4May 17, 2021Patience and Persistence: Andy Dufresne’s Long GameThe Shawshank Redemption (1994), directed by Frank Darabon, certainly qualifies as a cinematic drama which displays the richness and depth of a...

A sense of purpose is at the heart of identity. Individuals seek meaning in life, contentedness, clear life intentions. Without an obvious plan, individuals tend to question themselves. The typical queries ensue, "Who am I? What makes me unique?"...

How would you define happiness? Would you be content if you one day win the top prize in the lottery, find the world’s most precious diamond, or watch your product go viral? Fortune could allow you to buy luxury products and have a decent place to...