Abstract
This paper looks at Mary Stewart's novel "The Crystal Cave" which is an accurate portrayal of Merlin's journey on becoming an advisor to King Arthur. Merlin's life is analyzed from the time he is a boy to his old age. The various roles that Merlin takes on are discussed and proved to show a direct correlation to the man he becomes. The diverse roles of Merlin as a prophet, student, and servant, Merlin, the man who pulled England out of the Dark Ages, and the right hand to King Arthur, are discussed in order to emphasize his varying journey.

From the Paper
"Every person has many characteristics and roles within themselves that identify who they are. When a person is striving for a goal, many of these characteristics must come into play in order to aid in accomplishing the achievement. In the novel, "The Crystal Cave" by Mary Stewart, the protagonist, Merlin, exemplifies various roles and representations. He endures through an intense journey filled with magic, prophecies, teachings, and battles. He becomes destined to become the advisor for King Arthur, who will bring Britain out of the Dark Ages. The diverse character portrayals made by Merlin are significant with respect to his evolution as King Arthur's advisor. The diverse roles he depicts are of a prophet, student, and servant. "

Tags:ages, ambrosius, arthur, cave, crystal, dark, england, king, mary, merlin, stewart, transformation

Abstract
This essay takes a look into the life of Francois Rabelais and into his book "Gargantua and Pantagruel". Specifically, the focus is on the idea of the curse as mentioned in the book. The curse is that Christians are free and yet they are enslaved. Finally, the paper shows that through his book "Gargantua and Pantagruel", Rabelais examines the curse of Christianity, namely that the Christian has free will, but that the free will he or she is given is limited.

From the Paper
"The book contains the story of the birth and upbringing of a giant child, Gargantua, and illustrates the author's views on bad education (Medieval) and good education (Renaissance), and how an ideal humanist leader should behave. The character of the battling monk, Friar Jean, is introduced, with graphically detailed anatomical descriptions of his feats of holy combat."

Tags:book, curse, gargantua, one, pantagruel, rabelais

Abstract
This paper looks at how Canadian author Jonathan F. Vance's 1997 award-winning novel, "Death So Noble", is an example of an essential work in Canadian literature, one that is paramount in explaining Canada's involvement in the Great War of 1914-1918. In titling his work "Death So Noble", Vance suggests to his readers that dying in defense of one's nation is of the greatest nobility. It explains that, through examination of historical reviews regarding Canadian participation in the Great War, Jonathan Vance is able to derive a convincing argument pertaining to Canada's role through the eyes of its contemporaries.

From the Paper
"Throughout the novel, Vance is successful in presenting various techniques employed by the Canadian government, soldiers who fought in the war, and war-time contemporaries who remained in Canada during the war to create this "mythical" viewpoint of the Great War. Vance organizes the individual chapters in his book so that each chapter is used to discuss how different methods(ie. propaganda) that are used in painting the picture of progress, glory, and nationalism that hangs over the Canadian war effort. Vance cites examples of propaganda(21, 40, 118, 145, 177, and many others ) distributed by the government and the military to provide all Canadian citizens with the positive reinforcement the nation needs to come together in this time of crisis. All of this war-time propaganda does its part in conveying glory and enjoyment to the Canadian public."

Tags:1914, 1917, 1918, canada, conscription, didactic, effort, fight, fought, government, great, literature, nation, review, scholar, war, wwi

Abstract
The paper looks at racism in the book "Stones" by William Bell and presents the Canadian treatment of slaves from Haiti during the 1800's. It also gives a present perspective on the problem by analyzing this years NBA's MVP and the controversy it sparked by choosing Steve Nash.

From the Paper
"Reverse discrimination is also part of this much larger issue. This type of discrimination is very contemporaneous and it is usually toward black people, although other discriminated people could "benefit" from it like Jews or Japanese and even immigrants. In the book we learn that Hannah was suspected of witchcraft, but when Garnet and Raphaella met her, they assumed from the beginning she was not guilty and that she was made a "martyr". However, if we analyze the book more in detail, we find that Hannah and her husband, Jubal, did not give up their fait and thus they were not buried in the Methodist Church graveyard."

Tags:ontario, steve, nash, haiti

From the Paper
" Throughout Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre characters embody different attitudes and beliefs within the Christian faith. These different approaches to religion are shown in Mr. Brocklehurst, the unsympathetic hypocrite in Jane's early life, then countered by Helen Burns' gentle approach to her loving Father, lastly, Jane's faith is tested by St. John's zealous ambition to serve the Lord in her later life."

Tags:bronte, charlotte

Abstract
This paper discusses how Bonfil Batalla writes passionately about the abuses of power within Mexico in his "Mexico Profundo: Reclaiming a Civilization". It looks at how beginning with the colonization by Spain and enduring until the present, the disempowerment of the group that came to be identified as Indian has lead to an internal struggle between the imaginary Mexico and the Mexico Profundo. It explores how the misuse of power physically and psychologically has been utilized to subjugate the Mexico Profundo and to attempt to destroy what is uniquely theirs. It also shows how Batalla writes that now at the time of the collapse of the civilization project envisioned by the imaginary Mexico, an opening exists for readjusting the power balances and forging ahead with the tremendous resources available within Mexico.

From the Paper
"Within the Mayan community of the Chamulas explored by Rosenbaum (1993), they have decided to have the elders of the community elect officials for their own council from those who have had positions on religious cargos and although the state's council has final authority the Chamula's council is able to make decisions in alignment with their value system. The Chamulas have developed a very strong cargo system and have found a way to empower themselves regarding civic politics and, thereby, have been able to feel the penetration of imaginary Mexico less than other Indian communities. Their cargo system is well structured, so although most of the people cannot afford a cargo, they can participate as assistants expanding those participating to about a thousand and, thereby, confirming the communal activity that reaffirms the Mesoamerican culture."

Tags:mayan, community, chamulas, indians

Abstract
This paper analyzes "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin. The paper relates that story is about the experience of Louise Mallard, a woman with heart trouble, immediately after receiving news of her husband's death. The paper comments that unlike the expected reaction, Louise has a moment of relief realizing the freedom she now has, which were taken from her by an unhappy marriage. The paper comments that all the events of the story take place within an hour in Louise's home. In the final minutes of the hour, Louise is shocked to see her husband walking through the front door alive, which causes her to have a heart attack and die. While her family believes she had a heart attack because she was overjoyed, the author leads us to conclude the heart attack was actually caused by her realization that the freedom she looked forward too was no longer a reality. The paper relates Kate Chopin's description of what the main character feels and sees and shows us how this is possible.

From the Paper
"There may be several explanations given as to why Mrs. Mallard reaction caused her death. What was the real reason she had a heart attack? The "obvious" and probably the easiest answer is simply that she was shocked as if she had seen a ghost. We can go a simple step beyond that and say that a wife who realizes her husband is alive after the thought of his death is filled with such a joy that a troubled heart could not handle. Both of these reasons are very possible, yet the details of this hour suggest there is a different reason for Louise's heart attack. The narrative reveals in several ways that her husband's death was a positive turn in her life that she was actually excited about. Once she saw her husband alive, it destroyed her future of freedom and happiness she had looked so forward to, which her heart could not handle."

Tags:unwittingly, feverish, triumph

Abstract
This paper is an analysis of Joseph Heller's anti-war novel, "Catch-22". It begins with a look at the character of the anti-hero Yossarian. Characters are looked at in relation to the novel's themes of power and greed, as well as profit. The use of satire is examined. The paper concludes with the writer's view of what Heller was trying to say in his novel.

From the Paper
"Catch-22 is a novel that entirely takes place at war. Even though the book is filled with comedy, it describes the physical and emotional pain of war. The novel shows us how people are changed by war and how their focuses are changed through different experiences. Catch " 22 breaks the rules of a standard anti " war novel, which shocks this statement into the reader. Through different and sudden time changes, the reader is almost tricked to laugh at certain situations that later are revealed to be quite serious and emotional. The reader doesn't realize what they are laughing at until the novel is completed and Heller's true vision is revealed. Catch " 22 is an "alternative, requiring not only a high order of poetic vision but also a willingness to shock, to challenge, to spit in your audience's eye, is what goes currently under the label of the Absurd. This encompasses farce, gibberish, surrealism and even that sub-branch of show-business called "sick humor"." There are many themes in the novel, which frame the anti-war theme. Greed for power and money and the corruption of soldiers in the novel all tell us how evil war really is. Heller uses satire in order to get the point across from a rather comedic standpoint."

Tags:heller, joseph, war, book

Abstract
This critical essay looks at Wilkie Collins?s The Moonstone-- a novel that presents some interesting observations of religion that mirror the Victorian society of his day. These were people searching for a moral truth to put their faith in. Collins creates larger-than-life characters who settle into a fantastic plot. The author includes many quotes from the novel itself.

From the Paper
" Throughout Wilkie Collins? detective masterpiece, The Moonstone, one notices the many varied beliefs represented by the different characters. Hailed as one of the first true detective novels ever written that follows the modern conventions of mystery novels, Collins is careful to balance the gap between plot and character. His original and diverse characters each have their own form of religion, which shines through in their narrative style, which Collins artfully portrays. Firstly, from the Introduction straight through to the Epilogue Collins flavours The Moonstone with Hindu mythology, through the three Brahmin men who closely guard the stone. Next, the quaint narrator Gabriel Betteredge represents a middle-class settled Protestantism, who relies on his Robinson Crusoe as his prophetic bible. Mr. Jennings represents the scientific viewpoint, the physician who trusts all his faith to science and medicine. Lastly, the fervent "rampant spinster" (259) Miss Clack shows the reader her very enthusiastic attachment to her Christian faith in saving others from going to Hell, through pestering them with continual pamphlets, in her amusing narration."

Tags:collins, wilkie

From the Paper
"Within Homer's Odyssey, many situations present a prevailing moral code within the ancient society. However, the heroes seem to be pushed to do good by ulterior, selfish motives. Yet, if one looks closely at the text one can see the beginnings of an ingrained moral code already in place within the society. This over-riding code affects Odysseus in his trials in trying to return home. Every decision made has a consequence, especially in relation to the gods. This is not conventional morality, in that it does not base itself on one's own inner conscience, but on an exterior moral code which all are pushed to believe in, or suffer the consequences of their actions through the wrath of the gods."

Tags:classical, greek, mythology, studies