Category: Literary Criticism

In Greek Mythology, people describe Odysseus as a godlike person. He struggles with adversity during his sailing, showing his bravery, intelligence, and perseverance. However, the basis of Odysseus is still a man. Therefore he has normal human characteristics. In the battle with the Cyclops Polyphemus, both his godlike and human-like characteristics are shown. The wisdom…

Women in the Anglo-Saxon poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, were often seen as lesser than men in a Medieval time setting. In the poem, women like Guinevere were seen as social constructs of what an ideal woman should be in male-dominated society. These social constructs were noted in the beginning of the poem…

A persons free will is limited because of gender and traditions. The people of the town are taught from a young age to be a part of the tradition because of society. At the beginning of the story Jackson writes, The boys run around and gather rocks. The girls talk to one another and the…

Characters of this story by Thomas King include the strong-willed mother who feels as if she declares herself a Canadian she is denouncing her native roots. She sees the Blackfoot as a whole and refuses to acknowledge the border around it. She is loyal and stands her ground as a member of the Blackfoot tribe.…

Miltons Paradis Lost struggles with the idea of free will. Free will is a persons right to live unencumbered and unforeseen, allowing actions to be of their own and not predestined. If people have free will, they are capable of doing good for others but are also capable of causing harm. Milton is tempted at…

The Story of an Hour or The Dream of an Hour is an American piece of literature written by Kate Chopin in 1948. This story is about a woman named Louise, who endures the tragic death of her recent late husband, Brently. Louises life turns for the worst after this incident. She feels trapped and…

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short story in which there is an isolated character, Tessie Hutchinson. There are many themes and techniques in the story such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and setting which highlight Tessie`s isolation from society. In the story, there is a village that takes part in a lottery each year when…

A Marxist Take on Sonnys Blue The oppression and social status of African Americans in the late 1950s were harsh. This essay will be viewing the story through a Marxist critical lens. During this time frame, there were major Culture differences. African Americans were often looked down upon strictly just because of their nationality. We…

Im going to talk about Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar was born around the time of the industrial revolution and he was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and macabre. Edgar was best known for his poem including the raven…

Addiction to drugs is an overall theme in Sonnys Blues, impacting both those with the addiction and their loved ones. In the story, heroin takes a toll on lives, families, and talent. From another perspective, it offers a period of time where the user can escape from depressing physical and emotional environments. Sonny uses heroin…