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Superman v. Spiderman, 2008.
A comparative analysis of the superheroes Superman and Spiderman.
943 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 0 sources, AU$ 54.95
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Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the comic characters Superman v. Spiderman and outlines some of the things that draws the author to both. In particular, it focuses on the alienation and heart-ache both characters often encountered.
From the Paper
"One other area that is useful for comparing and contrasting the pair is how the powers of one (Superman) has been reigned in on occasion while the powers of the other (Spiderman) have been amplified. As I recall from my many readings of the Spiderman comic books, Spiderman's strength, speed and flexibility/agility have all grown more impressive over time - perhaps because there was a need to do so in order to capture the attention of an evermore cynical and demanding public. Conversely, I recall how Superman's powers - at their height in the "Silver Age" they were virtually unfathomable - were curtailed by writers in light of the fact that finding credible adversaries and story-lines for a God-like being was proving an almost-impossible task. "
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Was Conrad Racist?, 2008.
This paper critically examines Chinua Achebe's essay "Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'".
1,067 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, AU$ 60.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses Chinua Achebe's claim that Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" was intentionally racist. The paper examines the historical context of the novella and argues that Conrad was a man of the times, with its prejudices, values and its dehumanizing view of people of color. The paper further contends that the picture Conrad paints is merely a true representation of African life as he witnessed it.
From the Paper
"Chinua Achebe wrote a radical easy in 1975 claiming that the Heart of Darkness was not the great work of art that it is depicted as due to the racism that is so prevalent in the novella. Achebe even went a step further to say that Conrad was a racist and that he intentionally wrote into the Heart of Darkness his racist views. Historically it has been argued since the publication of the Heart of Darkness in 1897 that Conrad wrote of the Congolese he knew through his work as a seaman and that his life in Europe, specifically Poland where he resided was a great factor in his writing of imperialism."
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Todorov's Fantastical Literature, 2008.
This paper highlights the fantastical literature similarity between Edgar Allan Poe's "William Wilson" and "Lady Ligeia."
1,471 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 4 sources, MLA, AU$ 78.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at two short works by Edgar Allan Poe, "William Wilson" and "Lady Ligeia", and outlines how they are both classic examples of fantastical literature, as the term is defined by Tsvetan Todorov. The paper looks at the clever use of the first-person narrative, at the ambiguous reality that exists in each story, and at the way in which Poe makes the bizarre seem plausible right until the end.
From the Paper
"To begin with, one must understand that literature (at least in Todorov's view) must satisfy three conditions if it is to be genuinely considered "fantastic". Firstly, there must be an element of realism involved insofar as the text must "oblige" the reader to consider the world of the characters as one that "hesitates" between a natural and supernatural explication of the events taking place. Secondly, it is desirable that the reader identify with the character at the heart of the story. Finally, the work must not lend itself to allegorical or poetic interpretations. Proceeding further, it seems evident from Todorov's work that, if the "laws of reality" remain intact and can provide a reasonable explanation for the phenomena delineated by the writer, then the story itself is not "fantastic" but, rather, merely "uncanny". Conversely, if the conventional laws of nature do not apply, if they do not furnish the reader with credible explanations, then the story is said to be "marvelous" or fantastical (Todorov, "Excerpts from Tsvetan Todorov's The Fantastic," p.1)."
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Gender in "Huckleberry Finn", 2008.
An analysis of the theme of gender in "Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.
1,465 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 6 sources, MLA, AU$ 78.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at how Mark Twain in "Huckleberry Finn" shows Huck to be one who tells the truth as he knows it, without much concern for consequences. The paper contrasts Huck to Tom Sawyer, the more devious character who tries to live up to an ideal found in books. The paper examines these characters' ideas about gender and explains the many different and sometimes controversial interpretations of this theme.
From the Paper
"Gerald Graff and James Phelan in introducing a piece by Nancy Walker note that few are surprised when racial controversy is found in the pages of this novel, for those issues are also more up front. They also find that much of what the critics find in the novel may be imposed by them and not inherent in the text, and this is one of the reasons why there are so many ongoing arguments about these matters. They cite an argument by Myra Jehlen about the Judith Loftus scene in which Huck dresses as a girl and is discovered by Judith, and Jehlen finds that this "works to dramatize the way in which conventional male and female identities are a product of nurture not nature" (Graff and Phelan 473). As the editors note, other critics see this as an imposition by Jehlen of her own political views and cannot find the same idea in the text."
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Interpreting "The Great Gatsby", 2008.
This paper explains the double meanings in Scott F. Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby".
1,783 words (approx. 7.1 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 93.95
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Abstract
The paper describes how Fitzgerald in "The Great Gatsby" tells a story that can be read on two levels; either as a romantic, glamorous and exciting story, or as a story that is crude, corrupt, even disgusting. The paper explains how Fitzgerald intended to show that a dream based on the pursuit of wealth as an ultimate value may well turn out to be a nightmare. The paper shows how Fitzgerald makes a cutting moral indictment of American society.
From the Paper
"Scott F. Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby is a wonderfully nuanced work which manages to tell a story in two ways at the same time. The story of the Great Gatsby may be read as the story of a great dreamer and lover - or it may be read as the tale of a deceitful, adulterous, villainous, outrageous and contemptible lowlife. It may be read as the story of a great yet star-crossed romance - and it may equally be read as a sordid tale of deception, adultery and selfishness. The parties which are a ubiquitous part of the social life at Gatsby's home may be seen as wonderful, exuberant celebrations of all that well-heeled society has to offer - or they may be perceived as the cynical abuse by upper class socialites of a lower class man who is struggling for acceptance."
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Hamlet's Sanity, 2008.
An analysis of Hamlet's level of sanity in William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet."
1,477 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 12 sources, MLA, AU$ 78.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the personality of Hamlet in William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet." It particularly focuses on the question of whether Hamlet was insane or if he was just pretending to be so. It also questions whether Hamlet could have plotted murder if he was insane. The paper concludes that Hamlet was melancholic, depressed and suffered from anhedonia.
From the Paper
"The fact is that many people have interpreted Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, in different ways. The play is centered on the fact that Hamlet does not immediately seek revenge. Hamlet has been told by a ghost to seek revenge for his father's death. Any person seeing a ghost and hearing one would automatically question their saneness. Hamlet is angry at himself at times for not carrying out the revenge, but murdering someone is not something that can be done easily even in cases where murder is necessary (Prince Hamlet). Looking at the etymology of Hamlet shows that is name is one filled with meaning and controversy (Prince Hamlet). No doubt, Hamlet felt torn in many different ways when it came to seeking revenge for his father. During the Reformation time period, the existence of purgatory was a major issue. Perhaps Hamlet delayed the death to make sure that his uncle had made peace with God (Prince Hamlet). Perhaps most people can see Hamlet as a mirror of the audience, because everyone has problems that could lead them to be insane."
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Class Backgrounds in "The Great Gatsby", 2008.
An analysis of the effect of the discrepancy in class backgrounds between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan in Scott F. Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby."
1,010 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 57.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the love story in Scott F. Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby," and examines the reasons for the failure of the love affair between the characters Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. The paper describes the plot of the story, the characters and their class backgrounds and argues that the relationship was doomed by the discrepancy in the characters' social status.
From the Paper
"As we have seen, the love affair between Gatsby and Daisy was doomed by their class differences. Gatsby was lucky to even manage to meet Daisy, and only achieved this because his uniform disguised his class. Moreover, even though Gatsby spent five years acquiring the wealth and possessions which he thought would lure Daisy back to him, this was not to be. To lure Daisy back and keep her, Gatsby would have needed more than money - he would have needed social class. There are some things money cannot buy, and class is one of them. Thus, despite Gatsby's best efforts, their love affair remained doomed by their class differences."
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The Russian Revolution of 1917, 2008.
A comparative book review of John Reed's 'Ten Days That Shook the World', Edward Carr's 'The Bolshevik Revolution, 1917-1923,' and Robert Service's 'Lenin: A Biography'.
2,339 words (approx. 9.4 pages), 3 sources, APA, AU$ 115.95
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Abstract
This comparative book review compares and contrasts three books about the Russian Revolution of 1917: John Reed's 'Ten Days That Shook the World', Edward Carr's 'The Bolshevik Revolution, 1917-1923,' and Robert Service's 'Lenin: A Biography'. The writer notes that these books have been selected for comparative review because they provide a broad range of perspectives on the revolution. The writer points out that all three authors agree that successful revolutions require leaders of charisma who can personify the ideology, revolutionary sentiments, and political aspirations of the citizenry. They agree as well that in the critical autumn of 1917, Lenin possessed these qualities in abundance. The writer concludes that despite their different perspectives, all three authors agree that through his leadership, Lenin forced his political enemies and rivals to react to what he was doing instead of vice versa, and in turbulent and unpredictable revolutions, that is a decisive advantage.
From the Paper
"But because Lenin recognized that political, economic, and social conditions in Russia had not developed enough to attempt a proletarian revolution, he focused his efforts on developing a class consciousness in the Russian proletariat. Lenin and Russian Marxists understood that once this proletarian consciousness was developed, the proletariat would understand the need to destroy bourgeois culture elements such as religion, private ownership of property, the corrupt legal system, and the capitalist economic system. Consequently, they knew that many political, economic, and social changes would need to be made in the aftermath of a successful proletarian revolution, and that this would require ruthless determination because strong resistance would be inevitable."
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Gatsby and Wealth, 2008.
This paper analyzes the premise of social class status in 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
888 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, APA, AU$ 51.95
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Abstract
In this literary study, the writer examines the premise of social class in relation to F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'. The writer notes that by understanding the lower class aspirations of Jay Gatsby for the upper class Daisy Buchanan, Fitzgerald creates a polarization of class that dooms their love affair. Further, the writer points out that by realizing the lengths that Gatsby will go to as a member of the upper classes, he invariably cannot ever attain Daisy through materialistic means. In essence, the writer concludes that the premise of social class in 'The Great Gatsby' dooms the love affair between Daisy and Jay within this capitalistic novel of greed and excess during the roaring 20s.
From the Paper
"The rise of Jay Gatsby's fortunes relied on illegal bootlegging to acquire his house, and the other materialistic pleasures that he has gained in his activities. The central focus of the novel, however, does not merely focus on his wealth, but focuses on his dream of having Daisy Buchanan. All of the accumulated wealth revolves around this particular woman, as she represents Gatsby's obsession with her as a symbol of the American Dream as a materialist object. One interesting aspect of the novel is that Gatsby feels that he must provide wealth and security to Daisy if he is to be able to 'have' her, as a social class status symbol of newfound wealth. In this manner, he is at once a possession, but Fitzgerald does indeed make sure to reveal that he does truly love her on a deeper level."
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"Code of the Street", 2008.
A critical review of Elijah Anderson's " Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City".
1,252 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 1 source, APA, AU$ 68.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the text, "Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City" by Elijah Anderson. The book is analyzed based on how it reflects four major tenets of strain theory, social learning theory, control theory, and labeling theory.
From the Paper
"The first of these social theories that is demonstrated within Anderson's text is that of Strain Theory. In strain theory, it is argued that social structures that are constructed and adopted by society can cause the society's citizens to commit crime. First of all, Anderson does not demean or belittle the actions that many "criminals" in the inner-city perform during their daily lives. He argues that in this sector of society, there is a "code" and a decency that its citizens live by, not arguing that this is morally right, but showing that it is a code and manner of life, nonetheless. These are not merely subhumans going about criminal lives; this is a living, working society that adheres to its own standards and rules."
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Karl Marx and His Challenge of Liberalism, 2008.
An examination of Karl Marx's challenge to liberalism in "The Communist Manifesto."
1,831 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 7 sources, MLA, AU$ 94.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how Karl Marx challenged liberalism in works such as "The Communist Manifesto", in which he condemned capitalism and predicted that the exploited working classes of capitalistic societies would become alienated and overthrow the system of capitalism. The paper explains that Marx was convinced that once liberalism was discredited and capitalism was overthrown, there would be a brief period of rule by the dictatorship of the proletariat and then the classless society of communism would emerge. The paper also discusses how Marx believed that working class Germans should be the chief focus of his revolutionary efforts because the political consciousness of the proletariat in Germany was more developed than in any other country in Europe. The paper then examines liberalism and its impact on society, in order to fully analyze Marx's challenges to liberalism.
From the Paper
"Marx believed that many political, economic, and social changes would be necessary in the aftermath of a proletarian revolution, for in his view, the only way the proletariat could free itself from exploitation was to abolish capitalism. In achieving this goal, the proletariat would have to destroy every remnant of bourgeois liberal culture because this culture perpetuated their misery. Family, religion, the worship of personalities, morality, and the legal system would all have to be abolished. According to Marx, the result of this abolishment would be "an association in which the free development of each is the condition for the development of all.""
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Greek Myths and Monsters, 2008.
A discussion of the monsters in Greek mythology.
1,641 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 11 sources, MLA, AU$ 86.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses three of the monsters of Greek mythology:the Gorgon Medusa, the Minotaur and Scylla and Charybdis. The paper also looks at the role that they play in this culture. The paper explains that among the most grotesque of the Greek monsters was the Gorgon. The paper suggests that the Gorgon is a representation of a human head undergoing decay, more common to the Greeks than to modern peoples, but still distasteful. The paper then points out that just as the Gorgon reflected something the Greeks had seen in real life, the Minotaur may have reflected their revulsion with human sacrifice as carried on by the Minoans of Crete. In conclusion, the paper shows that the Greeks tried to explain their world and to do this they created a series of myths and legends that have vastly enriched the world's lore and literature ever since. While some of their stories seem more than fantastic, on examination, most have a reasonable explanation.
From the Paper
"Medusa was eventually killed by Perseus. He was the product of one of Zeus' many dalliances. Perseus and his mother, Danae, came eventually to the land of Seriphos, where the king fell in love with Danae. Wanting to get Perseus out of the way, the king tricked him into going on a quest for the head of Medusa. (Hard, 239)
"Perseus received help from the gods Hermes and Athena, who sent him to the Graiai, the three "old woman," sisters of the Gorgons, who knew their secrets. The Graiai gave Perseus winged sandals with which he could fly, a cap of invisibility which would let him approach Medusa unseen, and a metal satchel in which he could safely store her head."
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"Nun's Priest's Tale", 2008.
This paper uses medieval dream analysis to unravel multiple themes in Geoffrey Chaucer's "Nun's Priest's Tale".
2,158 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 16 sources, APA, AU$ 109.95
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Abstract
This paper argues that dreams and their medieval interpretation are central to the structure of the "Nun's Priest's Tale". The paper looks at the style and illustrates how this story is clearly a sophisticated treatment of the beast fable. The paper shows how, although Chaucer refuses simple interpretation, the tale is a powerful meditation on human fallibility.
Outline:
Introduction
Style and Characterization
Role of Poem in Chaucer's Narrative
Analyzing Medieval Dreams
Exploring the Beast Fable
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The Nun's Priest's Tale is a 625 line segment of the Canterbury Tales, which is preceded directly by the monk's long and depressing narrative on the lives of fallen men and women. After the Knight interrupts this gloomy account, the Host turns and asks the Nun's Priest to "Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade" (2811) and enliven the mood. In asking a clergyman to recount a secular tale of merriment, particularly after his holy brethren the monk had just offered a long and moralizing account of fame and hubris, the Host is making a sidelong jab at the sanctity of men of the cloth."
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Who is the Captive in 'Captivity'?, 2008.
This paper discusses who is the captive in Sherman Alexie's world, focusing on his work "Captivity'.
1,200 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 6 sources, MLA, AU$ 67.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer examines "Captivity," a stream-of-consciousness piece by Sherman Alexie. The writer points out that this work explores Alexie's reaction as a Native-American who grew up on a reservation, amid squalor, alcoholism, poverty, and hopelessness, to one of the classic narratives of a brave white woman enduring the grim experience of being held captive by Native-Americans. The writer discusses that Sherman Alexie, in touch with his tribal past and all of the imagery that it entails, also steps out to do his own dancing, the prolific author of novels, stories, poetry and pieces such as "Captivity," as well as the director of the movie versions of his books.
From the Paper
"In "Captivity," Mary Rowlandson is a recurring image: the white, especially the white girl, alone on the reservation. One version of Mary Rowlandson is the daughter of a white reservation worker. Stepping into her first classroom filled with young tribal members, she carries with her a "memory" distilled from the captivity her namesake endured three centuries earlier, at a time when the Wampanoags might well have thought that they had a chance to clear their traditional lands of the grasping colonists. Terrified, the modern Mary Rowlandson flees the school, envisioning each boy as her would-be captor."
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Kiran Desai's "The Inheritance of Loss", 2008.
This paper analyzes Kiran Desai's "The Inheritance of Loss" and concludes that persistent humiliation defines the lives of the book's main characters.
2,585 words (approx. 10.3 pages), 6 sources, MLA, AU$ 127.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the central themes of Kiran Desai's novel "The Inheritance of Loss" include globalization, unbridled capitalism and economic disparity. The author points that Desai's exploration of these themes is unyielding, and her conclusions are dispiriting as she uncovers the gruesome truths about the lives of the people that the comfortable classes learn to ignore. The paper underscores that Desai's novel grapples with the issue of racial self-hatred and relates that story of the judge in the book is studded with humiliations, but the crux of the matter is his reaction to the daily degradations. The paper concludes that this novel, with its unyielding gaze on the intricacies of the relationships between occupier and occupied, educated and illiterate, westerner and colonized, and rich and poor, is a damning indictment of a system that has relentlessly crushed a large portion of the world's population.
From the Paper
"While the judge's response to the humiliations and degradations that are the natural offspring of colonialism is one of racial self-hatred, his granddaughter's tutors, Lola and Noni, are the very embodiment of the laughable attempt to appropriate a foreign culture. The two tutors are far less menacing than the judge, and they contribute to the book's subtle humor. Desai introduces these two characters by making note of their cottage's name--Mon Ami. The very "French-ness" of that ludicrous name is surprising, and one is left to wonder what inspired the two aspiring socialites to use such a name for a cottage in the Himalayas."
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Violence in "The Song of Roland", 2008.
An analysis of the theme of violence in "The Song of Roland" and a contrast with how violence is portrayed in the "Iliad" by Homer.
2,359 words (approx. 9.4 pages), 4 sources, APA, AU$ 117.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses "The Song of Roland" and discusses how the violence expressed in this work is striking in terms of what it says about the religious sensibilities of the age. It also looks at what the song says about the social obligations of the warrior class alive during the eighth and ninth centuries in what is today France. The paper then contrasts this with the way in which violence is treated in Greek mythology, most notably in the "Iliad" by Homer.
From the Paper
"At other points in classical Greek literature, it becomes abundantly clear that, while the ancient Greeks were certainly congenial to gaining possessions and tribute by violence, they were not consumed with the same lust for honor and for good reputation in battle that drove the Frankish nights of many centuries later. For instance, when the time comes to fight the Trojans, Odysseus feigns madness in an effort to get out of battle; this ruse ultimately fails when Palamedes finds him out and it is hardly unexpected when the former engineers the latter's eventual demise. As an addendum, Odysseus' shameful actions are brought to the attention of the attending audience in a later sequence found in the Metamorphoses when Ajax and he are competing for the weapons of the deceased Achilles; in a moment of withering disdain, Ajax asks why the always-scheming Odysseus should be rewarded when he had to be dragged into the battle in the first place (Parada & Forlag, para.9)."
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