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Racism in Native-American Literature, 2007.
This paper offers a comparison and contrast of racism and inter-racial marriage as seen in "Grass Dancer" by Susan Power and "Mean Spirit" by Linda Hogan.
983 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 41.95
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Abstract
The paper analyzes the racism inherent within the institution of marriage within the two novels "Grass Dancer" by Susan Power and "Mean Spirit" by Linda Hogan. The paper discusses Hogan's use of racism against Native-Americans through the marginalization of Indian culture by whites who discourage inter-racial marriages. The paper also demonstrates how Power reveals a similar aspect of the broken and racist institution of marriage through the experiences of Jeanette McVay's marriage to a Sioux man. The paper concludes that both authors provide similar, yet differing perspectives of racism within the inter-racial marriages that arise within these two Native-American fiction novels.
From the Paper
"The novel Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan reveals the intensive racism that the whites impose on the Osage people. The plot of the novel revolves around the Osage people, and their struggles against the white oil barons that are trying to remove them from their oil-rich lands. This plot premise invokes the motive for the white oilmen to find ways to discourage compassion or empathy for the native Americans within their own culture, so that they can take the oil from the Indians. One way that Hogan imposes a white hegemonic racist construct is through the institution of marriage. For instance, when a white man and Indian woman are married, Hogan reveals the symbolic and legal marginalization of interracial relationships within white culture."
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Jean-Paul Sartre's "Nausea", 2007.
This paper discuses the protagonist Roquentin and his discovery of the contingent nature of existence in Jean-Paul Sartre's novel "Nausea".
1,360 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, APA, AU$ 54.95
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Abstract
This paper relates that, in Jean-Paul Sartre's "Nausea", the protagonist Roquentin's vocation as a historian entails a process of attributing causality, plausibility, order and even predictability to certain observed events; however, throughout the novel, he comes increasingly aware of the fact that human existence is contingent, which is the very opposite. The author points out that Roquentin's realization of this contingent nature of human existence moves him to acknowledging that all of the actions of Rollebon (a character in the book whom Roquentin has spent years researching and writing about) might have been random. The paper relates that Roquentin's discovery of the contingent nature of human existence makes him re-examine everything and everyone in his life and moves him to a point where he is able to liberate himself from the nauseating awareness of absurdity and nothingness that might otherwise have paralyzed him. The paper includes many quotations from the novel.
From the Paper
"And this is precisely the existential crisis that Roquentin faces as he increasingly realizes the contingent nature of reality - he realizes that what he believes about himself and the world are merely his way of unifying his own knowledge. As such, while it may at times be comforting, it is not real. He observes other people making up such unifying stories, aware that he can no longer do this. ... Roquentin's knowledge of the contingency of human existence increasingly means that he cannot make up such comforting stories to impose rigorous order on random events."
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"Oedipus the King", 2007.
An analytical review of Sophocles' "Oedipus the King".
1,346 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 54.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how studying and analyzing the classical play "Oedipus the King" in terms of character, plot, and theme confirms that these elements are mainly presented through carefully crafted dramatic dialogue and speeches, and developed through the use of literary devices such as hamartia, hubris, and catharsis. It also examines how this type of dramatic approach enabled ancient Greek playwrights like Sophocles to stage their plays in a convincing manner while meeting the immediate challenge of entertaining their audiences.
From the Paper
"Oedipus the King also demonstrates that it is valuable to characterize by comparing and contrasting one character with another, since, like most of the complex symbolism this play, the characters are made to embody certain antithetical qualities that inevitably come into conflict. This helps develop the theme that human flaws such as ambition or daring can and often do lead to tragedy. These flaws have grievous consequences for many characters in Greek drama, who are oblivious to the fatal effect some of their intentions and actions will have. (Kirszner and Mandell1657-1699) "
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Revelations of Social Climate in Literature, 2007.
A comparison of the style used, in Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey" and Willa Cather's "My Antonia", for revealing the particular social climate of the time and place of the novels.
1,058 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the ways in which authors reveal a particular social climate of time and place in their novels. It focuses on Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey" and Willa Cather's "My Antonia." The paper focuses on a specific paragraph from each of the novels and discusses the language, narration and style in that paragraph to show how the authors reveal a great deal about the ways of life in their respective places and times.
From the Paper
"Thus we see how both Cather and Austen tell us a great deal about the ways of life in their respective places and times. They do this through direct narration, as when Austen relates the development of a friendship. They also do it through relating the thoughts and reactions of their characters, as for example when the young Jimmy admires the grandmother who stands like a bulwark between him and cold and starvation. And they also do it when they record conversations between their characters, as we learn about the times and places by the ways that the characters react to them. Finally, they may also do it via authorial intervention, as when Austen ventures to comment on the hypocrisy of her time."
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"1955", 2007.
An analysis of the capitalistic identity and racial construct of American Culture in "1955" by Alice Walker.
998 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the capitalistic identity of Alice Walker's main characters within her short story: "1955." It looks at how the lack of individual identity for Grace Mae and Traynor is based on the capitalistic perception of music as a commodity in Walker's ending narrative and not as a spiritually uplifting form of art. The paper also contends that Traynor's material success over Gracie Mae's success reveals the American capitalistic system marginalizing African-Americans beneath the white hegemony of popular music culture. In essence, the paper shows that Alice Walker's dismal ending for Gracie Mae implies a capitalistic identity within a racial construct.
From the Paper
"The short story "1955" is a direct reflection of the white American capitalistic system that uses racism to project white superiority over African Americans. Walker uses a capitalistic identity through the conflicting issues of musicality that arise with Grace Mae and Traynor, especially in the resentful narrative Grace implies at the end of the story. At the beginning of the story, Grace Mae is an aspiring African American blues singer that has developed a unique style of singing that has a very lucrative potential. When a young white singer, Traynor, discovers Mae, they begin a relationship that evolves along a capitalistic agenda."
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An Aristocratic Society, 2007.
This paper paints a portrait of the aristocratic society in "The Princess of Cleaves" by Madame De Lafayette.
969 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 41.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the aristocrats in the story "The Princess of Cleaves." The paper first describes the characteristics of male members of the aristocracy as brave, generous, gallant, honorable and respectful and then describes those of the female members of the aristocracy as respectful, modest, beautiful and virtuous. The paper discusses how, while aristocrats had money and power, they often were not happy especially when it came to marriage.
Outline:
Who Were Aristocrats in the Story of "The Princess of Cleaves"
Aristocrats Were Not Happy Though They Had Money and Power
From the Paper
"Before looking at specific details about the aristocratic families, it is important to determine who an aristocrat was. An aristocrat was determined by who his father and mother were. Did they have any royalty in their blood? An aristocrat spent his time playing games and this can be seen in the story with the Prince loving this. "As he was happily turned to excel in bodily exercises, he took a particular delight in them, such as hunting, tennis, running at the ring, and the like diversions" (de Lafayette 4). Others of nobility considered it an honor if they were requested to join the prince in these games or asked to go to a ball."
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Black Acquiescence to Injustice?, 2007.
An analysis of Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and Ralph Ellison's novel "The Invisible Man".
851 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 36.95
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Abstract
The paper explores aspects of the black experience in Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and the "Battle Royal" section of Ralph Ellison's novel "The Invisible Man". The paper discusses the authors' portrayal of a black man recognizing and responding to the slights and discrimination in American life. The paper describes how King and Ellison raise questions about how acquiescent many blacks are when faced with injustice.
From the Paper
"King wrote his letter while he was in the Birmingham city jail where he had been arrested for demonstrating for civil rights. In the letter, he writes to other clergymen who had been critical of his actions. King states in his letter that he intends to answer his critics because "I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth" (King 114). King speaks directly to the clergymen referred to in the opening of the letter, and after this he uses the pronoun "you" to assure the readers that he is speaking directly to them and to their concerns."
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Gender in "Twelfth Night", 2007.
This paper explores the issue of gender from the perspective of the character of Viola in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night".
1,657 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 63.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses Viola's presentation of gender in "Twelfth Night", which implicitly challenges the strict binary gender system that prescribes different and opposite behaviors for the two genders. The paper shows how the character of Viola stands in stark contradiction to long-standing prejudices about the weaknesses and frailty of women. The paper also points out, however, Viola remains a victim of the prejudices of her society, in that from her own perspective, she continues to see women as frail.
From the Paper
"In Twelfth Night, Viola and Sebastian are twins, but they are separated in a storm at sea. Viola adopts male garb, and the name Cesario, as a survival strategy - to enable herself to get a job working for the Duke Orsino. Thus, Violet is not explicitly making a statement about gender when she begins passing as a male - rather, she is simply making a statement about wanting to survive. However, the necessity for her to adopt this strategy does of course arise from the strict sex-based segregation of the times. Despite the fact that Viola does not intend to buck the binary-gender system in any way, she certainly seems to enjoy "being a man," and moreover, the fact that she adopts a male persona inevitably leads to gender-based complications. For example, the Countess Olivia falls in love with her, while "Cesario" falls in love with Duke Orsino, and "Cesario" is challenged to a duel by the jealous Sir Andrew. Viola's gender switch thus lays the foundation for much of the plot. However, despite being a plot device, it also makes it possible for Viola to present an alternative representation of gender."
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"Bartleby, the Scrivener", 2007.
An analysis of the story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville.
974 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 5 sources, MLA, AU$ 41.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how Herman Melville's story "Bartleby, the Scrivener", is an unusual story without a clear meaning. The paper relates that critics have tried to interpret the story in several ways, one of which would hold that the conflict with Bartleby causes his employer to undergo a spiritual change. The paper then shows that, on the contrary, an examination of the story suggests that the employer is left more puzzled than changed and that he may see something spiritual in Bartleby but not so that he himself changes.
From the Paper
"The lawyer is a man who likes things to work smoothly and who at the same time tries to greet every even with equanimity, not wanting to let things bother him. He seems to have a nice position, but in truth he has followed the usual route in life--he has compromised with his dreams. He has come to accept what he is and tries not to miss too much the heights he may have dreamed of achieving when he started. Bartleby may also be a man with failed dreams, though if he has dreams we never learn what they are. He has apparently not accepted his lot in life, however, for he seems instead to have been imprisoned by some failure so that now he merely withdraws within himself. "
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Contemporary Feminism, 2007.
An analysis of "Others in their Own Land: Second Generation South Asian Canadian Women, Racism and the Persistence of Colonial Discourse" by Angela Aujla, "Why I'm a Feminist" by Lauren Anderson, and the film "Iron Jawed Angels" by Katja Von Garnier.
1,507 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 4 sources, MLA, AU$ 59.95
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Abstract
The paper examines two articles and a film: Angela Augla's article, "Others in their Own Land: Second Generation South Asian Canadian Women, Racism and the Persistence of Colonial Discourse", Lauren Anderson's article, "Why I'm a Feminist", and the film "Iron Jawed Angels" directed by Katja Von Garnier. The paper focuses on key concepts in these texts and explains how they are significant for contemporary feminism. The paper discusses Aujla's concept of "othering", Anderson's talk of solidarity, and the film's portrayal of the many enormous challenges to solidarity among women.
From the Paper
"In her article, Aujla focuses on how racist and colonial discourses inherited from the past continue to influence dominant discourses today, and on the way in which South Asian Canadian women are still perceived by the dominant culture. These discourses function to keep South Asian Canadian women marginalized within Canadian society, and ensure that no matter how many generations of their family have lived here, they are still never truly Canadian enough, or white enough, to be part of the dominant culture and dominant discourse. They are thus permanent "others" in their own countries."
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Cybertext, 2007.
An overview of cybertext, ergodic literature and the role of the "reader".
2,298 words (approx. 9.2 pages), 11 sources, MLA, AU$ 84.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the debate over the concepts of cybertext and ergodic literature with particular reference to electronic games. The thesis is argued that the key aspect of cybertext is the reader's capacity for choice as the primary narrative determinant. As is seen, an emphasis upon this aspect causes us to understand cybertext as a narrative strategy that, while facilitated by electronic media, nonetheless transcends it. The paper also discusses how, from this perspective, cybertext may be understood as a process of engagement between individuals and texts that supports individual agency as the determinant of textual meaning and narrative progression.
Outline
Introduction
Cybertext and Ergodic Literature: The Critical Controversy
Reader's Choice and Electronic Gaming
The Value of Ergodic Literature
From the Paper
"A demonstration of how "revolutionary" such games can be may be seen in the controversy over a user-mod to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas which allowed players to access a sexually explicit cutscene that was not previously accessible. While this level was part of the code for the game, public access was clearly not intended by either the game designers or the manufacturers. In fact, the widespread public controversy over the revelation of how to access this part of the game led to the producer ceasing manufacture of the game, as well as it having to absorb an estimated US$50 million in losses (CNNMoney.com). When a game narrative facilitates player choice to such a degree that it negatively impacts the game designers themselves, we can appreciate the revolutionary nature of such cybertexts. "
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"Hairball", 2007.
An analysis of the story "Hairball" by Margaret Atwood.
801 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 34.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how, in Margaret Atwood's haunting story "Hairball," a hard-edged magazine editor realizes some important things about her life when her married boyfriend betrays her. The paper discusses how "Hairball" is the story of a woman who is learning to accept past failures, even though they appear crushing, and to move on with her life.
From the Paper
"Naming the 'tumour' Hairball is important in the accruement of meaning of this object. Hair is an important symbol in Kat's life as her work in the magazine world indicates. As well, she has shaved most of her own hair off since moving back to Toronto, in order to show how counterculture she really was. Ger, the married man whom she seduces, has a wife who Kat sees as being totally different from herself partly due to the fact that the wife's hair is so terribly old-fashioned (19)."
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Relationships between Women and Men in Literature, 2007.
A comparison of the male-female relationships in Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and Margaret Laurence's "The Loons".
1,196 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 5 sources, MLA, AU$ 48.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the portrayal of the relationships found between men and women in literature and how this portrayal is influenced by the society of the time. Specifically, the paper compares Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and Margaret Laurence's "The Loons" with the aim of fully understanding the female-male relationships in these texts.
From the Paper
"While Piquette and the narrator's father in Laurence's story do not share a connection as complex as that of the Misfit and the grandmother, nonetheless their connection is important. As Piquette confesses to the narrator when they later meet: "Your dad was the only person in Manawaka that ever done anything good to me" (Laurence 59). The narrator admits that she was repelled by the neediness and the "terrifying hope" in Piquette's relationships with men (Laurence 59). Her father saw something admirable in Piquette that was worthy of his intervention to help her and, unlike all of the other men in her life, he helped her selflessly and did not see her in common stereotypes employed by his daughter and the other townspeople (Notes). The symbol of the loon, which the father identifies and the story implies Piquette represents, reflects how the central meaning of the story lies in the complex interaction of these two characters."
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"Matilda", 2007.
A analysis of the characters, Miss Honey and Mr Wormwood, in Roald Dahl's book "Matilda".
1,341 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 54.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the characters of Roald Dahl's books and suggests that he pens characters who are either wholly good or wholly bad. The paper focuses on Dahl's book "Matilda" and compares Miss Honey, one of the good characters, with Matilda's father, Mr. Wormwood, one of the bad characters. The paper shows that both of these characters make a big difference in Matilda's life and are an indication of what Dahl considers to be good, praise-worthy adult characteristics.
From the Paper
"In conclusion, Mr. Wormwood is a dishonest, unloving man who does not notice children or understand them. Miss Honey is an honest, brave, warm and loving woman who notices children and understands them. Miss Honey seems to have many of the characteristics that Dahl considers to be important for adults, and because of this, she is a good and enriching influence in Matilda's life. She shows Matilda that good adults exist, and provides a good role model for Matilda. On the other hand, Mr. Wormwood's bad characteristics cause Matilda to rebel against evil, and so she finds her power."
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Alice Munro, 2007.
An analysis of the impact that growing up in small town had on Alice Munro's stories.
716 words (approx. 2.9 pages), 4 sources, MLA, AU$ 30.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how growing up in a small town influenced Alice Munro's stories in many important ways. It looks at how at times it disempowers her characters, at other times it motivates them so much that the town itself becomes a major factor in driving the plot. It also discusses how on a more complex level, the setting impacts the story in the sense of being a foil against which Munro can juxtapose the more bizarre elements of her stories, as her characters reflect their author's alienation from their prosaic settings.
From the Paper
"For example, Fowler points out that in Lives of Girls and Women, Del escapes the prosaic reality of the small town Jubilee in which she lives, by inventing a world based on the novels she reads, and keeps her fragmentary novel inside a copy of Wuthering Heights. We see Del facing challenges that must surely have beset Munro, such as trying to decide how her heroine can drown at the height of summer, when of course there will not be enough water in the river. Thus, the impact of the small town setting is to set up imaginative challenges for the protagonist. "
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"The Color Purple", 2007.
This paper evaluates the race, sexism, letters and sewing within "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker.
1,687 words (approx. 6.7 pages), 4 sources, MLA, AU$ 65.95
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Abstract
The paper examines the racial, sexist, letter and sewing symbolism within "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker. The paper analyzes how Walker treats the issues of slavery and patriarchal male constructs in the novel and thus defines the female African-American experience.
From the Paper
"The sexism within The Color Purple is controlled through a patriarchal racist institution of slavery. In one example in the novel, slave women had no rights to their children after birth. Nettie is a woman that has given birth to children, but plantation owners took their children after birth to sell into slavery. The issue of male dominance plays a major role in how women are perceived, especially as servants to the male populations on the plantation and within society. Although it might be easy to perceive the anger in Netti or Celie's voice in the novel, one really sees a women trying to stay alive and find people with love in their hearts."
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