Essays on Poems

856

Theme of Death in Lycidas and Paradise Lost

9 pages / 4079 words

Introduction John Milton's initial encounter with death left a profound impact, inducing a sense of disorientation and introspection that found expression in his renowned poem, Lycidas. This poignant work reflects the young Milton's stark realization of his own mortality and prompts contemplation regarding his life's...

Lycidas Paradise Lost

857

The Specific Features of Narration in once Upon a Time

2 pages / 1014 words

Introduction Throughout Nadine Gordimer’s short stories published in 1989, titled Jump and Other Stories, the South African author constantly combats the status quo with her controversially poignant content. In one of the short stories, “Once Upon a Time,” the narrator tells herself a bedtime story...

Once Upon a Time

858

From "On The Road" to "Easy Rider": America's Evolving Road Idealism"

3 pages / 1289 words

One of the first American ideals was that of the rugged individualist: the explorer-hero, in the tradition of Lewis and Clark and Davy Crockett, as well as the cowboy. America, especially the western part, was a new, exciting frontier yearning to be explored. However, once...

On The Road

859

Sal Paradise: Fusion of The Real and Fictional in "On The Road"

4 pages / 1949 words

The character of Sal Paradise, in Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road, is a complex fusion of the fictional and the real. Kerouac created Sal in his own image and used him as a tool to shine light on the state of America in the...

On The Road

860

The Specific Style of Writing in "On The Road"

2 pages / 996 words

Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road is a hallmark story of the Beat Generation, a movement defined by its rejection of conformity in favor of a search for deeper meaning. It is this search that serves as a catalyst for the majority of the action...

On The Road

861

"On The Road": The Role of Cities in The Construction of Sal's Identity

3 pages / 1475 words

Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road follows Sal Paradise on journeys through America. Sal spends most of his time traveling by foot or car; however, the novel focuses on his time spent in three American cities: New York City, Denver, and San Francisco. Kerouac elaborates...

On The Road

862

"On The Road" as Allegorical Escapade

6 pages / 2630 words

In Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, the introduction of Dean Moriarty and the paradoxical themes of the Eastern and Western “road” to the character Sal Paradise incur dissension in Sal’s evolution. Sal ultimately chooses to return to the East and its standard of living, establishing...

On The Road

863

Human Nature and Motivation in "On The Road"

7 pages / 3109 words

Author Jack Kerouac once said, “My fault, my failure, is not in the passions I have, but in my lack of control of them.” Kerouac believed his fate consisted of much more than bad luck and poor decision making and attributed it to the naturally...

On The Road

864

Discussion on The Harlem Renaissance and Black Poetry

4 pages / 1740 words

Poets of the Harlem Renaissance faced a challenge above and beyond that of their modern contemporaries. The two groups were unified in their struggle to make sense of a chaotic reality. But Black poets writing in Harlem confronted a compounded predicament because their race further...

Black Poetry Harlem Renaissance

865

Death Be not Proud: Deconstruction of The Concept of Death

2 pages / 1115 words

The critic Joe Nutt writes that ‘it takes a bold man to taunt death’[1]. This observation was made in reference to John Donne’s Holy Sonnet X, ‘Death be not proud’, and accurately portrays both the tone and subject of the poem. Throughout the sonnet, Donne...

Death Be Not Proud John Donne

866

Comparison of The Rime of The Ancient Mariner and Heart of Darkness

10 pages / 4485 words

Two orphaned boys grow up to be politically-concerned authors, one a poet and one a novelist, who use their maritime literature to speak out against the prevailing ills of European society, specifically the wrongful treatment of African people. These are only a few of the...

Heart of Darkness The Rime of The Ancient Mariner

867

The Transformation and Translation of History as Seen in Beowulf’s Eyes

3 pages / 1378 words

Culture and language have always been, by their very nature, intertwined. Neither can exist without the other. As the world shifts perspectives and culture evolves, so must language evolve with it. Old tales become wordy and dated, hardly seeming relevant in modern society. In a...

Beowulf

868

Symbols of Faith and Traditions in Beowulf

5 pages / 2306 words

Beowulf is an important text in the history of British literature as it is the first notable work to be written in the English language. Yet, it is significant beyond its chronological status. Containing both Christian and pagan elements, Beowulf reflects the historical-relgious context in...

Beowulf

869

Exploration of Good Kingship in Beowulf

4 pages / 1786 words

Beowulf opens with the story of the ancient king, Shield Sheafson, in order to establish a discussion on kingship, and to begin building a definition of what constitutes a “good king”. Once this definition has been established, the text uses it to evaluate the other...

Beowulf

870

Comparative Analysis of Battle Scenes in Beowulf

4 pages / 1756 words

The description of the two different battle scenes wherein Beowulf slays the monsters are described in great detail, and are both quite different. Beowulf’s battle with Grendel occurs in the Danish king’s mead hall-a civilized and comfortable setting, while the battle with Grendel’s mother takes...

Beowulf

871

How Women Are Portrayed in Old Literature

2 pages / 1235 words

At a time in history in which war was rampant and conquering lands and enemies seemed a priori, the period’s hero tended to follow suit. Beowulf, as a prime example of Old English literature, is set in this highly male-dominated world governed by violence, honor,...

Beowulf

872

Beowulf and The Wonders from The East: Monsters and Men

5 pages / 2179 words

In the late 700’s, the Vikings began their raids in England. Their excursions first targeted monasteries on the coast and slowly spread across the nation until the English and Nordic cultures blended into one. The history of the invasion is well documented in historical texts...

Beowulf

873

Analysis of Women and Their Fundamental Roles in Beowulf

4 pages / 2038 words

A quick read-through of the Old English epic poem Beowulf reveals that the text centers heavily around male characters and typically masculine themes. The main character, Beowulf, a powerful and renowned hero, sets on an epic journey to save the kingdom of Danes from the relentless...

Beowulf

874

Verse Translation Analysis by Heaney, Liuzza, and Donaldson in Beowulf’s Last Words

5 pages / 2305 words

Every act of translation is simultaneously an act of interpretation. With regard to Beowulf’s last scene and final words to the young warrior Wiglaf, an analysis of three translations of the poem, by E. Talbot Donaldson, R.M. Liuzza, and Seamus Heavey, demonstrates this general principle....

Beowulf