Essays on Literature

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.
The Dichotomy of Fate and Free Will in Slaughterhouse-Five
Words • 1068
Pages • 5
Humankind is keen for knowledge Therefore when fate, an event beyond a person’s control, enters a conversation, the controversial topic could kindle some complications. The theory of fate is ancient, many different cultures, societies, authors, and even philosophers have tried to learn and understand this concept, Kurt Vonnegut, being one of those many authors, places his opinions on fate in his novel Slaughterhouse—Five. The story follows the life of Billy Pilgrim as he is thrown through time and put in…...
PhilosophyPsychologySlaughterhouse FiveThought
The Philosophy of Vonnegutism in Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Words • 1456
Pages • 6
A personal philosophy is the beliefs and ideas of one specific person. Every person has their own philosophy, crafted from bits and pieces that were acquired from others' philosophies, combined with original ideas, to create a single. unique philosophy that fits the person it belongs to. Some philosophies throughout time have gotten their fair share of popularity, such as Plato, Socrates, Confucius, and Gandhi, because they all had something in common: a new way to view the world around us.…...
BeliefCulturePhilosophySlaughterhouse Five
Opinion: Four Dimensions in Slaughterhouse-Five
Words • 488
Pages • 2
I was reading Slaughterhouse—Five and it got me to start thinking about whether or not we are all unstuck in time or if the things that happen to us really happen in chronological order. In the book, the main character experiences a multitude of life events that occur at the same time and they don't occur one after anothe. The book jumps around from scene to scene and he goes from being a child to an optometrist to a war…...
ExperiencePhilosophySlaughterhouse FiveTime
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
Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five Should Not Be Banned in High School Levels
Words • 595
Pages • 3
The banned book of “Slaughterhouse-Five” by: Kurt Vonnegut is a very interesting piece of work. The story revolves around Billy Pilgrim, a soldier in World War Two who does not even want to be there. This book follows him in a nonlinear order and rather sporadic change of events from Billy becoming a prisoner of war and the bombing at Dresden and how he survives. Billy has flashbacks and goes through time travel being “unstuck in Lime“ where he lives…...
CultureProfanitySlaughterhouse FiveViolence
The Portrayal of Death in Slaughterhouse-Five, a Novel by Kurt Vonnegut
Words • 892
Pages • 4
The author Simon Travaglia once said “Death is inevitable, but life - that’s the tricky bit where things happen. Within our world, in the great scheme of things, death is but a small, inevitable part of life. Similar to the quote by Travaglia, the author of Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut, portrays death as just another notch in the circle of life that is inevitable, but also has limited significance, represented through the various ways he uses diction and voice throughout the…...
CulturePhilosophyPsychologySlaughterhouse Five
De-Glorification of War in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five
Words • 1094
Pages • 5
War is defined as a conflict carried on by Mof arms, as between nations or between parties within a nation. In the novel Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, the entire book is focused on a sole concept that war is wrong and how this book is, at its core, an anti-war books Using imagery and explicit detail, Vonnegut gives many reasons why people should be disgusted and appalled by wart Two of the most influential anti-war pieces that he talks about…...
MilitarySlaughterhouse FiveThoughtWar
The Amanda Aspect of Carrie, the Heroine of Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie
Words • 723
Pages • 3
Naturalist writers, such as Tennessee Williams, place characters in situations they have to adapt to. The idea of naturalism comes from Social Darwinism, or constantly evolving to adapt to changing surroundings, In The Glass Menagerie, Amanda Wingfield is unable to adapt to the harsh realities of the present. In Amanda’s life, men have constantly contributed to a false reality. Caught up in the illusion of her Southern upbringing, Amanda has learned that a man will support a woman. Therefore, she…...
CulturePhilosophyRealitySister Carrie
Jewish Holocaust: Hate & Indifference
Words • 797
Pages • 4
The Holocaust was the unlawful and inhumane slaughter of 11 million people. Six million of them were of Jewish descent (The Holocaust) t They were often sent to concentration camps before being killed in gas chambers. One of the most famous camps was Auschwitz, which was located in Germany. Avery famous quote from historian lan Kershaw states that “The road to Auschwitz was built with hate, but paved with indifference" I agree with this quote, and in this essay, I…...
HatePoliticsThe Holocaust
Religion in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi
Words • 1651
Pages • 7
The central theme of Yann Mattel’s Life of Pi concerns religion and human faith in God. Pi has studied and memorized the stories of all the various incarnations of the Hindu gods, maintaining shrines in his home to many of them. He also possesses a crucifix and a rosary, going to church on Sundays and prays to Jesus. Lastly, he owns and proudly uses a prayer rug, observing the call to prayer several times a day as a devoted Muslim.…...
ChristianityHinduismLife Of PiReligion
A Comprehensive Review of The Life of Pi, a Novel by Yann Martel
Words • 524
Pages • 3
Books are great, they can broaden your scope of knowledge and expose you to different aspects of the human experience. You can live through people you otherwise never could and get a taste of what it would be like to be in their present position and even sometimes they can leave a very big impact on you. Although many books have these qualities I personally have been impacted greatly by the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Throughout the…...
Life Of PiPhilosophyPsychology
Cooperation and Competition in Life of Pi
Words • 793
Pages • 4
In Life ofPi, the author Yann Martel explores storytelling as the bridge to finding ourselves even when facing conflicts. In human society, cooperation and competition mostly oppose one another. When doing a group presentation for a language class, such as Spanish, cooperation is greatly needed in the group. However, cooperation does not necessarily stop competition from happening in the meantime. This point can be illustrated by the same example of doing group work. The teacher gives individual grade based on…...
CultureLife Of PiPsychology
The Practice of Hinduism by Pi in The Life of Pi, a Novel by Yann Martel
Words • 696
Pages • 3
Have you ever heard of a name called “Piscines”? I am mostly convinced that you are not very familiar with this name, However, you might know about Pi. The boy who practiced three religions and whose family used to own a 200 but encountered some accident while moving to another country, Pi’s beliefs are all based on Hinduism, “all religions are true” doesn’t mean they are able to tolerate each other and practicing multiple religions is unacceptable First of all,…...
BeliefHinduismLife Of PiReligion
Water’s Impact on Pi in Life of Pi
Words • 826
Pages • 4
Trapped by the vast Pacific Ocean for two hundred twenty-seven days is no mere coincidence for sixteen-year-old Piscine Molitor Patel. Varying from uncomfortable sea- sickness to deathly thirst, the element of water affects Pi constantly throughout the entire novel in numerous aspects. However, the greatest influence of the different types of water on Pi is in a spiritual and mental manner, in the form of his own mentality and attitude Piscine Molitor Patel’s name had been brought to life by…...
Life Of PiPsychologyWater
Similarities and Differences Between Pi from Yann Martel’s
Words • 640
Pages • 3
It takes many specific qualities to overcome obstacles and manage to survive in extreme conditions. In “Life of Pi ” by Yann Martel, Pi, the protagonist is stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, with a tiger as his only companion. While “The Story of Keesh” by Jack London is about a young boy who faces the challenge of gathering food to feed his struggling village, Fortunately, the protagonists are equipped with the necessary traits. In both…...
HuntingLife Of PiPsychologyTiger
Animals in Life of Pi
Words • 814
Pages • 4
Piscine Molitor Patel is stranded on a lifeboat with a vicious tiger, a deadly hyena, a motherly orangutan, and a hopeless zebra. You think death would be imminent for Pi, but Pi uses his knowledge to battle these animals. Yann Martel puts the animal’s traits into Pi‘s emotions in his book Life of Pt'. The animals on the lifeboat share a greater meaning than the obstacles in his survival, each one shares different emotions that play a key part into…...
AnimalsLife Of PiPsychologyTiger
The Theme of of Conquering One’s Fears in the Book Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Words • 1091
Pages • 5
Survival is a big thing in everyday life, from just making money to feed families and live a happy life, to the struggling of having all the necessity essential for life. In the book, Life ofPi, by Yann Martel the journey that Pi experiences clearly portrays the big idea of survivali Pi’s journey out in the sea made him realize that only he can save himself so he must make wise decisions and conquer his inner fearsi In the end,…...
Life Of PiMemoryPhilosophyTiger
Castaway’s Life in The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Words • 512
Pages • 3
The Life of Pi is a novel by Yann Martel describing the journey of a 16—year old castaway's life at sea and his not-so-friendly companion- a 450-pound Bengal tiger. This novel has a unique storyline but isn't one of those books that you will remember a few years later. One 16-year old boy one 450-pound Bengal tiger, one ocean, and 227 days to work with Yann Martel could have done a lot more with this storyline, but the most interesting…...
BooksCultureLife Of PiLiterature
The Novel, The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Words • 992
Pages • 4
Yann Martel once said, “That's what fiction is about, isn't it, the selective transforming of reality? The twisting of it to bring out its essence?" Likewise, Pi, the protagonist of Martel's novel The Life of Pi, creates for himself a fiction all his own — a fiction he lives out. This is particularly evident in Pi's religious beliefs, as he twists together multiple faiths to make his subjective reality better. Moreover, such a fascination with bettering reality through faith itself…...
ChristianityIslamLife Of PiReligion
A Comparison of the Film and the Novel of Life of Pi
Words • 680
Pages • 3
Oftentimes, one's favorite novel is adapted to the big screen, and much valuable content is lost in the process. Due to time constraints, Hollywood standards, and differing views on aspects of the story, movies frequently end up offering viewers an entirely different media experience than the books off of which they are based. Fortunately, director Ang Lee managed to do an impressive job convening Yann Martel's Life of Pi to film format. All the central elements of the plot are…...
CultureFictionLife Of PiLiterature
The Topic of the Movie Life of Pi
Words • 424
Pages • 2
Life of pi is the story of a sixteen-year-old Indian boy who survives out in the sea for 227 days with a tiger, When he was fifteen he adopts for three religions and he consider himself to be devoted to all three. I am not a believer of god but I would like to discuss and make my own analysis of some unbelievable events on the movie. This movie is full of religion and symbolism, even though the spectator can…...
CultureLife Of PiReligion
The Novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Words • 869
Pages • 4
Life of Pi is a novel with many deep messages and complex ideas expressed throughout. The book which mainly centers around Pi Patel, an Indian teenage boy is about Pi's early life and his journey on a life boat through the Pacific Ocean after a boat carrying his family himself and their zoo animals tragically sinks. Even though the book does center around a massive tragedy, Pi does survive, mainly because of his strong religious beliefs. In the book it's…...
BeliefLife Of Pi
Spirituality and the Human Mind in the Movie the Life of Pi
Words • 855
Pages • 4
Spirituality is not something that is tangible; it is anything that affects the human soul and spirit, but can never be associated with something that is truly physical. For some, this idea of spirituality is almost as strong as what is real in the world, because of the profound effect that the spirit can have on an individual and their outlook on the world. In Yann Martel‘s “Life of Pi," the main character, Pi, grapples with the idea of spirituality…...
Life Of PiReligionSpirituality
Chrysanthemums vs Life of Pi
Words • 1127
Pages • 5
Although the two individual pieces, Life ofPi by Yann Martel, and The Chrysanthemums, by John Steinbeck, appear to be completely unrelated on the surface, they share a similar theme- location causes people to deal with certain situations in a way contrary to what they believe. Whether fighting for life in the desolate ocean, or struggling on an remote ranch, character's must learn to adapt to the circumstances at hand. As a person adjusts to their surroundings and processes what remains…...
HappinessLife Of PiMindPsychology
The Theme of Hunger in Life of Pi, a Novel by Yann Martel
Words • 909
Pages • 4
“This book was born as I was hungry” was the first line of Yann Martel’s book Life of Pi. This was important because hunger was a major theme of the book, Hunger is one of the things that drives people to do things in their life. There are many different types of hunger that manifest in humans; whether it is a hunger for food, for love, for adventure, or anything else, hunger drives humans to get things done. Maslow’s hierarchy…...
EthicsLife Of PiPhilosophyPsychology
The Power and Effect of Goodbye in Life of Pi, a Novel by Yann Martel
Words • 307
Pages • 2
A goodbye is a powerful thing — whether it’s just for the day or whether it’s for a lifetime Life of fl focuses on it a bit, but not as much as the other themes that it covers. When Richard Parker leaves him, Pi wishes he had said goodbye, but it also reflects on his parent’s death earlier in the novel and his relationship with Richard Parker. In the story that he later tells, it shows that he and Richard…...
CultureLife Of PiPsychologySocial Psychology
Beliefs in Life’s Ordeals in The Life of Pi
Words • 1431
Pages • 6
As living things, our thinking and perspectives are constantly affected by our faith and beliefs. Within our human species we have come up with a number of belief systems which we incorporate in our lives without even knowing. From believing in different religions to having faith in science, our beliefs are always varied from each other, however they all have one main thing in common; our beliefs offer us a promise of comfort and security in which one feels they…...
FaithLife Of PiPhilosophyReligion
Film vs Novel Excerpt: Life of Pi
Words • 360
Pages • 2
In both film and novel excerpts of The Life of Pi, Pi is alone on a lifeboat with a tiger, after the ship he was on sank. Even though both film and the novel have the same general idea, they differ in some parts. One difference was that in novel, hunger was emphasized in the beginning. "I thought of sustenance for the first time". This shows that hunger was emphasized earlier in the novel excerpt. Pi thought about sustenance the…...
AnimalsLife Of PiTransport
A Short Review of The Life of Pi, a Novel by Yann Martel
Words • 301
Pages • 2
Yann Martel's Life of Pi thus far has been an incredibly interesting read. Although in the beginning, it is sort of hard to get into. one will find that once they're knee-deep in the book. it's hard to turn away. The book has been really adventurous for me, and I find myself wishing to vicariously live through Pi Patel as he ventures through the 200 he grew up in, experiencing every animal every day. Early on in the book. my…...
CultureLife Of PiLiteratureReligion
The Life of Pi, a Novel by Yann Martel
Words • 621
Pages • 3
Some may think that having more than one religion is a taboo but Piscine Molitor Patel sees it as a way to love God in his many ways. “Bapu Gandhi said, ‘All religions are truer’ I just want to love God” . He seems to be a deeply religious person, right from the start. Also as a charming character with all his little quirks and captivating thoughts, Pi is not an average fourteen year old with a nickname like Pi…...
CultureFaithLife Of PiReligion
The Theme of Love Conquers All in Life is Beautiful, a Movie by Roberto Benigni
Words • 437
Pages • 2
Life Is Beautiful is a fictionalized movie that takes place in Italy during the 19305 and tells a story of a Jewish family and their comedic challenges with starting a family and dealing with the holocaust This is a very controversial film and displays numerous themes and meanings. The main theme that I noticed was this cliché of ”love conquers all". I found it hard to buy into and seemed always overshadowed by the common knowledge of the actual wretchedness…...
CultureLife Is BeautifulThe Holocaust
Comparison of Schindler’s List and Life Is Beautiful
Words • 256
Pages • 2
An analytical comparison of the films Schindler's List and Life is Beautiful reveals the different approaches given to the Holocaust of World War II by their directors, Schindler's List utilizes realism in the whole story through the use of the real victims of the Holocaust as the characters. Life is Beautiful on the other hand, is based on historical facts with the whole story being acted by characters that never experienced the Holocaust Furthermore, the atmosphere of the two films…...
Life Is BeautifulThe HolocaustTragedy
Life is Beautiful; More Than What Meets the Eye
Words • 547
Pages • 3
In the still moments, before the waking hour, the sun slowly peaks out spreading over the horizon, garnishing each town with a luminous glow. Homes are filled with soft breathing and dreams that leave a mysterious awe in the waking. The air is cold and crisp to the bone, yet the peace warms us from the inside out. We take for granted the wonders that the world surrounds us. Life is beautiful; more than what meets the eye. The changing…...
FictionLife Is BeautifulLiterature
Life is Beautiful, a Drama Comedy Film by Roberto Benigni
Words • 1435
Pages • 6
Life Is Beautiful, explores the power of laughter to lift the human spirit even in the face of extreme tragedy. Director, Roberto Benigni is able to do this buy taking a fairy tale approach that is both funny and moving but With an unusual shift in tone midway through the film. Benigni who plays Guido in the film uses humor to deflect criticism and confuse his enemies and watching his adventures, we are reminded of Charlie Chaplin. Now lets take…...
ComedyCultureItalyLife Is Beautiful
Tolerance and Kindness in the Novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Words • 764
Pages • 4
There are many situations in life where you have to show tolerance and kindness. For some maybe more tolerance than kindness. In To Kill a Mockingbird a fictional book written by Harper Lee there are many characters that show tolerance and kindness. Scout has to tolerate her Aunt Alexandra while she visits her, Jem and Atticus. Many people do not always approve of the things scout does and that is something Scout has to tolerate. Acharacter that shows kindness in…...
BooksFictionKindnessLiterature
Holden’s Unreliable Narration in The Catcher in the Rye
Words • 996
Pages • 4
The Catcher in the Rye by J, D. Salinger is told from the point of view of 17-year-old Holden Caulfield, and therefore the narration of the story is highly unreliable. The novel is narrated by Holden‘s train of thought, often going off topic and sharing his usually pessimistic opinions on every event and person he describes. It is also shown that Holden is still very attached to his brother Allie, who died four years earlier, and this has given him…...
FictionHolden CaulfieldPsychology
Dysthymia of Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye
Words • 675
Pages • 3
Holden Caulfield was admitted into Long Island Jewish Hospital, Mental Institution via. The Adolescent Pavilion on January 28'“ of 1972 at the age of seventeen for approximately seventy six hours, Upon Mr, Caulfield’s stay at the Adolescent Pavilion, he was diagnosed with Dysthymia, otherwise known as Persistent Depressive Disorder. This stage of depression was largely impacted by the lost of Holden’s younger brother, Allie, at the sight of leukemia. “Depression is commonly initiated by a major loss or sudden change…...
Holden CaulfieldMental HealthPsychology
Holden Caulfield in the Catcher in the Rye, a Novel by J. D. Salinger
Words • 780
Pages • 4
In Salinger‘s novel The Catcher in the Rye, the narrator Holden Caulfield is a non» conformist who dismisses the workings of an established system. Throughout the novel Salinger creates situations that support the fact that Holden is a lonely, misanthropic, and self-destructive teenager because of his sensitivity to rejection. This sensitivity is the basis of all of Holden’s words, thoughts, and actions. Holden continuously contradicts and isolates himself against the norm in order to conceal his true vulnerability: rejection Holden…...
Holden CaulfieldPsychologySocial Psychology
Holden’s Trust Issues in Catcher in the Rye
Words • 667
Pages • 3
In the novel Catcher in the Rye by JD. Salinger, his character Holden greets the readers with the line, “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you‘ll probably want to know is where l was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know…...
CultureFictionHolden CaulfieldLiterature
Holden Caulfield’s Bipolar Disorder?
Words • 1299
Pages • 6
Psychiatric disorders are serious illnesses that can often be misunderstood, It is difficult to diagnose something that is happening within a person’s own brain. One must analyze the thoughts, experiences, and actions of a person to give a correct diagnosis In J.D, Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a teenager who decides to spend his time after getting kicked out of school exploring New York Through his narrative, we see the thoughts and experiences of a troubled…...
HealthHolden CaulfieldMental DisorderMental Health
Holden’s Coming of Age in The Catcher in the Rye
Words • 636
Pages • 3
From the story “The Catcher in the Rye” by Salinger, one can derive a question such as what are the adolescent problems one can confront on the journey from childhood to adulthood? Adolescent problems is evident to have a greater impact on the life of an adolescent as they influence their way of perceiving things and other people in society. The author presents the painful story a high-school adolescent by the name Holden Caulfield who is growing up in the…...
Holden CaulfieldHuman DevelopmentPsychology
We've found 5907 essay examples on Literature
Prev8 of 148Next

FAQ about Literature

Life is Beautiful; More Than What Meets the Eye
...They impact each of us in a different kind of way, leaving little flashes of the past moments we have shared with others. Our eyes tell different stories, narrating the untold adventures of the past. The views that we see are only mere glimpses of a ...
Let’s chat?  We're online 24/7