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

Abstract
This paper explores the complex themes of "The Beach". It defines the main themes as discovery, the darkness in man's heart, and the conflict of man versus man and analyses these themes with concrete examples from the book.

From the Paper
"The primary theme of this novel is discovery. This theme includes both self-discovery and the discovery of something new and unique; an unfound and undisturbed paradise. The beach is a legend amongst young travelers in Asia. It is rumoured to be a lagoon hidden from the sea, with white sane and coral gardens, freshwater falls surrounded by jungle and plants that have remained untouched by man for a thousand years. On this beach, there are said to be a few carefully selected internationals settle in a communal Eden. The narrator is Richard, a twenty-something man who has been subjected to far too many Vietnam War movies. He is adrift in Southeast Asia, Bangkok, and he desires something different, the ultimate travel spot unspoiled by man. Like most of the travelers he meets, Richard is bored with the usual dissonance of Thailand and craves something more exciting and risqu?. Richard is a regular, young, English man in his early twenties. Up until his recent journey to Bangkok, he has had no significant life-altering events in his life; he is a typical product of his technologically advanced environment and he wanted some action in his life."

Tags:book, english, paper, report

Abstract
This essay analyzes two of Langston Hughes' poems entitled "I, Too, Sing America" and "Po Boy Blues". The two poems are compared and contrasted and are shown to have distinct messages and themes - one positive and the other negative. The paper discusses the use of poetic techniques in general, including titles, symbolism, and tone, and relates them to both poems.

From the Paper
"Poetry is the art of writing stories, poems, and thoughts into verse with language selected for its beauty and sound, but appealing terms are only the surface of these thought-provoking compositions. Ample poems are considered successful due to the messages they contain and through the way that they are conveyed to the audience. Poetry is very abstract, full of symbolism, and holds hidden emotions, which are not evident when viewed from a fundamental point of view. This can be observed in two of Langston Hughes' poems, entitled I, Too, Sing America, and Po Boy Blues, which display that poems can be understood through their title, symbolism, and tone."

Tags:mood, poetry, style, theme

Abstract
Metaphors not only can be used as literal interpretation of events, but also have metaphorical meanings. A good example would be the black cat in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" and how the narrator in the story implied throughout the story that the cat is of demonic creature. The black cat in the short story not only has a literal meaning of a normal household cat but also from a metaphorical-side of meaning, as the narrator's personal demon, which haunts him throughout the story and brings him to the point of near insanity.

From the Paper
"The first mention of the black cat in the short story is when the narrator's wife noticed his partiality for domestic pets and "lost no opportunity of procuring those of the most agreeable kind" (894), which includes a black cat. In the beginning, the narrator describes the cat as a "large and beautiful animal, entirely black, and sagacious to a degree" (894). When he describes the cat in this way, the narrator gave us his view of the cat as an everyday, normal household cat that people who have had an encounter with cats can feel a real connection to. Even though some people might have the superstitious belief that an entirely black cat might be a minion of the underworld or a witch in disguise which his wife did when she "made frequent allusions to the ancient popular notion" (894), the narrator tries his best to also show that this is a normal cat like any other. The narrator also gives the pet the name of Pluto, which is the name for the god of the underworld in Roman mythology. By doing this, he further connects the black cat of his to something from the underworld. He also calls what he sees when he went back to check out the ruins of his house that burned down as an apparition (895) and a "phantasm of the cat" (896). An apparition is a ghost or spirit and by following what the narrator describes, his view of the black cat goes from a normal household pet to something that haunts him for months. The loss of the cat not only brought him remorse at what he did to the cat when he hung it on a rope but also regret at the loss of a fine pet."

Tags:allan, black, cat, edgar, poemetaphors, hate, demon, narrator, literal, short, story

Abstract
This essay examines the use of imagery in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper' as it mirrors the protagonists final descent into insanity. The author describes the use of grotesque in this American gothic-style short story revealing the use of symbolism in the tale. The themes in the story are also analyzed.

From the Paper
"Throughout Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" there is imagery describing the grotesque. The narrator's descriptions of the wallpaper's florid decorations grow and develop as her mind slowly deteriorates. As the protagonist's insanity begins to set in, the wallpaper seems to develop along with her. The worse she gets, the more she perceives within the design. The wallpaper almost seems to mirror her mood, as it twirls and plunges unceasingly like her racing and confused mind. The element of the grotesque is very important in this American gothic-style tale, as it helps to show, or possibly causes, the mental anguish of the narrator."

Tags:american, grotesque, imagery, literature, short, story, supernatural

Abstract
In W. H. Auden's poem, "Funeral Blues," the speaker uses well-constructed poetic language and form to convey her attitude toward the subject of death. It explains how Auden manifests an extremely bitter interpretation of hopelessness and eternal sadness on the part of the speaker as a result of losing a loved one. The speaker in the poem is deeply saddened about the loss of her loved one and the fact that it was a force beyond her control. This person has been taken from her life in haste at a most inopportune time, and she feels as though her life has become pointless. It shows how, through Auden's use of tone, language, and structure, he portrays a very well-defined image of death and its effects on the individual, which is by no means desirable.

From the Paper
In "Funeral Blues" Auden makes the bitter attitude of the speaker toward the subject of death apparent to the readers through the use of symbols, imagery, personification, and the metaphor. In the first stanza Auden states, "stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone..."(Auden 1362. 1). The clock being stopped may signify the fact that he who died has run out of time and also to ask those who knew him to stop what they are doing and reflect. The telephone being cut off brings forth the idea of silence. Auden does this to show the deceased the respect they deserve. She believes in honoring the dead with a moment of silence to pay respect. In the second stanza the speaker states, "let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead."(Auden 1362. 5). She uses this metaphoric image to convey the pointlessness of her life and also her grief. What point is there for aeroplanes to fly in circles? She is comparing the pointlessness of flying in circles to her life without her partner.

Tags:interpretation, poetry, representation, theme

Abstract
This essay compares and contrasts the behaviors and actions of Hamlet and Othello. In particular, the two characters' handling of love, grief and revenge are examined.

From the Paper
"Chance, coincidence, and circumstance influence the actions one takes when dealing with highly emotional situations. Everyone has their own way of dealing with these emotional situations, but the actions one chooses to carry out portray an image of the character they have become. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, and Othello, Hamlet and Othello, respectively, are similar in ways of handling their emotional states, but are very unalike in some aspects also. Hamlet and Othello's handling of love, grief, and revenge can be compared and contrasted in their respective plays. The love of their women, the grief of their losses, and the revenge that consumed them, have different, yet similar approaches by Hamlet and Othello."

Tags:comparative, essay, comparison, contrast, desdemona, evil, iago, jealousy, moor, murder, ophelia, othello, revenge, shakespeare, venice

Abstract
This is a critical essay on Richard Wright's short story, The Man Who Was Almost a Man. This tale is a twisted parody of the hunt, where a boy becomes a man by learning to take responsibility for his actions and doing what is best for himself. This parody shows the protagonist?s desire to become a respected equal among the other adults with whom he feels he has earned the right to belong, through his growing age and hard work in the fields. The paper includes many quotes from the story exploring themes and symbolism.

From the Paper
"Wright subverts a typical hunt genre to create a parody of a boy reaching manhood. In "The Man Who Was Almost a Man," the protagonist, Dave, tries to reach his potential as an adult and earn respect from other men. However, his position in society as a downtrodden adolescent, who toils like a workhorse, does not allow him the dignity he deserves. By shooting the mule, he is given a chance to become a man in the only avenue available to him; he runs away on the train to find a new future. "Ahead the long rails were glinting in the moonlight, stretching away to somewhere, somewhere where he could be a man" (1128). This newfound freedom and manhood, which comes from his first ironic kill, satisfies the rite of passage in the hunt and brings him the independence and responsibly he deserves."

Tags:genre, hunt, parody, short, story, man, boy

Abstract
This essay examines the struggles between the class and territory divisions within England, through Elizabeth Gaskell's novel, "North and South". Gaskell explores this theme through the characterization of the hero and heroine. The author includes ample discussion of symbolism and quotes from the novel.

From the Paper
"Throughout Elizabeth Gaskell's Victorian novel, North and South, the struggle between the class and territory divisions within England is explored with characters that do not develop in large flashes of knowledge, but change and grow slowly over time. This more natural and almost imperceptible transformation occurs as the two main characters learn from their mistakes and mature slowly through their experiences. The heroine of the novel, Margaret Hale, and the hero, Mr. Thornton, learn to appreciate the differences between the Northern and Southern ways of life, and to break down class barriers."

Tags:characterization, class, England, literature, struggle, study, Victorian

Abstract
This paper deals with the protagonist Hamlet, and his inability to complete his task of revenge. Although Hamlet does kill Claudius, who is his uncle and the man who killed his father, the plan for revenge is not properly fulfilled due to elements that cause Hamlet's downfall and his unfortunate demise. The essay discusses how the factors of procrastination, melancholic behavior, and constant indecision stop Hamlet from properly fulfilling the task assigned by the ghost of Old Hamlet.

From the Paper
"Hamlet observes how Fortinbras is willing to go blindly to Poland, to fight for a piece of land, which is worthless, all in the name of honor. When he looks at himself, he sees that he is not a man of action. The prince has had months of time to fulfill his act of revenge, which he has all the reason for, but he has not gotten any closer to his goal than the first day. Fortinbras, on the other hand, appears as a foil to Hamlet, highlighting his own quick-acting ability, and contrasting Hamlet's continuing procrastination. The extensive delay of Hamlet's revenge is what creates a tragedy and contributes to his downfall at the end of the play. As well as the stretching of time, Hamlet is also not up to the task assigned to him by the ghost because he is melancholic and too overwhelmed by other surrounding situations."

Tags:claudius, death, downfall, ghost, hamlet, hero, procrastination, shakespeare, tragedy