Today's Date:
July 04, 2025
Identity, Race, and Disguise in “Puddn’head Wilson” by Mark Twain
Throughout Twain’s “Puddn’head Wilson” disguises are employed not only in the literal sense, but also in a more slippery rhetorical manner. These numerous instances of concealed or confused identity function on the level of narrative and plot certainly, but more →
Gothic Qualities in the Works of Poe
What makes the work of Poe gothic? Gothic fiction, particularly that written by Edgar Allan Poe has a number of common themes, motifs and structures that make his work easily recognizable and more importantly, fits his stories into the classification →
Comparison of “MS Found in a Bottle” and “A Descent into the Maelstrom” by Edgar Allan Poe : The Role of Nature
In Poe’s tales, “MS Found in a Bottle” and “A Descent into the Maelstrom” the role and power of nature is greatly underestimated, even though throughout each story it is the signal for potent supernatural events that occur in lives →
Pamela Or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson: The Role of Appearances
In the novel “Pamela Or Virtue Rewarded” by Samuel Richardson, Pamela plays the part of the poor martyr and uses her clothing to incite pity from those of a higher class than her. As this essay on “Pamela Or Virtue →
Narrative Strategy and the Construction of “Otherness” in Oroonoko by Aphra Behn
One of the key themes present throughout Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko is “otherness” based solely on the concept of racial identity. In the course of presenting the tale of the “noble slave,” this theme is highlighted through distinct narrative techniques as opposed to →
The Theme of Revenge in Medea and The Odyssey
Crime, punishment, and revenge are central themes in both Medea, the Greek play by Euripides and “The Odyssey” by Homer. When comparing “The Odyssey” to “Medea” there are significant plot differences between the two ancient texts, much of the action →
Hospitality in The Odyssey and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
In both “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and “The Odyssey” by Homer, hospitality one of the vital social customs that allows for open communication in a non-threatening manner that offers established patterns of behavior and norms. In both cultures →
The Significance of Land in “O! Pioneers” by Willa Cather
In Willa Cather’s “O! Pioneers” the setting itself melds into a quiet but omnipotent and omniscient main character alongside other central characters such as Alexandra, her brothers, and her neighbors. The land is not just the backdrop for the action, →
Short Analysis and Summary of “Neighbors” by Raymond Carver
The short story “Neighbors” by Raymond Carver has a plot that follows the exploits of Bill and Arlene Miller who are left to take care of the Stone’s apartment. The plot is chronological and despite a few memories of the →
Multicultural Writers and the Quest for Identity
American literature written by authors from different backgrounds than the standard white majority often revolves around the difficult struggle to solidify and define identity. Writers such as Amy Tan, Anna Raya, and Langston Hughes continually explore how complex the search for identity →
