Free essays on literature refer to the writing pieces that are available to everyone online without any charges. These essays can cover a wide range of literary topics, such as the analysis of a character or a theme in a novel, a review of a poem or a play, or an interpretation of a literary movement. They can be written by students, scholars, or literary enthusiasts, and can offer diverse perspectives and insights into the world of literature. Free essays on literature can be useful for those interested in learning more about a specific literary work or genre or for those seeking inspiration for their own writing.
Book Burning and Censorship in the Novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
As the scent of burning paper and boiling ink drift through the air so does the fragrance of broken liberty. When we allow our knowledge to be taken away we allow our freedom to be stolen as well. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was written as a cautionary tale about book burning and other various acts of censorship and the book still remains extremely prevalent in today‘s society. “Books were only one type of receptacle where we stored a lot…...
CensorshipCultureFahrenheit 451Politics
Holocaust Victims’ Psychological Transformation in Night and Maus
Viktor Frankl, A holocaust survivor, once stated "...in the bitter fight for self-preservation he may forget his human dignity and become no more than an animal," (Victor Frankl Quotes) These l'animal" behaviors became quite common during the holocaust; they were essential to the survival of most individuals. In two novels, Night by Elie Wiesel and Maus by Art Spiegelman, it was proven time and time again that both of the main characters had to lie, cheat, and steal in order…...
JudaismMausPoliticsThe Holocaust
Survival in Auschwitz in Maus an Illustration Book by Art Spiegelman
The early 1940’s was a very dark time for many countries Counties such as Germany, Japan, America, Britain, France, and Italy were all involved in World War Two, The death count was very high from the fighting but it wasn’t just the fighting where there was death. Concentration camps had been set up and Jewish people were regularly dying in them. They had to do extreme physical jobs, follow every single rule, and rarely acquired enough food for a day…...
CultureMausReasonViolence
Save time and effort. Get incredible results with the help of our writers.
Hire a Pro to Write You a 100% Plagiarism-Free Paper.
Get My
Paper
A Comparison of Archaeology and Literature
Life in the ancient world has always been a great interest among scholars of the past and the present. In order to find out new information about the lifestyle of ancient Greeks scholars have used two types of evidence to better understand the people living in that day and age. One of these sources is literary evidence. Literary evidence primarily consists of a range of oral stories to by the Greeks that were later written down and preserved. The second…...
ArchaeologyCultureLiterature
The Changes in Europe During the Middle Ages as Illustrated in Beowulf
The early Middle Age of Europe is thought to be the period where Europe emerged as a distinguishable society. This emerging culture for Europe can be seen through the influence it has on European language, and art. Each part of this new culture is very important to our readings from Beowulf because they correlate strongly. For example, Christianity was becoming popularized among the people of the European region during the early Middle Ages, and is apparent in the ancient work…...
BeowulfEuropeMiddle Ages
John’s Anti-Heroism in Brave New World
A large amount of literature follows the same general patterns of plot patterns and characterization. When beginning to study literature, most are taught the five elements of a plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Similarly, characters are placed into categories of archetypes, ranging from the hero and the mother figure to the villain and the scapegoat. For some works, categorizing characters into these archetypes is simple. Ursula is the villain of Disney's The Little Mermaid, while Ariel…...
Brave New WorldHeroLiterature
The Portrayal of the Shakespearean Allusions in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
In Brave New World, the World State advocates for the whitewashing of human history, in particular the gory bits of their past, as well as the parts that they consider disruptive to their continuous operation in in such a manner that everything counter to their ideology, cultural values and socio-politico-economic systems is practically erased, except from the memory of certain individuals (e.g. Mustapha Mond) who remember what the world was like prior to the World State. Mustapha Mond also keeps…...
Brave New WorldCultureEthics
Dystopian Futures: Orwell vs Huxley
1984 and A Brave New World the authors explain how society is always evolving in a multitude of ways, and in ways that do not live up to the world's standard. Postman goes into detail to explain how the two stories explore the fears of what our world may come to. In reality society has to accept that the world will change drastically eventually, just as it has changed for over hundreds of years in the past. Postman provided intriguing…...
AdolescenceBrave New WorldCulture
An Analysis of Technology in Brave New World, a Novel by Aldous Huxley
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a satirical novel that revolves on Huxley's personal opinion about the growth of technology. The novel's theme addresses the influence of technology on society by changing the innate nature of humans into sin. Huxley's novel manifests a world heavily indulged by science and technology. Science and technology has overpowered humankind and governs the society. In fact, it has altered the way in which humans are reproduced! This is accomplished through the industrialised method…...
Brave New WorldExperienceTechnology
The Misogynistic Character of Iago in Othello by William Shakespeare
When we need advice, we turn to various people who we believe will play the pan of sympathetic listeners. What we do not want is for these individuals to betray our trust and take advantage of us in our time of need to fulfill their own agenda, Sadly, this is exactly what the supposedly honest Iago does to Othello, the blackamoor protagonist of Shakespeare‘s Othello, which is performed for the first time three years after Queen Elizabeth I’s 1601 proclamation…...
CultureDramaFictionOthello
Setting and Cultural Climate in Othello
The setting and cultural climate in which Shakespeare’s Othello is based and contributes largely to many thematic elements of the play as well as directly to the events that occur within it. A question that is often raised by literary researchers and audiences alike is the significance of the setting in correlation to the course of action that transpires throughout the play; that is— how impactful are factors such as ideology, racial attitudes, and gender roles of the time to…...
CrimeOthelloPrejudiceSocial Psychology
The Villainy of Iago in Othello, a Play by William Shakespeare
The action and plot of Shakespeare’s Othello is driven almost explicitly by the play‘s main antagonist, Iago. Iago’s villainy is perhaps the most integral component of the play, as the entire plotline and ultimate demise of the protagonist, Othello, as well as others along the way, are resultant of Iago’s plotting. In this way, Iago’s villainy not only enhances the meaning of the work but in and of itself shapes and defines the work to be what it is. The…...
CultureEthicsOthelloPhilosophy
Trust and Deceit in Othello, a Play by William Shakespeare
Lies are everywhere in society today, and perhaps most prominent within the recent election season, as politicians say whatever they think will get them elected. The same was true in medieval times, as shown in Shakespeare's Othello. He tells the story of Othello, who is lured into believing Iago’s lies and deception, while one of the only characters to balance out those with good intentions is Roderigo. First, we have to examine why it's Othello who becomes the victim of…...
DeceptionFictionOthelloWilliam Shakespeare
The Use of Language to Reveal the True Character of Othello
Explain the importance of this scene as a turning point in our understanding of the character of Othello. How is the change in his character revealed through language? In his play Othello, William Shakespeare shows the deterioration of the tragedy’s protagonist as he is consumed by jealousy. Shakespeare is able to provide the audience with a greater understanding of Othello’s character through the use of various techniques. At the beginning of the play, Othello was portrayed as a character who…...
CultureDramaFictionOthello
Discrimination of Women in the Middle East
While reading I have learned more about women‘s rights. In ancient times, Pharaohs and kings ruled nations and governments. Throughout time women have struggled getting the rights that men have had, in the books Women‘s Rights Human Rights: International Feminist Perspectives by Julie Stone Peters and Andrea Wolper, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; l have been very interested in how women‘s rights have changed in the Middle East over the past century. The Kite…...
CultureHuman RightsMarriageThe Kite Runner
The Transformation of Amir in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Robert Bulwer Lytton once said, “What is past is past, there is a future left to all men who have the virtue to repent and the energy to atone’. What Mr. Bulwer meant is that there is no way to change the past ,and since there is nothing one can do to change their past actions, if a person is willing to ask for forgiveness and make up for it, then that person can move on with their life and…...
FictionForgivenessLiteratureThe Kite Runner
Chapter Nine of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
In chapter nine of The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, Hassan, and Ali are forced to leave the house of Amir and Baba because Amir’s Christmas presents are found under Hassan’s bed as if he had stolen them However the narrator (present-day Amir) explains to the reader that it was actually Amir who hid the presents under Hassan‘s bed to get him in trouble so that Baba would make them leave. When Ail and Hassan return Baba asks Hassan…...
BooksFictionLiteratureThe Kite Runner
Feel The Cruelty Of the World In The Movie “The Kite Runner”
In the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, tells a story of a young man Amir who experience the force of violence and change in Afghanistan and the journey to redeem himself from his past sins. Amir is a tragic hero that will experience the cruelty of the world and find out what matters in life and suffer to find the path to be free of guilts. Amir is born as a Pashtun, someone who has power in society and born…...
HeroLoveRapeThe Kite Runner
The Prevalence of Symbolism in Lord of the Flies, a Novel by William Golding
In the book The Lord of the Flies, symbolism is everywhere because it is an allegory, all of the characters and objects in the story symbolize something in human society. The main symbols consist of the conch, the beast, and Piggy’s glasses. They all represent and play important roles in our society. First, is the conch, it plays a huge role in the story that is what gathered everyone on the island for the first time. It was also the…...
CultureLord Of The FliesSocietyThought
The Evil Within in Lord of the Flies by William Golding
In Golding’s microcosm of the world in The Lord Of The Flies, the descent from civilization into chaos, or in other words superego to id, was the outline for the story. While some characters seemed to welcome the id, others fought it, nevertheless, it seemed that no matter how hard one fought to cling to civilization, savagery was the endgame for all. Golding believes that all humans need rules to follow to keep their evil within contained, yet while it…...
EthicsLord Of The FliesPhilosophyPsychology
The Characters in the Novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding
In his novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding tells the story of a young group of boys who are trying to survive after being stranded on an island as the effect of their plane crash. While having to face many obstacles, the boys find several different items that become crucial symbols. Golding proves, with the use of symbols like Piggy’s glasses, the fire, the pig’s head, and the conch shell, that when separated from society, humans let the evil…...
FictionLiteratureLord Of The FliesSociety
Book Cover of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies
Although my book cover to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is rather simplistic, the cover’s illustration manages to shock the eye and provoke interest at first glance. The centerpiece of the cover is a sow’s head, fixated on a sharp stake flames engulf the sow’s head and the scattered limbs of burning branches. A crooked and shattered pair of spectacles decorate the top of the book cover, these spectacles are slightly overlapped by some text that indicates the book…...
CultureLiteratureLord Of The FliesSociety
The Degradation of the Hawaiian Culture during the European Invasion
Our world is spilling over with different religions and cultures though some gain more notoriety than others. Hawaiian culture has been degrading since it was invaded by Europeans beginning in the seventeenth century. ("Hawaii's History") Ever since the native population has been rapidly deteriorating mostly due to disease. Not only has the decrease in native Hawaii population lead to the downfall of the Hawaiian culture but so too has cultural repression from the US. government. It used to be common…...
HawaiiMarriageMythologyReligion
Themes in Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Walden is a longer story by Henry David Thoreau, and in the excerpts of this story that are being represented, we see many different ideas. Thoreau urges those in society to question advancements in technology, the need for those advancements, loneliness, warfare, and intelligence in the modern age. The most elaborated metaphor throughout an excerpt from “Brute Neighbors” consists of human warfare being much the same as that of any warfare, Thoreau does a service to the readers by relating…...
LiteratureNatureWalden
How to Live Life as Shown in the Walden Experiment by Henry David Thoreau
For Henry David Thoreau, nature is much more than just the ”great outdoors.” At the time, Thoreau was thought of as an extremist, and to some extent he still is. He interpreted nature differently from anyone else that came before him. During Thoreau's lifetime, the industrialism revolution was just starting to die out. Factories, railroads. and other technological inventions are just some of the new things to come in within this time period. These innovations were starting to tame nature,…...
CulturePhilosophySocietyWalden
Fullest Life in Walden and Hamlet’s Blackberry
Walden, written in 1854, and Hamlet‘s Blackberry, written in 2010, seem to be entirely about technology at first glance. However, excerpts from these texts both identify a common train of thought other than this technology theme, one of being able to make the best of one’s own life, The excerpts from Walden by Henry Thoreau and Hamlet‘s Blackberry by William Powers both identify a common theme of being able to live life to the fullest. According to Henry David Thoreau,…...
HamletPhilosophyPsychologyWalden
The Principles of Naturalism in Walden Two, a Novel by B. F. Skinner
In the classic novel Walden Two, American psychologist B.F. Skinner lays out an ideal utopia founded on the principles of naturalism. In Walden Two, a strictly controlled and somewhat engineered society, any notions of a Supreme Being or religion is erased, in accordance with the naturalistic view that religion and beliefs in deities are simply creations of human imagination and need. Society is carefully engineered, in order to nurture humans to their fullest and perfect potential society is free from…...
CultureEthicsReligionWalden
The Quote of Franz Kline About the Book Walden by Henry David Theoreau
One of Franz Kline’s most famous quotes is “Half the world wants to be like Thoreau at Walden worrying about the noise of traffic on the way to Boston; the other half use up their lives being part of that noise. I like the second half” What does Franz Kline mean though by “Thoreau at Walden"? Well, Walden is a book by author Henry Thoreau and in it, Thoreau talks about living in a natural world and being a simple…...
PhilosophyPsychologyThoughtWalden
A Comparison of The Pit and the Pendulum to the Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Even though the movie "The Pit and the Pendulum" bore little resemblance to the story by Edgar Allen Poe, it still had many of the same elements as his work. "The Pit and the Pendulum" was so similar to Poe's stories, that I almost mistook it to be a work of Poe. Poe's stories shared many of the same elements with "The Pit and the Pendulum." There were many elements that the director used to make the "The Pit and…...
LiteratureThe Pit And The PendulumThe Raven
The Challenges of Sir Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Knight and has to face him again in 12 months at the Green Chapel. He didn't know what to expect, he put his whole trust on God and the Virgin Mary for his journey. Since he is known to be a generous knight and one of the best knights around, he know he feel protected with the five stars symbol on his shield. He eventually met up with the lord and his wife, from that part on everything for Gawain…...
FictionReligionSir Gawain And The Green Knight
Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Just as the title suggests, Sir Gawain is the main character of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The poem is a medieval romance set in England, in the olden times of Camelot. Sir Gawain is a knight of the round table and is launched into a quest by a knight known simply as the Green Knight. On the night of Christmas Eve, the Green Knight proposes a game to the knights of Camelot. The deal is that the Green…...
LiteraturePoetrySir Gawain And The Green Knight
Brutus’ Noble Character in Julius Caesar
William Shakespeare's tragic play Julius Caesar was centered around the conspirators' plan to kill Caesar. While the plan was successful, the play did not end there. This Shakespearean play was a tragedy and involved the deaths of many other characters. One of the characters who died was Brutus, the leader selected by the conspirators. At the end of the play, Antony refers to Brutus, saying that he was the noblest Roman of all. I too believe that Brutus was the…...
Julius CaesarTragedyWilliam Shakespeare
Brutus’s Machiavellian Attempt in Julius Caesar
Certain qualities are set for a ruler, such as a president of a country, in order to gain power. A ruler must be intelligent, friendly, possess exceptional communication skills, and many other prestige qualities. Machiavelli sets certain standards for a ruler to not only gain power, but to keep it, that may differ from those generally acceptable in society today. While Shakespeare's Brutus in Julius Caesar attempts to follow some of Machiavelli's philosophies from The Prince, he ends up making…...
Julius CaesarLiteratureWilliam Shakespeare
Caesar Persuaded by Decius in Julius Caesar
In Shakespeare's renowned play, Julius Caesar, Caesar is faced with a fatal decision. He must choose to listen to his wife's, Calphurnia, advice or Decius'. Both appeal to logos, however, ultimately Caesar is persuaded by Decuis with his additional appeal to pathos and therefore goes to the Senate; where he meets his unfortunate fate. Calphurnia desperately attempts to convince her husband to stay home. She recounts her dream, vividly describing the chaos she witnessed in the streets (imagery). To convince…...
CultureJulius CaesarLiterature
A Review of Lorraine Hansberry A Raisin in The Sun
When Taylor Swift won a grammy, she dedicated it to the person who inspired her song about heartbreak. The internet went crazy, calling her vulgar names and calling her unsavory expletives. When Sam Smith won a grammy, he dedicated to the man who broke his heart and motivated him to write the song. Everybody was calling him brave and such an inspiration. A man makes an accomplishment, he's praised, but when a woman makes the same accomplishment, she's criticized. Sexism…...
A Raisin In The SunCultureSexism
Chasing the American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun
Dream in their own ways. When the play first opened in 1959 in New York, it received great praise from both Blacks and Whites alike. A Raisin in the Sun is arguably one of the first good plays to be written on how African-Americans live in an ideal society, and how they are treated, in a realistic manner. The pursue of the American Dream from the same African-Americans is also pointed out in the play. Considering how great the play…...
A Raisin In The SunCultureLiberty
American Dream in Two Novels
"People are so busy dreaming the American Dream, fantasizing about what they could be or have a right to be, that they're all asleep at the switch. Consequently we are living in the Age of Human Error." - Florence King King's words show us that the American Dream is something that drives us to work hard and give our best so that we can achieve and live the dream. Yet many people focus on dreaming about a better future in…...
A Raisin In The SunAmerican DreamThe Great Gatsby
Author’s Environment and Their Work
In American Literature concerning written by and about minorities, the environment that the author was in at the time, and grew up in, often affected the subject matter and how the author portrays it. This trend is especially evident in literature written in the 20th century, in works by authors such as Langston Hughes, Lorraine Hansberry, Anne Sexton, and Claude Mckay. These authors had experienced racism, subjugation, and hate simply for the color of their skin and for their gender,…...
A Raisin In The SunCultureSocial Issues
Why Achilles is a Better Hero Than Hector in the Movie Troy
A hero is someone who is brave, loyal, courageous, compassionate, and considerate. A hero is someone who is not afraid to take charge for something they believe in. Heroes respect one another. They fight for what's right; they defend their people and country. Heroes should be able to understand another's tragedy, or loss. In the movie Troy, there are two heroes Hector and Achilles. Hector and Achilles are both great heroes but one is a better hero than the other.…...
AchillesHeroTroy
The Burning Rage of Achilles in the Iliad, a Poem by Homer
Throughout the Iliad, the theme is rage. Specifically, the Iliad is about the rage of Achilles, the almost-invincible hero of the Achaeans. The plot of the story follows Achilles' decisions, as he is one of the central characters and responsible for pretty much everything that happens in the story. From beginning to end, the Iliad illustrates how choices shape not only the individual who makes them, but everyone around the individual as well. The American Heritage Dictionary defines rage as…...
AchillesIliadTrojan War
We've found 5907 essay examples
on Literature
24/7 Support