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Identity and Myth in "The Odyssey", 2008.
An exploration of the problem of identity and the role of mythology in Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey."
2,967 words (approx. 11.9 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 87.95
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Abstract
This paper explores selected themes in Homer's Odyssey. The writer analyzes the use of disguise in the story to conceal identity, and how Penelope finally identifies Odysseus as her husband in spite of his disguise. The writer examines the role of Athena, who also changes her identity repeatedly, as the mythical power behind Odysseus, and the one who transforms him into an old beggar before his return to Ithaca. The writer discusses the paradoxes that arise from concealing and from changing identities in the story, and concludes that, whether disguised or not, Odysseus is always a powerful presence throughout the story.
Outline
ONE: Among the Most Important Scenes in The Odyssey: Penelope and Odysseus
TWO: Theories of Myth and The Odyssey
THREE: Ways in Which Identity is an Important Theme in The Odyssey
From the Paper
"This story has within it a lot of imagery and straightforward references about the identity of people, and their changing identities affect the theme of the story. Homer is writing about characters and their identity all though the story; some characters change their identity, some even hide their identity, and it seems as if the symbol of those confusing changes of identity comes down to the poet looking at a common human problem."
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The Benefits and Dangers of Solitude, 2008.
This paper analyzes the experience of solitary confinement in May Sarton's "Journal of a Solitude" and "The Rewards of Living a Solitary Life" and in the 2000 film "Castaway," directed by Robert Zemeckis.
1,319 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper explores how solitary confinement proves a challenge to the author and poet May Sarton, as well as the protagonist Chuck Noland of "Castaway," the 2000 film based upon the real-life experiences of a FedEx employee tragically stranded on a desert island. The paper examines the profoundly different responses of the two characters to solitude. The paper explains that Noland is a man trapped against his will on an island with only a volleyball, while Sarton has recourse to friends and simply chooses to live alone, in relatively comfortable circumstances.
From the Paper
"Both works suggest that human beings are fundamentally social animals to some degree, and need companionship as a way of remaining mentally stable, emotionally centered, and sane. However, because Sarton's solitude is occasionally broken with some visits from other people, it does not have the soul-destroying character that Noland's solitude has. Because Sarton's solitude is chosen, she can take delight in the spiritual rewards provided by a life apart from the hustle, bustle, and time constraints of the rest of the social world. And perhaps most importantly of all, even though Hanks learns a great deal during his time on the island, because Sarton embarked upon her solitary life with a purpose, to pursue a fruitful writing career and to avoid the distractions of too much society, she enjoys her time alone"
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Conflict in "Antigone", 2008.
An analysis of the main thematic conflict in the drama "Antigone" by Sophocles.
1,379 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 46.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the main thematic conflict in the tragic drama "Antigone". Specifically, the paper relates that the main thematic conflict in "Antigone" is Antigone's rebellion against authority and law. The paper then looks at how Creon represents the power of the state, while Antigone represents the individual. The paper explains how the conflict is resolved in a tragic way; Creon loses some of his pride while Antigone loses her life.
From the Paper
"Early in the play, it becomes clear that Antigone is not afraid of the power of Creon or the state. She believes the laws are unfair, and she is not afraid to stand up against them and challenge Creon and his power. She believes the gods are the only ones who can truly make the laws, and this sets up the conflict between Antigone and Creon that lasts through the entire play. She says, "Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (Sophocles 1304), and she truly believes this, which is why this tragic conflict continues. She loves her brother enough to sacrifice herself to make sure he is properly buried and she will not let the laws of a powerful king stand in her way."
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The Stranger Beside Me, 2008.
An analysis of a serial killer as described in the book "The Stranger Beside Me'' by Ann Rule.
1,326 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the character of a serial killer. Referring to the book "The Stranger Beside Me'' by Ann Rule, the paper discusses how the character Ted Bundy fits the archetypal profile of a serial killer. The paper discusses his psychopathic behavior which is rooted in a combination of reasons as discussed by the paper.
From the Paper
"Indeed, Bundy had a standard modus operandi that he employed that law enforcement caught on to very quickly in the investigation. This involved the usage of crutches or a cast, to give his victims the idea that he was injured and elicit sympathy. He would ask them for help in carrying something, at which point he would lead them to his car, which would typically be parked in an isolated area, and hit them on the head with some sort of object and drive off with them in his possession. This modus operandi did not work every time, as Rule notes in her book (71). But it was likely this trick that led to the disappearance of Georgeann Hawkins, among others. "
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Censorship in "Beauty and the Beast", 2008.
A comparison of censorship in "Beauty and the Beast" in one of the original versions by Jeanne Marie Le Prince de Beaumont and a modern re-telling by Angela Carter, entitled "The Tiger's Bride."
1,118 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses censorship within the fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast." It compares two versions of "Beauty and the Beast" - one of the original versions by Jeanne Marie Le Prince de Beaumont and a modern re-telling by Angela Carter, entitled "The Tiger's Bride." The paper examines the function of sexual desire and how censorship is employed to either dilute or completely erase representations thereof.
From the Paper
"It is also interesting to note the difference between the depictions of Beauty in the two stories. In de Beaumont's story, Beauty exudes all the quintessentially feminine "virtues" that would go unchallenged for several centuries. She is devoted to her father, submissive to the demands of the two men in her life - namely, her father and the Beast, and completely passive. In Carter's story, Beauty is anything but passive. Rather than "taming" the Beast by submitting to him, she allows herself to be transformed into a beast, and can thus become one with all the typically "masculine" qualities assigned to the creature.
"One important difference between the two stories, however, is that de Beaumont's was written for an audience of children, while Carter's clearly was not. This is also why sexual desire is largely absent from de Beaumont's text. It has not been censored necessarily in order to protect children, but for the simple reason that this form of desire is too complex for children to understand. It thus reduces the relationships among adults to caricature-like renderings, to a polite code that can nevertheless be unscrambled by more mature readers."
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Machu Picchu, 2008.
This paper studies Pablo Neruda's poem "The Heights of Machu Picchu".
845 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 30.95
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Abstract
In this essay, the writer notes that Pablo Neruda's famous work, 'The Heights of Macchu Picchu' is a large poem, divided into twelve sections. The writer discusses that the text depicts a symbolic vertical journey to "the heights of Machu Picchu", a world of rarefied air and steps of stone which sends the traveler back to the origins of human civilization. The writer points out that the poem recounts the poet's own traveling experience to the ancient and mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu. Overall, the writer maintains that the text is an attempt to speak the true language of South America and deliver its message to the world.
From the Paper
"Significantly, the poem is made up of a series of surrealistic images which describe a symbolic cycle of death and resurrection. One of the recurrent images throughout the poem is that of the cutting air which can be inhaled at the dizzying heights of the Machu Picchu summit. Interestingly, although the air is actually invisible, it is nevertheless among the most telling images of the poem. Neruda manages thus to bring to light the powerful image of Machu Picchu's stone body precisely by depicting the mountain as a sacred dome made up of rocks and air. In the poem, the mountain air acquires thus a symbolic power. Instead of a feeling of emptiness, the air actually provides the reader with a strong impression of the giddy heights. It is through this composite imager of stone and air that the poet manages to convey the sublime sensation of the spiraling steps, as a suspended ladder that takes the traveler to another world. "
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Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion, 2008.
This paper reviews the book "The Fire of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion" by Stephen B. Oates.
1,365 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that Nat Turner lead the largest and one of the most successful slave rebellions in American history in 1831, long before the American Civil War took place. However, the writer points out that most of the other facts about Turner's life remain elusive in the eyes of writers and historians alike. The writer discusses that to flesh out the myths and legends surrounding Turner's complicated theology, rebellion, and psychology, 19th century American historian Stephen Oates attempts to provide a speculative history as to the context of the plantation life in which Turner was reared as a slave. The writer looks at how Turner came to view himself as a prophetic figure and lead the fierce rebellion of the title. The writer notes that Oates suggests that Turner was both an extraordinary figure, a man whose rebellion changed the South, but also an ordinary man, who showed amazing courage, intelligence, and brutality in the face of history.
From the Paper
"In his book, Oates portrays slavery and the slave community as a totally enclosing institution, with heavy white control upon slave mobility, intellectually and geographically. This partially explains why more blacks did not rebel with Turner, he surmises. He also examines the empowering nature of slave religion, which originated as an instrument of white control upon slaves, but which also acted as a tool of empowerment for some slaves like Turner, who believed that his visions gave him prophetic status and the right to free his people. Religion and Christianity was a double-edged sword for slaves, preaching meekness when transmitted in the voices of slave-owners, but also a gospel of judgment, where the mighty would be brought low by the oppressed, in the name of justice."
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"A Raisin in the Sun", 2008.
This paper analyzes the protagonist in the play "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry.
1,012 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The paper describes the Younger family who, although they each have different goals, dreams and ambitions, ultimately work together as one character to achieve the dream of home ownership. The paper shows how the author uses the entire family as a type of larger-than-life protagonist, indicating it takes more than one family member to fight the white "system" and attain the dreams of the entire family.
From the Paper
"At the beginning of this emotional play, all the Younger family characters are introduced in the first act. At first glance, it would not seem as if the playwright had the idea of altering the traditional protagonist role to include the entire family. Each member of the family seems to have a different agenda at the start of the action. Walter wants to buy a liquor store, Mama wants to buy a house, Ruth is afraid to bring another child into the world, and Beneatha wants to go to medical school. In the 1950s, when they play is set, all of these are lofty goals, especially for a struggling black family living on the South Side of Chicago."
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Ancient Roman Literature, 2008.
A discussion of the worth of Roman literature and a comparison of the meter and themes of Roman literature to Greek literature.
851 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 30.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the value of the works of the great Roman poets and prose authors. The paper specifically discusses how Roman literature and poetry is criticized because it lacks originality, being greatly indebted to the Greek texts. It describes the meter and themes of Roman literature and discusses how these, and even the mere details, are most of the times only imitations of the Greek writings.
From the Paper
"Thus, Roman art can be characterized by the lack of spontaneity and speculative power. The Romans were a logical and practical people, usually engaged in political affairs or warfare. The greatest conquerors of the antiquity, the Romans were also the greatest civilizing power. Their systematic and disciplined spirit laid the foundations of the Western civilization. As it is obvious from the lyric, dramatic and epical works of the Roman writers, they Roman people was certainly not inclined to philosophy as the Greeks had been. Indeed, the only writer who can be said to have contributed meaningfully to the realm of antique philosophy is the multidimensional Cicero, who is the only Roman methodological philosopher: "Philosophy was not a natural growth at Rome: indeed, it was regarded by the average Roman with definite mistrust, and we hear that philosophers were banished from the city in 161 B. C....The Roman, essentially a man of action engaged in the practical business of war or politics, was not given to pausing on his way to reflect deeply on the nature of the world or the ultimate meaning of human life."(Bailey, 183) The Romans were thus less preoccupied with the ultimate meaning of the universe and of life, as the Greeks were, but rather with the world of action and human behavior. Usually associated with imitation rather than creation, Roman art had nevertheless its own force precisely through its absolute conformity to classicism."
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"Pocho" by Jose Antonio Villarreal, 2008.
A review of Jose Antonio Villarreal's novel "Pocho" that details the painful process of assimilation of new immigrants into America.
953 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 33.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the 1959 novel "Pocho" by Jose Antonio Villarreal that shows the political as well as the economic reasons for Mexican-American difficulties with assimilating into American society. The paper explores how the immigrant son, Richard, experiences the classical American identity crisis that particularly afflicts recent immigrants and members of races deemed to be 'minorities.' The paper posits that Pocho is perhaps most useful to us today as an example of how far America has come, in terms of racial and cultural understanding. The paper adds that this novel also acts as a reminder of how second generation immigrants will have a different relationship with their home nation than their parents, often causing inter-family tensions.
Outline:
Overview
Reaction
Applications to Cross-Cultural Psychology
From the Paper
"The 1959 novel Pocho by Jose Antonio Villarreal is a quintessentially American novel in the ways that it details the often painful process of assimilation of a new immigrant group into America. Pocho details the migration of the Rubio family heading north from Mexico after the Mexican Revolution. It portrays the family as leaving Mexico as part of a general migration pattern, typical of previous generations of American immigrants. The Rubio family "came on--insensitive to the fact that even though they were not stopped, they were not really wanted. It was the ancient quest for El Dorado, and so they moved onward, west to New Mexico and Arizona and California, and as they moved, they planted their new seed" (Villarreal 15). Yet unlike previous immigrants the Rubios almost immediately encounter racism, and learn the sad lesson that a Mexican-American must never call a white man a liar."
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"The Faerie Queene", 2008.
An analysis of Edmund Spenser's representations of nature in the poem "The Faerie Queene".
1,585 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 0 sources, $ 51.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" is one of the greatest allegorical poems ever written in English and how the religious symbolism connected with the poem is practically the key of the entire allegory. In particular, the paper examines how the way in which Spenser represents nature in his poem is very significant precisely because the text is an allegory in which the real, natural setting is symbolic. Furthermore, the paper attempts to show that Spenser represents nature in two adverse ways which illuminate his vision of the world. The paper concludes that Spenser represents nature as a sympathetic force which is part of God's divine creation and which is moreover able to reflect the spiritual qualities of a certain being.
From the Paper
"Nature is therefore itself a part of the great allegory. In fact, Spenser's allegorical poem is a synthesis of his vision of the world, comprising the forces that drive the world and human behavior at the same time. The poem relates mainly the adventures of Redcorsse, the errant knight of Holinesse, and Una, his female companion and the symbol of truth. The Faerie Queene is no less than Queen Elizabeth of England, whom Spenser regarded as a holy person because she was the defendant of Protestantism against the corrupted Catholicism. The allegory opposes these two religions, making it clear that Protestantism is the right religious view. In the first Book of the poem, nature is depicted in its entirely luxurious wilderness. There is a great array of mythological characters and beasts which are met, in turns, by the wandering knight. The divide between the natural and the unnatural forces obviously corresponds to that between good and evil. Although natural law is condemned by Puritanism, Spenser did not reject it. "
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Janie in "Their Eyes Were Watching God", 2008.
A character analysis of Janie in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.
1,063 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 37.95
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the book "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. Specifically it contains a character analysis of the main character, Janie. It looks at how Janie grows to be a woman in this story, and eventually finds her own brand of peace, as well. At the beginning of the story, she is unsure of herself, and begins to rely on men to prove her own self-worth. By the end of the book, she is strong, independent, and alone, but she has found her peace and her place in the world.
From the Paper
"Janie, the main character in this novel, is a mulatto woman who has lived most of her life the way other people thought she should instead of the way she has always wanted to live. Her mother abandons her when she is young, and her grandmother (Nanny), raises her. The story takes its title from the passage, "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God" (God 151). Throughout the novel, she attaches herself to men who are not right for her, trying to establish her self-worth through others. However, each man teachers her something about herself, so that finally, she learns something important from each of them in turn, and then can create a viable and happy life for herself. Her first husband is Logan Killicks, an older man that Nanny chooses for her. "
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