In all of the Shakespeare criticism, the debate has centered around the problem plays. Kiernan Ryan says critics should either focus on the fact that these plays have ‘political implications inherently’ or use a deconstructive or psychoanalytical approach. Jonathon McLuskie, Kathleen McLuskie, and others have suggested that these plays were not in any way problematic. …
People have dreamed about standing at the top of the earth to see everyone below, to feel powerful and accomplished. Climbers push themselves to the limits to achieve a moment of pure ecstasy. Jon Krakauer had a dream of this moment, but it was also the moment he almost died. Jon Krakauer reveals what happened …
Imagine a world similar to 1984, in which the government controls almost everything. It may sound too harsh but this is already reality. Dystopian is a fictional place with bad things happening, but it’s too close to reality for us to call this dystopian. George Orwell’s novel 1984 is a hyperbolic version of our world. …
The Death and the King’s Horseman drama is based off a true story that occurred in Nigeria under British colonial control, when the authorities prevented the Horseman of the Yoruba King from committing a ritual suicide. Soyinka questions the Horseman about his own suicide fervour, which throws the community off balance. By analysing Soyinka’s play, …
John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath explains how Oklahoma’s economic situation affected the Joads in the 1940s. Tom Joad returns to his home after being released from prison. He finds his family house abandoned. Tom, Jim Casey and Muley, his neighbor, learn that banks have forced out almost all of the local farmers. Tom’s parents are …
Adrienne Rich’s poem, “Diving Into the Wreck”, uses free verse to break away from the male-dominated literary tradition. Her poem addresses past literature’s role for women while expressing hope for the next generation. Rich’s reclamation to literary tradition is achieved by her choice and context. The poem’s opening lines set the tone for a difficult …
Jonathan Swift, writer and satirist said that “satire…is a form of glass” wherein all eyes see the faces of everyone else (Swift). Swift mentions that such beholders use humor to express social and political problems. Swift’s satire A Modest Proposal is a combination of rhetoric, overt exaggeration, insincerity and humour to draw attention to the …
Historians and critics have different opinions about Homer’s authenticity. The authenticity of The Iliad is often in dispute. Academic circles also sometimes question Shakespeare’s authorship. EV Rieu’s introduction reveals that Ilium was indeed present in modern-day Turkey. Although the Greeks may have actually occupied it, Rieu points out that Homer was not concerned about the …
Drama is a distinct fictitious form that is meant to be performed in front of an audience. Drama comes from the Greek word for “dramatic” which means to perform or act. Drama is the art of bringing a story to life. It is told through dialogue, action, and is complemented by the setting which is …
Although sewing can be tedious and tiring, it is often considered a good pastime for married ladies. The Color Purple’s women managed to make this tedious activity a profitable one. Celie uses sewing to build relationships with other women and eventually to be financially independent without the support of her husband. The color purple’s prominent …