In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, one Greek value explored is Kleos, otherwise known as glory. This value is not only explored in the Odyssey by the protagonist (Odysseus), but is also used to explore different themes through the protagonist reaching their Kleos....
The Odyssey by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald is a complex novel pertaining the main characters complicated journey home from Troy to his throne in Ithika. The Greek gods play a big part in his long 10-year journey back home. Are they to blame...
In this persuasive analytical paper, I will be performing a study on the significance of the symbolism of the green sash in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. A brief synopsis of what the green sash is will be necessary for this analysis. In Part...
“The Ballad of Birmingham” is a poem written by well-renowned author, Dudley Randall. The poem pleasingly serves as a traditional ballad in which the story is being told in the style of a song. The informative tone of the poem pursues to teach us something...
Each poem often has form factors help deliver the messages that the author has in mind. These factors help shape the story and if presented well, they contribute effectively to understanding, towards the reader. This essay seeks to analyze and explain the literary elements found...
Do you enjoy history and a good read? Well, Dudley Randall brings the two together in his adaptation of an event in history. Born in 1914 and died in 2000, Randall was an African-American poet. His most notable work is The Ballad of Birmingham, originally...
In Dudley Randall’s poem “Ballad Of Birmingham”, he presents an idea of how a normal lifestyle of a mother and daughter can take a turn for the worst because of racial injustice taking effect during the United States, in the 60’s. The Birmingham Church bombing...
Heroes appear in many stories, and the word ‘hero is derived from a Greek word that means a person who faces adversity, or demonstrates courage, in the face of danger’. An archetypal hero that appears in religions, mythologies and epic stories shares certain spiritual and...
For several stories, the protagonists’ pride is usually shown and explained by the narrator or secondary characters. Yet in Anglo-Saxons’ Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, his pride is boosted by himself; he takes satisfaction in knowing he is letting everyone know of his value and...
Introduction Desmond Tutu once eloquently stated, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” This profound sentiment reminds us that hope is the gentle whisper that assures us, “You’ll overcome this hardship,” while simultaneously reassuring us that life holds...
The definition of a hero is someone who is recognized for their endless acts of bravery, selflessness, courage and strength in character. Ask a young child who they recognize as heroes in their life and common responses are usually moms, cops, firefighters, etc. Throughout this...
John Donne was a leading figure in metaphysical poetry, and this piece is a great example of it. This poem by John Donne conveys the message that death is not what we make it out to be. His poem is based on the premise that...
The essay “Once Upon a Time” by Nadine Gordimer, is a moral story about the racism in South Africa that occurs between the wealthy and the poor. Gordimer explains this story came about when someone wrote her and said that “every writer ought to write...
Charles Manson is very similar to Grendel. Manson was born from Cain’s murderous way. They both are full of hatred in their heart, and they don’t give any mercy to their victims. They both also don’t care about death to their victim or even to...
Do you believe that the journey outweighs the goal? For example, in the movie Moana, the main character sets out on an adventure that teachers her many things on the way to success. Heroes go on a journey that changes them for the better, in...
American poet, Robert Hayden wrote, “Those Winter Sundays” as a memory from his childhood. Reflecting on his past from the voice of a child who fears his father. As an adult, he now has a clearer picture of what his father endured, and the sacrifices...
In principle, the Anglo-Saxon poems entail those developed using the Old English of the British history, especially between the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the mid-fifth century. The authors focused on the orally transmitted literature with the intentions of oral performances. For example, the poem...
In the many stories, tales, and adventures that we have read so far, there have been multitudes of borders crossed by a variety of characters. All of these characters thus far crossing said borders have had a different intention, goal, or motive that theyare trying...
Despite the idea that literary works stem across a multiplicity of genres and were composed in different time periods, they always seem to have one underlying core: a similar thematic idea or overarching moral of the story. One theme that seems to be the underlying...