Essays on Literature

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1453 essay examples found

Criminal Justice Questions in Just Mercy, a Book by Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson writes about his work in Just Mercy. He was raised in a working class African American family. At the age of 16 his grandfather was murdered by kids trying to steal his television. Stevenson did not let this bring him down. He went on to become an attorney with a degree from Harvard […]

Pages: 6 Words: 1690
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The Disagreement of Mrs. Mallard on Marriage in The Story of an Hour

Too many individuals in western society, marriage is a spiritual union between two people who are in love with one another. However, others may view it as a mere contract that bounds them for eternity. Mrs. Mallard is a character who views marriage in a negative light. In “The Story of an Hour”, by Kate […]

Pages: 2 Words: 657

A Comparison of Themes in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin and Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway

In turn-of-the-century literature, many short stories focus on themes that encompass human nature and society. Two of America’s most prominent turn-of-the-century writers, Kate Chopin and Ernest Hemingway are no exceptions to this rule. Both writers use awe- inspiring symbolism to explain the faults in human nature strategically to emphasize their writing and evoke emotions in […]

Pages: 2 Words: 712

The Oppression of Mrs. Mallard in Kate Choppin’s The Story of an Hour

In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin use of details and figurative language to express how freedom from any form of oppression is beyond gratifying. Granted, the story was written in the 1800’s the concept still applies to everybody, today. It can be seen everywhere. Someone is always oppressed in some form or […]

Pages: 2 Words: 590

Oppressed Womanhood in The Story of an Hour, a Short Story by Kate Chopin

Louise Mallard, a victim of not only a controlling husband but serious heart trouble, must be carefully informed about some serious news: her husband has died in a railroad disaster. After receiving this news, Louise grieves about her loss. Though, she eventually comes to a realization; she is free! Unfortunately, her ecstatic nature comes to […]

Pages: 2 Words: 639

The Traces of Feminism in The Story of an Hour, a Short Story by Kate Chopin

When I first read Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” I was confused as to why the main character, Louise, was happy her husband was dead when he had been so loving and loyal, but after seeing the word “feminist” in the given prompt all the pieces suddenly clicked. It is a feminist story, […]

Pages: 2 Words: 505

An Analysis of The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin through the Lens of New Historicism

“The Story of an Hour” focuses on Mrs. Mallard, a married woman, and how she reacted to her husband’s death. After experiencing sadness, Mrs. Mallard embraced new freedom for the first time. However, after seeing Mr. Mallard is still alive, she has a tremendous shock and dies. Her story reflected the typical marriage of 1894. […]

Pages: 2 Words: 629

Justice in Things Fall Apart 

Throughout the whole story, Okonkwo’s life was dominated by “the fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe, 13). He tried so hard to become better than his father and raise his standings in the village. Spending his whole life doing this, Okonkwo could not let change occur because change meant things would no longer be […]

Pages: 3 Words: 773

The Theme of Changes in the Novel Things Fall Apart

In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is willing to break the prohibition against suicide because he lost all hope when he realizes Umuofia will not support going to war with the missionaries. The statement that Okonkwo is making by committing suicide in the manner that he does is that he’d rather die on his […]

Pages: 2 Words: 600

The Slruggle of Cultures in the Novel Things Fall Apart

The battle of cultures is definitely one of the most universal themes seen in books. This cultural fight/disagreement can be seen throughout life and history anytime two groups of people hold different/disagreeing views that cannot live together. Even today, Western and Eastern cultures–the U.S. and China are one example; the Palestinians and Israelis are another–continue […]

Pages: 2 Words: 730

Fate, Free Will, and Extreme Opposites in Things Fall Apart, a Novel by Chinua Achebe

A major feature of the novel Things Fall Apart is the juxtaposition of two extremes. Okonkwo and his father Unoka are diametrically opposed, and so they are pitched against each other, with Okonkwo becoming more and more aggressive, unyielding, and masculine to balance out the lazy and laid back personality with his father. Another contrast […]

Pages: 2 Words: 664

Uncertainty in Things Fall Apart, a Novel by Chinua Achebe

The title Things Fall Apart is significant to the book because it shows that nothing ever stays the same and things are always changing. Sometimes for the better, but in this book – for the worst. The first instance of things falling apart is in the first story with the same title, “Things Fall Apart.” […]

Pages: 2 Words: 475

The Important Role of Ikemefuna in Things Fall Apart, a Novel by Chinua Achebe

What role or purpose does Ikemefuna serve in the story Things Fall Apart? In the novel Things Fall Apart, the author Chinua Achebe develops the story through the use of characterization. Ikemefuna, a boy sacrifice from the neighboring clan of Mbaino, kindles feelings of affection in Okonkwo and opens the door to manhood for Nwoye. […]

Pages: 2 Words: 450

A Character Analysis of Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

“I am not afraid of work.”(21) Okonkwo the protagonist demonstrates his maturity in this statement. However, even with his hard bound illusion of what a man should be, he still has his draw backs like everyone else. He is still naïve in his old age. Chinua Achebe introduces Okonkwo as a determined, strong, and dominant […]

Pages: 2 Words: 547

The Importance of Marriage in The Importance Of Being Earnest

The crux in The Importance Of Being Earnest struggles to keep up with their own writing and stories because Jack and Algernon strive to win the loving hearts of two women who, claim to only love men that were called Ernest. They both struggle and gets twisted in a tale of duplicity, impersonation and misfortune. […]

Pages: 2 Words: 649

Victorian Values in the Play The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde’s, “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a Victorian era play dealing with many themes and values that were often prevalent in Victorian artists work at the time. One of the themes that was ultra-prevalent throughout Wilde’s play was the element of duality in man. We as humans are dualistic in our nature, leading […]

Pages: 3 Words: 914

The Play The Importance of Being Earnestand its Adaptation

The importance of being earnest: A faithful adaption The importance of being earnest is a play that first performed on February 14th 1895. The play was written by Oscar wilde. The play is very comedic and in my opinion a satire comedy. Because of its high farce and witty dialogue, its helped it to become […]

Pages: 2 Words: 710

Ridicule of Social Values in the Play The Importance of Being Earnest

In an excerpt from The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde develops thoughtful laughter by mocking the societal values of the characters. In these scenes Jack Worthing decides to propose to Gwendolen and is then forced to endure questioning from Lady Bracknell. He does this primarily through irony and hypocrisy in the character’s dialogue and […]

Pages: 3 Words: 981

A Review of Themes in The Importance of Being Earnest, a Play by Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play written by Oscar Wilde. The most important themes in the play are: The real nature of marriage and the importance and constraints of moral values. The importance of marriage in Importance of Being Earnest, is of more of psychological and philosophical […]

Pages: 2 Words: 514

The Impact of the Forms of Satire on Literature and Society in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

The literary technique of satirical writing is a form popular throughout literature. Dating back to the first centuries. Based on the writings resembling works of Roman poets, Horace and Juvenal. Respectively, the forms of satire, horatian and juvenalian, represent contrasting ways of mocking society. The former using humor, and the latter using disgust and anger, […]

Pages: 2 Words: 582

What Does the Importance of Being Earnest Really Mean?

After a plot-twisting series of events, Jack says to Lady Bracknell, “I’ve realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being Earnest,” closing the play. Jack’s statement is rather ambiguous. Is he implying that he has learned the importance of honesty, or the importance of being named Ernest? It is a […]

Pages: 2 Words: 469

The Theme of Hypocrisy in the Importance of Being Earnest, a Play by Oscar Wilde

A major theme in The Importance of Being Earnest is the hypocritical tendencies displayed throughout Upper-Class Victorian Society. Wilde’s witty writing style is used to expose these tendencies through his use of epigrams and paradoxical situations. Many quotes and scenes found in the play result in the opposite of what an audience would expect. Irony […]

Pages: 2 Words: 715
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