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Folklore as Narrative Genre, 2008.
A discussion of folklore as a viable narrative genre of myths, legends and fables.
1,280 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 4 sources, MLA, AU$ 62.95
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Abstract
This paper takes a look at folklore, a body of tales of the common populace or 'folk'. It challenges the idea that modern society does not have a corpus folklore anymore, and that contemporary listeners have moved on from such superstitious ways of looking at the world. It argues that modern society still contains its own myths, legends, and fables, even though these tales may not always be called 'folklore.' The paper concludes that folklore remains part of our culture, and most cultures, because narrative is such an effective means of teaching lessons, and passing on commonly received wisdom and teachings.
From the Paper
"Fables thus reaffirm common cultural lessons, as legends affirm common cultural vales and myths create a sense of a common national or group purpose. Although animal tales may have declined in popularity as teaching stories, there remain many fables that are told and retold to children and adults alike, over the dinner table. Quite literally, the fable that children are often told, that their parents had it 'so much harder' and that they had to walk 'miles through the snow to get to school' is never literally believed or taken seriously, like the myth of Columbus or even the Kentucky Fried Rat. But the tale is meant half-seriously, in hopes that children will appreciate the moral, that they should honor the sacrifices of their elders in deference to what their elders have suffered on their accord, so the next generation can enjoy a better life."
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Symbolism in "The Metamorphosis", 2008.
A discussion of symbolism in "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka.
734 words (approx. 2.9 pages), 1 source, APA, AU$ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes how symbolism is used in Franz Kafka's short story "The Metamorphosis". The paper asserts that metaphors are used throughout the story to illustrate the lack of communication among the members of a middle class family. It points out that one overarching symbol, the protagonist's metamorphosis into a giant insect, symbolizes alienation from his parents and sister, who refuse to consider him a member of the family. The paper also maintains that the door is another important metaphor in the story. It concludes that Kafka uses these symbols as tools for expressing feelings of anxiety, isolation and depression.
From the Paper
"Nonetheless, the metaphor of the bug can also be interpreted from a different perspective. Gregor's transformation could in fact be strictly spiritual in the sense that his physical shape might not change. His deadening job and demanding family could be the factors leading to his inner metamorphosis as one can lead the life of a bug without actually being one. We see Gregor with his family's eyes. He does not need to actually transform as his family already sees him as a bug. Communication is scarce; so is emotional connection between Gregor and his parents and sister who regard him as a mere source of income, and not as a human being. Kafka's central metaphor is thus two-sided in the sense that on one hand, Gregor could actually turn into a bug; on the other hand, he might just be made to feel like one by his family and job. This ambiguity is launched in the very beginning of the story by the narrator's words: "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect"."
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"Bartleby the Scrivener", 2008.
An analysis of the de-development of Bartleby as a character in Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener".
1,141 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 3 sources, MLA, AU$ 57.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how within Herman Melville's work, "Bartleby the Scrivener", there is a sense that the development of the romantic or transcendental hero is seen in the de-development of Bartleby as a character. It examines how, as Bartleby deconstructs his role, at first by refusing to do anything but copy manuscripts and then flatly refusing to copy and leave the premises, which he has recently been discovered to be living in.
From the Paper
"The employer sees that between he and Bartleby there are similarities and yet that he and Bartleby are also infinitely disconnected from each other, a complete mystery to one another as he soul of one was rejecting of life, and industry and the soul of the employer was embracing such. The employer then goes on to describe how, amongst the civilities and niceties of the visual world, hiding in dark places, there is true human misery, and Bartleby's soul is an example of just such a place of darkness."
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Children's Literature, 2008.
This paper looks at child characters acting as adults in literature, focusing on 'The Ozma of Oz' by Frank Baum and 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll.
1,715 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 80.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that there are many examples in children's literature where child characters act as adults. The writer points out that the characterizations of Alice in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' as well as Dorothy in 'Ozma of Oz are excellent examples of the phenomena in literature. The writer also points out that the reality of the phenomena is that, for the most part children's literature is created by adults, and these same adults, as children wish they had been able to act as adults, upon the arbitrary world of adults. The main characters in these two works demonstrate this phenomenon by calmly dealing with the world around them as if they had years of adult conflicts under their belt, as the desire to be recognized as having power, as a child demonstrates a desire to emulate adults and therefore resolve the arbitrary conflicts that occur in the adult world. The writer concludes that part of the the purpose of the writer is to recount the innocence of a child, and still manage to fulfill one's obligations as an adult. The writer maintains that the children in these two fantastic stories are reflecting the need to remember the fantasy of childhood as well as the obligations of adulthood, without losing either.
From the Paper
"The resolution to resolve the arbitrary conflicts of adults, in the magical world of mystery, as well as in the real world are clear intentions of personal growth. To act as an adult, and to have the influence of an adult, is the aspiration of all children, especially in a world where such actions are recognized as brave and necessary. Adults who write works of fiction for children, remember their own days as children, being unable to navigate the mysteries of the adult world and wishing more than anything to have influence over them. The reflection of the desire, as a child to understand and resolve the mystery of the adult world is reflected in fantasy. Childhood is a period of clarity and innocence, that writers of children's works wish to retell to children of the younger generations. There is no sense of real childhood fear, as the innocence of a child drives his or her clarity in the world of adults, no matter the level of mystery. The idea of personal growth and influence, drives the child's actions, and the child seeks this recognition in the real as well as the world of imagination. Upon waking, Alice's sister, now an adult recognizes in Alice's recalled dream the nature of children and the need to remain innocent."
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Richard III vs. Much Ado About Nothing, 2008.
This paper compares and contrasts two of William Shakespeare's plays, "Richard III" and "Much Ado About Nothing".
2,300 words (approx. 9.2 pages), 2 sources, APA, AU$ 101.95
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Abstract
This paper basis it's premise on the fact that at the center of Shakespeare's plays there exists a current of darkness, a cynicism about government, people and love, and a willingness to poke the eye, if only gently, of the establishment. Using this premise, the author discusses "Much Ado About Nothing", which highlights the foibles of the human heart, and "Richard III", which showcases the nature of corruption and power in the hands of the evil. The author asserts that while on the surface, these two plays could not be compared or even contrasted, at the thematic level, there exists a level of anxiety about female sexuality, of the supremacy of man over God in terms of destiny, of moral examples of how power wielded badly can result in truly horrific consequences, and a fear that if we simply accept the rule of others, then we too would be corrupted with power. Furthermore the author states that in both of these works, Shakespeare sends the message that women are of equal significance and power to men; that people control their own destinies, can either be a power for good or for evil and that loyalty to friends and family supercedes all other fealties.
From the Paper
"Elizabeth is absolutely power-hungry. She is as corrupt and fickle as Richard's assessment of women. She is his equal in this manner. She is just as capable of manipulating her as he is of taking the dominant position - though he has usurped his brother's title, he proves his weakness is ultimately his desire to be truly loved for himself and not the power he wields. Where Shakespeare took this theme up to a positive resolution in Much Ado About Nothing, in giving both Benedick and Beatrice a satisfactory joining upon their mutual realization of respect and love, he showed the opposite side in Richard III. The power of the feminine sexuality proved to be Richard's undoing, his eventual collapse came because he could not absolutely dominate Elizabeth and Anne, to use young Elizabeth, and to manage the nation that is now his. The failure, of Richard, is in his absolutely corrupt nature. He is incapable of love and because of this, he approaches women in an awkward and rather juvenile way. He cannot actually succeed in love because he can never come to the kind of realization of mutual respect that Benedick and Beatrice did. So, in his brand of fear of feminine power, Richard is unable to escape from his own foibles. But, both Benedick and Richard express their fear of the power of women in the relatively same way - they attempt to dominate women with whatever their natural or coarsely gained power may be."
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Native-American Literature and Race Relations, 2008.
This paper discusses a number of Native-American short stories relating to the themes of culture, dignity and self-respect.
1,180 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 2 sources, APA, AU$ 58.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the themes of culture, dignity and self-respect in Native-American short stories. "Borders" by Thomas King, for example, is a short story about a mother and a boy who belong to the Blackfoot tribe living on a Canadian reservation. The story is told from the boy's perspective and is a remembrance of an experience he and his mother endured while trying to cross the border between Canada and the United States. Other stories analyzed within this paper include "How to Write the Great American Indian Novel" by Sherman Alexie, "Captivity" by Lousie Erdrich, "Captivity" by Lousie Erdrich and "Indian Boarding School: The Runaways" by Lousie Erdrich.
From the Paper
"To analyze 'How to Write the Great American Indian Novel' by Sherman Alexie, it is important to understand the term 'horse culture' because it is a metaphor mentioned throughout the piece time and time again. The term horse culture is metaphorically used to sarcastically imply a superior culture--stronger, braver, more prosperous, and more beautiful.
"The term 'half-breed' is also used over and over again. The author mentions that the hero should be a half-breed--half white, and half Indian. This implies that being half white makes the Native American look less ethic, more commercially appealing, more acceptable as a human being to the dominant white culture. The author further brings this message home by saying that the Indian woman '...should be compared to nature: brown hills, mountains, fertile valleys, dewy grass, wind, and clear water.' Here he is trying to emphasize a Caucasian commercialized perception of a beautiful Native American woman--something from Disney's Pocahontas--not a real woman."
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The Muse in Homer's "Odyssey", 2008.
An analysis of the role of the muse on the storytelling of Homer's "Odyssey."
712 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 37.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the role and the importance of the muse in Homer's "Odyssey." It discusses the importance of the muse on storytelling in general and how the narrator of "Odyssey" invokes the muse for further storytelling support. The paper describes the impact that the muse has on any of the characters in Homer's "Odyssey."
From the Paper
"Before Odysseus is introduced, the narrator invokes the Muse to ask for her assistance in retelling Odysseus' adventures. The Muse therefore has the most noticeable impact on the narrator of the story. In the first book, the narrator suggests that Odysseus' story belongs not to him but to the Muses. The Muse receives her information not as humans do through the five senses but from some mysterious source: as if from the divine database of human affairs. The narrator simply serves as a channel for the Muse's wisdom and the medium through which it is transmitted. Therefore, the Muse is what makes Odysseus' story timeless. If the narrator must invoke the Muse before telling the story, Homer suggests that the story is in fact timeless and immortal like the gods. The Muse helps humans to tell and retell stories like Homer's to learn meaningful moral lessons. She gave "both good and evil" to Demodocus too, indicating that the Muse is a neutral spiritual force."
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Ernest Gaines' "A Lesson before Dying", 2008.
A summary and analysis of Ernest J. Gaines' novel, "A Lesson before Dying".
1,022 words (approx. 4.1 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 52.95
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Abstract
This paper summarizes and analyzes Ernest J. Gaines' novel about a black man unjustly sentenced to death because the legal system of the Jim Crow South is so prejudiced the white jurors selected to judge him cannot see the truth. The paper relates that the story begins in a world where there has been a profound breakdown of all communication systems but by the end of the novel the two main protagonists are able to communicate by finding common ground and points of connection and, as a result, have changed within. The paper concludes that, although society has not changed by the end of the novel and the transformation experienced by the main characters is not enough to heal the world, the message of the story is still positive and inspiring enough for the reader to keep in his or her mind, long after closing the book.
From the Paper
"Even though Grant does not consider himself a believer, culturally the two men also share a common childhood education in religion, which they have begun to doubt or reject. Jefferson has to ask Grant if Christmas marks the birth of Jesus, during one of their first conversations. At the beginning of the novel, Grant rejects Christianity as a white invention. But by the end of the novel, he asks his students to pray on the day when Jefferson is scheduled to die. The unjust death of Jesus becomes a metaphor for both men, of the wrongful death of Jefferson and the suffering of all black men and women. Grant becomes impressed by the strong faith of the religious people of the nation, such as the Reverend Ambrose. He gradually becomes impressed by how the black men and women of his community are able to keep their faith, even when they live in a world of injustice. Christmas is a palpable presence in the novel, as Grant feels loneliest during Christmas. Jefferson dies around Easter-time. The Christian calendar underlines the similarities between the two men, and their common, eventually shared faith. Over the course of the novel, the men discover as they have more and more in common, even in small aspects of their lives and childhood. The two men used to listen to the same radio program as children, and Grant gives Jefferson a radio to connect him to positive memories, and to a sense of his culture outside of the prison. He brings gifts from his students, and also a pencil and paper, to give Jefferson the dignity of being able to express his innermost feelings. Jefferson feels like a beast, but self-expression brings back his sense of humanity. Words and writing have always been very important to Grant, and the come to be equally important to Jefferson."
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Bram Stoker's "Dracula", 2008.
An anlysis of the role of science in Bram Stoker's "Dracula".
1,505 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 71.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Bram Stoker wrote "Dracula"in 1897 during the Industrial Revolution. For the first time in history, people were seeing how science and technology could change their lives and society, for better and for worse. The writer points out that superstition and fear of science continued well into the early 1900s. The writer then describes how each of the main characters in "Dracula" believes in the scientific rationality, yet ends up combining both science and superstition to succeed against the evil of Dracula.
From the Paper
"When Lucy dies, Van Helsing's use of the superstitions are magnified and even Seward does not understand why these actions are being taken. Van Helsing places garlic all around the room and Lucy's coffin and places the crucifix over her mouth. He then completely surprises Seward by asking if he can cut off her head, take out her heart, and stuff her mouth with garlic. Naturally, Seward is upset about this mutilation, but Van Helsing reminds him that "there are strange and terrible days before us.""
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American Ethnic Literature, 2008.
Looks at what is meant by the genre of American ethnic literature.
1,295 words (approx. 5.2 pages), 2 sources, APA, AU$ 62.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that ethnic authors use their personal experiences to illustrate the troubles and discrimination they have faced in an attempt to gain the understanding of readers and to perhaps change some long-held ideals and falsehoods. The paper then points out that American ethnic literature is a strong and vital part of American literature. The paper uses the writings of prize-wining African-American women to exemplify American ethnic literature: Poet Gwendolyn Brooks (Pulitzer Prize for Poetry), Alice Walker (Pulitzer Prize) and Toni Morrison (Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize).
From the Paper
"Another perspective all ethnic literatures seem to share are their views of traditional American values, such as equality and freedom, and that is not surprising. Ethnic writers, like anyone else, desire those values, but it is difficult to support them traditionally when they are not applied to your race or circumstances, and much of their writing reflects that. Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" is an excellent example of these values, and how they are missing in many ethnic lives. She writes, "I never had an education myself. After second grade the school was closed down.""
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Don DeLillo's "White Noise", 2008.
Looks at simulated reality in Don DeLillo's "White Noise".
1,865 words (approx. 7.5 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 86.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the SIMUVAC (Simulated Evacuation) episode in Don DeLillo's novel "White Noise" serves as a pivotal turning point in the narrative. The writer then points out that much of the rest of the narrative is haunted by the main protagonist's (Jack) obsession with his own impending mortality. The paper also investigates the concepts of reality and simulation in real life and concludes that the ultimate significance of the SIMUVAC episode in "White Noise" is that it effects the transformation of death from an abstract sphere to something that is very real in Jack's perceptive field.
From the Paper
"This episode confirms Baudrillard's characterization of the mass media's deceptive role. While the media generates a strong desire in the masses for knowing the absolute truth, of attaining total objectivity in relation to information, it is actually the "truer than true which counts or, in other words, the fact of being there without being there. Or, to put it yet another way, the fantasy." The tabloid media can be thought of as an extreme representation of this desire for a truth that goes beyond truth, until it ultimately satisfies our hidden desire for escape from reality - i.e. fantasy."
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Robert Frost's "Mending Wall", 2008.
Explores the meaning of Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall".
1,225 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 8 sources, MLA, AU$ 60.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, although Robert Frost wrote "Mending Wall" in 1915, nearly a century ago, his thoughts about walls are truer today than ever because, increasingly, people want their space. The writer then examines reasons, based on this poem, why walls do or do not make good neighbors. The writer also relates that it is possible to find images of change in Frost's poem that relate to the transition of the village, which cradles unity, and the plebeian democracy, which meant so much to him.
From the Paper
"Ward looks at this poem from a different perspective. Perhaps Frost is saying something else than what is thought. He explains that many readers still see this poem as an argument against walls, literal or metaphorical. To such people, walls are "the divisive creations of selfish or shortsighted men who erect barriers to keep other people away." If people could do away with walls, these critics say, it would bring about a deeper sense of community among neighbors, society and nations. However, notes Ward, other readers find something different in "Mending Wall"."
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Analysis of "The Yellow Wallpaper", 2008.
This paper provides an analysis of the work "The Yellow Wallpaper" by C.P. Gilman.
1,344 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 4 sources, APA, AU$ 65.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer introduces and analyzes the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Specifically, the writer critically analyzes the literary elements of the story along with women's concerns specific to the period when the story was written in 1891. The writer notes that Gilman's story is the tragic tale of a woman's descent into madness at the hands of the men in her life, specifically her doctor and her husband, who control her every movement until she goes mad. The writer points out that women at the turn of the 20th century had very little say in their own lives, and were usually at the mercy of their husbands for their living conditions, relationships, and even taking care of their own family, just as the woman in the story is. The writer discusses that women were beginning to stand up for themselves and demand better treatment, and many critics feel Gilman's work is one of the classic feminist works of all time, and especially of the period.
From the Paper
"Finally, the symbolism of the wallpaper in the story adds to the tense atmosphere that clearly exists between the narrator and her husband. The wallpaper is a very real symbol of the societal issues that keep them apart. The narrator begins to fear her husband, and even hate him a little, and she begins to hide things from him that she knows he would not approve of or condone. The wallpaper is the visual symbol of the barrier that exists between them because of the mores and beliefs of a society that devalues women instead of empowering them, and that is another reason this is such a disturbing story.
"Interestingly, the wallpaper itself, which becomes almost a character in itself in the story, was beginning to go out of fashion at the time Gilman wrote this story."
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"Black Cat", "Tell-Tale Heart", 2008.
An analysis of the stories "Black Cat" and "Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe.
1,334 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 8 sources, MLA, AU$ 64.95
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Abstract
The paper is an analysis of two short stories by Edgar Allan Poe: "The Black Cat" and "The Tell-Tale Heart". More specifically, the paper discusses various psychological, religious, and literary analyses of the stories. The paper concludes that, over a century later, literary scholars are still trying to decipher the meaning of these stories.
From the Paper
"Over the century, numerous literary scholars have tried to decipher "The Black Cat's narrator's state of mind and why he acts as he does. Critics have offered many varied suggestions for his behavior from vanity to trauma from childhood memories regarding effeminate qualities (Piacentino) Stark (255) notes that the protagonist's "baiting language" has encouraged a number of theories on the story's "natural causes and effects," especially with psychological examinations of the narrator and author. No sufficient clear cause for murdering the cat may be found in the text. In other words, adds Stark, by describing a murder that is impossible to sufficiently explain, Poe placed before the world existing controversies in both "scientific and religious thought and ironically upheld the mysterious nature of the human will in a time dominated by intellectual rationalism"
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Literature and Social Reality, 2008.
This paper discusses the social reality of Native American assimilation through the works of Helen Hunt Jackson, Mark Twain, and Walt Whitman.
1,900 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 7 sources, APA, AU$ 87.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at how literature mirrors the social and psychological nuances of the culture of which it is a part. Fiction that bases itself in reality can often be unrealistic in its portrayals, local color can be exaggerated to prove a point or simply to entertain. After the Civil War, the assimilation period of Native Americans was one filled with turmoil and tragedy for this people. This paper discusses how writers of this period would often sympathetically take up their plight or ruthlessly portray them as dangerous and evil characters in their works. Some mixed the two and made social commentary without perhaps even realizing it. The paper also assesses the Age of Realism in American literature with its interwoven romanticism. The paper asserts that this conflict between the two styles also mirrors the conflict between the Native American's natural world and the oncoming civilization's world of reason. The three writer's analyzed within this paper are, Helen Hunt Jackson, Mark Twain, and Walt Whitman.
From the Paper
"Another version for Twain, and one that has some interesting social relevance, is the character of Injun Joe in Tom Sawyer. Also portrayed as evil and despicable, Injun Joe, however, is a 'half-breed' and in some sense this mixing of the two races together has an even more disastrous effects in the creation of an immoral and deadly spawn. 'Say, Huck, I know another o' them voices; it's Injun Joe.' 'That's so -- that murderin' half - breed! I'd druther they was devils a dern sight. What kin they be up to?' (Twain, 1920, p. 84). Was this Twain's intention? Perhaps not but the message is clear that these two races cannot at any level mix together. Here we have the darker side of both realism and romanticism. Certainly there were many conflagrations between Whites and Native Americans both in the early pioneering history and in the Post-Civil war period. Twain seems fixed on portraying the negative in the Native American and siding on the part of the government's imposed innate right of eminent domain upon the Native American's land. He mirrors the comments from a court decision, the United States v. Luccero in1869 as is seen in this excerpt:
"The idea that a handful of wild, half-naked, thieving, plundering, murdering savages should be dignified with the sovereign attributes of nations, enter into solemn treaties and claim a country...as theirs in fee simple, because they hunted buffalo and antelope over it might do for beautiful reading in Cooper's novels or Longfellow Hiawatha, but is unsuited to the intelligence and justice of this age, or the natural rights of mankind. (McQuade, Atwan, Banta, Kaplan, Minter, Stepto, Tichi, & Vendler, 1999, p1322).'"
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"First They Killed My Father" by Loung Ung, 2008.
A review of the book "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung.
1,022 words (approx. 4.1 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 52.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the book "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung. The paper contains an argumentative analysis of the book, including style and structure. The paper then looks at the quote from her father: "The first victims are always the children" (Ung 66), and Ung's book backs up this quote by showing how the children of the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime were victims of violence, mental manipulation, and physical punishment as part of their treatment by the regime. The paper also points out that Ung uses fear throughout the book to build tension and create fear in the reader.
From the Paper
"In the beginning of the book, it is clear Ung's family is well off. They eat out often in restaurants, they own three cars, and they have a maid in their large apartment. Ung's father works for the government, however, and when Pol Pot takes over the country and brings communism to the country, her father is a prime target for removal, and the family leaves their home with little else but the clothes on their backs. As the author movingly notes, "Yesterday I was playing hopscotch with my friends. Today we are running from soldiers with guns" (Ung 27)."
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