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"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", 2008.
A look at the function of the Mirror of Erised in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone".
754 words (approx. 3.0 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 26.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses how J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" can be considered a "coming of age" book that makes the main character, Harry Potter, understand who he really is and who are the kind of people surrounding him. The paper focuses on the Mirror of Erised and how it made Harry Potter search deep within to find out what he really wants in life. The paper further discusses how the mirror may be a tool that shows humans only what they desire and not what is truly important.
From the Paper
"There have been many coming of age books and movies that people are familiar with that helped them understand who they are or what human nature really is. J.K. Rowling's first book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone can be considered a "coming of age" book that made the main character understand who he really is and the kind of people surrounding him. For starters, it is where Harry Potter realized his birthright as a wizard, which was kept hidden from him by his aunt and uncle. He also realized that upon reaching the age of 11, he would be reaching that age when he would be schooled with his own kind and learns the ways of witchcraft and wizardry."
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Ancient Literature and Modern Day Life, 2008.
An analysis of how closely modern day life is connected to the life depicted in "Everyman," "Gilgamesh," Homer's "The Odyssey," and in ancient Egyptian poems.
959 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 34.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, on first glance, the atmosphere of the ancient Mesopotamian epic "Gilgamesh," Homer's "Odyssey," the Egyptian songs for the dead and the medieval allegory "Everyman" seem quite foreign to our modern culture and sensibilities since the works depict heroes grappling with the gods in a one-on-one fashion, and valor and might are the ultimate determinants of a man or woman's prowess. The paper then argues that the issues these heroes must deal with, however, are also basic human issues common even today and that because of this, these pieces are not simply curiosities, but still resonate as vital works of literature.
From the Paper
"The plea for companionship in the face of death "Everyman" takes on a transcendent power because of its universality and the desire for home in "The Odyssey" gives the work a timeless quality, and makes the amoral protagonist sympathetic. Likewise, in "Gilgamesh," the protagonist's sorrow about losing his beloved best friend makes him sympathetic, even though like King Odysseus, King Gilgamesh is often violent, deceitful, and cruel. When he is punished by the gods, like Odysseus, it is not in an especially just fashion, but simply because he has been cursed for killing the evil demon Humbaba of the Cedar Forest, when provoked and attacked. Instead of Gilgamesh losing his own life, his dearest friend Enkidu is taken to the cruel place in the underworld, which like Homeric conceptions, is a terrible place, regardless of how morally one behaves in life."
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"The Octopus", 2008.
The paper discusses Frank Norris' "The Octopus" as a portrayal of the crushing effects of capitalism on the old, Wild West.
1,009 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The paper examines "The Octopus" and describes the lifestyle and perspective of the farmers who were threatened by a take-over of all they had by the ever-expanding railroad companies of the Pacific and Southwestern Railroads. The paper discusses how Norris contrasts the pure love of the land of the farmers to the soulless conglomerate of the railroad enterprise, the inhuman octopus of the title.
From the Paper
"Read in light of today's political environment, Frank Norris's The Octopus seems like an unusually prescient view of American capitalism and corruption, specifically in the railroad industry. However, it could seemingly take place anywhere, even though its characters and historical setting is particular to the late 19th century period of robber baron capitalism. By using a narrative, fictional plot, and weaving elements of romantic and dime store novel Western plots and characters, the story uses the fictional medium of art to personalize its characters' struggles, and makes the reader care intimately about the lives of the characters it depicts."
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The Grapes of Wrath, 2008.
A discussion of John Steinbeck's book "The Grapes of Wrath".
1,815 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 58.95
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the book "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck. Specifically it compares two songs to the character of Tom Joad in the book, who is the main character of this historic and classic novel, and he is the inspiration to the other characters around him. He is also the subject of two very different songs written by Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen, which celebrate his integrity and sense of right and wrong, no matter the cost to himself.
From the Paper
"Early in the book, Tom proves he is a leader - the real leader of the family although the older men will never acknowledge it. Steinbeck writes, "Tom broke in, 'We'll be moonin' aroun' all day, looking for sompin to do.' The group stirred uneasily. 'We could get ready by daylight an' go," Tom suggested" (Steinbeck 105). Tom is not educated, but he is smart, and the Joads listen to him because he has good ideas, reasons them out, and inspires confidence. In his soul, he is a good, decent man, even though he murders two men by the end of the book. Both of the songs show Joad's character with some of the closing lines of the novel. In "The Ghost of Tom Joad," Springsteen writes, "Now Tom said 'Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy / Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries / Where there's a fight 'gainst the blood and hatred in the air / Look for me Mom I'll be there'" (Springsteen). Tom is a hero even though he is a murderer, which proves that you cannot always believe everything you hear about a person, and that you must understand the circumstances surrounding an incident."
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Author James Baldwin, 2008.
Looks at themes in the writings of African-American writer James Baldwin.
1,435 words (approx. 5.7 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 47.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the works of the African-American literary giant James Baldwin on such issues as racism, preference and civil rights. The author points out that, in spite of the racism that existed and still exists in U.S., African Americans, such as Baldwin, have created some of the most profound artistic works. The paper stresses that James Baldwin, along with many other artists including Nina Simone, Maya Angelou and Harry Belafonte, participated in the civil rights movement by marching and lending their talents.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Racism and Sexual Preference Discrimination
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Examples of these themes can be found in such works as "Go Tell It on the Mountain", Baldwin's first novel. This novel explores the life of John Griddle and his family living in poverty in Harlem. Although this novel is not complete autobiographical a great deal of it mirrors Baldwin's own life. The book was published in 1953 when Baldwin was nearly thirty years old. It is obvious that the book is a reflection of Baldwin life growing up in a predominately black community. On of the central themes of the novel is the role of the Black church in the African American community."
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"The Guest", 2008.
An analysis of the short story "The Guest" by Albert Camus.
704 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 25.95
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Abstract
The paper explores the themes of choice, accountability and death
in Albert Camus' "The Guest". The paper shows how fate, choice and accountability are all quite relative and what is right for one may be completely wrong for another.
From the Paper
"The schoolteacher treats the Arab with kindness, and even gives him food and money to help him on his way. And yet, he is marked by the Arab's people because they believe he turned him over to the authorities. Daru realizes what a predicament he is in, and he realizes he is caught in the middle of an unsolvable situation. Camus writes, "And he cursed at one and the same time his own people who had sent him this Arab and the Arab too who had dared to kill and not managed to get away" (Camus). Daru should also curse human nature, and the Arab's choice to turn himself in to the authorities."
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Meaning in Poetry, 2008.
An exploration of the text and textuality in the poetry of Len Lye and Hugh Sykes Davies.
2,327 words (approx. 9.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 71.95
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Abstract
The paper relates that meaning, which was traditionally supposed to emerge from language and to transcend it at the same time, is now considered as something which can never attain full or absolute presence in a given text. The paper then examines the poetry of Len Lye and of Hugh Sykes Davies and shows how difficult it is to interpret and translate. The paper shows how their poetry centers on language experiments and the instability of meaning, which obviously makes translation almost impossible.
From the Paper
"Postmodernism has swept away all the traditional concepts and notions, proclaiming the disappearance of truth as a transcendental or metaphysical reality which exists independently. Meaning, which was traditionally supposed to emerge from language and to transcend it at the same time, is now considered as something which can never attain full or absolute presence in a given text. Derrida for instance, proposed that truth cannot be reached since every thing must be set up permanently against a system of differences, and thus the meaning is always deferred. To reach this conclusion, Derrida analyzes the concept of 'centered structure' which is the very basis of cognitive coherence in the traditional view, and testifies that there is no one center around which the structure can be coherently built, but an infinite number of centers that can be substituted one for the other randomly and incessantly."
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Fairy Tales, 2008.
Looks at several 'happily ever after' fairy tales and their relationship to culture.
2,240 words (approx. 9.0 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 69.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, like myths, fairy tales have great importance as cultural productions because they emphasize the basic aspects of each culture. The author relates that certain predictable ritualistic motifs, such as the wicked stepmother in "Cinderella" or the marriage between two antagonist characters, one ugly and the other beautiful, in "Beauty and the Beast", are absolutely essential fairy tale ingredients. The author also relates that the theme of love and marriage or the 'happily ever after union' is an archetype; wherein, the human being is fulfilled through his or her union with another being and the fulfillment is naturally achieved after a great quest and fantastic trials. The paper includes references to several fairy tales.
From the Paper
"Without being a general pattern, many of the folktales focus on the love union between a hero and the heroine. The blueprint here varies widely, but in many stories, the love bond is formed sometimes between two characters that belong to different worlds. It can be said in most of the stories one of the two characters that will be together "happily ever after" always pass through sufferance or great trails before the love bond is formed. Also, in almost all the fairytales, the hero is usually the active character who has to win the princess through great efforts and deeds while the latter passively waits for him. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, and in some stories the heroine is given the active role, while the prince is passive."
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Narrative Style in Literature, 2008.
A comparison of the narrative style used in "To Room Nineteen" by Doris Lessing and "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver.
1,015 words (approx. 4.1 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the use of point of view in "To Room Nineteen" by Doris Lessing and "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver. The paper describes the plots and the characters of each story and discusses and compares the narrative style in the two works. The paper then focuses on what the choices of narrative style portray about the story and how this affects the reader's perceptions.
From the Paper
"Thus, even more so than having an affair, Lessing's wife realizes that she cannot go on living a double existence, one existence characterized by an absence of autonomous identity and one in a room by herself, in Room Nineteen. She is 'cheating' on her husband--with herself, by enjoying her solitude. Finally, Susan lies on the bed in her room, smells the sex of other people in the stale motel sheets and she chooses to annihilate herself, a scene that would be unbearably painful if the reader identified with her as completely the reader inevitably identifies with Carver's first-person narrator. Thus Lessing's use of a third-person narrator deliberately creates distance, and encourages the reader to see Susan as a case study that shows the limits of female existence as fully human beings with an identity beyond sexuality. Carver in contrast encourages the reader to identify with the narrator, as the narrator identifies with the blind man, because the story is about an internal shift that occurs within the narrator, and about a case study of humanity."
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"When the Legends Die", 2008.
A review of Hal Borland's novel "When the Legends Die".
1,001 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 0 sources, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how protagonist Thomas Black Bull comes full circle in Hal Borland's novel "When the Legends Die". It examines how as a Ute native from Colorado, Tom spends a large portion of his childhood in the wilderness, how he is tricked into returning to mainstream civilization and how, after spending years of his life in misery, Tom eventually returns to the woods at the end of the novel. It discusses how the old ways are better than the new ways for Tom because they teach Tom how best to survive and stay physically and mentally healthy and how, in many ways, the novel is about survival.
From the Paper
"After spending many years on the Ute reserve, Tom and his family take some time to adapt back to the old ways. They rely only on a bow and arrow to go hunting. They learn how to preserve meats to store for the long winter. The family seeks an ideal site on which to build a winter cabin and teach Tom the old ways. After several years Tom grows into a traditional Ute boy and knows little else but the ways of his ancestors. When his father dies in an avalanche, Tom is prepared to become a man and carry on the Ute ways of life. Even Tom's transition into adulthood is marked with Ute traditions. The burial of Black Bull and Tom's assuming the name Bear Brother are both in keeping with age-old Ute traditions. "
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"The Red Convertible", 2008.
An analysis of the symbol of the red convertible in "The Red Convertible" by Louise Edrich.
1,465 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at "The Red Convertible" by Louise Edrich that depicts how the Lamartine family, especially the two brothers, deal with the older brother's return from Vietnam. The paper discusses how the altered family dynamics are shown by the symbol of the red convertible and how this symbol changes throughout the story.
From the Paper
"The story presents the struggles of two brothers to cope with their changing relationship, as well as the changes taking places in the post-Vietnam world. In fact, the relationship between the two brothers is used as a direct parallel of the post-war situation in the sense that their story is a symbol of the difficulties and readjustments that many Vietnam veterans and their families were faced with after the war. The theme of brotherhood is central to the plot. The story is told from Lyman's point of view which means the reader has no direct insight into Lyman's brother's thoughts."
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Satirist Mark Twain, 2008.
Looks at the satirical writing of Mark Twain as demonstrated in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"and "Puddn'Head Wilson".
1,165 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 40.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Mark Twain used his humor to develop social commentary. Having grown up in the south and living through the era of slavery he witnessed significant social strife surrounding the institution and also surrounding the social stratification of the south, even among the roving whites of the region. The paper further explains that Twain's works, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", and "Puddn'Head Wilson" both offer the reader the opportunity to compare and contrast this foundational social commentary. This paper looks at how each work contains strong divergent characters, divergent and similar types of satire and each has a strong message about the character of both blacks and whites and the investment in a stratified social order.
From the Paper
"The component of blacks in each novel was essential to satire and to the development of the character of the communities as contradictory. In Huckleberry Finn the character Jim is a great example of the similarities the boy's felt to black people. As black people were, being in the background, like children, aware of the contradictions that were lived in the white world. Jim has a fantastic sense of the idea that nothing is as it seems and this is a fact that binds him to the young band of robbers."
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