English Literature Essays Examples For College & High School Students in PDF

27201 total results

The Major Theme in As You Like It, a Play by William Shakespeare (834 words, 4 pages)

One major theme used by Shakespeare in many of his plays is the rise of one character at the expense of another. This idea or concept is widely recognizable in his famous comedy As You Like It. The play contains power struggles between Orlando and Oliver, as well as another ... Read More

The Best Gift I Received from My Parents (1384 words, 4 pages)

Through out my child hood I was referred to as that girl boy or a tom-boy. I thought I was just another little boy but it turned out I wasn't. I never knew what was wrong with me until I started to get older and learned terms to identify a ... Read More

A Comparison of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Emma by Jane Austen (2052 words, 6 pages)

It can be argued the early 19th century novels Jane Eyre and Emma are progressive in their beliefs and to some extent disrupt the view that women in literature are defined by their relationship with men the term meaning that upon being with a man, a woman is essentially a ... Read More

A Cruel World Filled of Wicked People in The Bloody Chamber by Carter (796 words, 2 pages)

Carter has created a cruel world, filled with wicked people. How do you respond to this view of The Bloody Chamber?Arguably, in the stories from The Bloody Chamber, especially The Snow Child and The Bloody Chamber, Carter presents a cruel world filled with wicked people. The characters within The Bloody ... Read More

A Reflection on the Lessons I Learned from Reading Books in My English Class (916 words, 3 pages)

ReflectionAs a writer and editor, I learned the importance that these nurtured skills are easily applied to everyday life situations and to our future careers as healthcare professionals, hopefully. As a college student, there are other subjects and activities that appear as more important and higher priority than writing essays, ... Read More

Poor Parenting in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (580 words, 2 pages)

The poor parenting in Wuthering Heights becomes obvious very early into the novel, not only negatively affecting the first generation raised, but seeping into the second one, creating an odd cycle. Whether it is the neglect that some figures convey onto their children, or selfish motives, parenting in Wuthering Heights ... Read More

Iago as a Master Manipulator in the Play Othello by William Shakespeare (971 words, 4 pages)

Iago Master ManipulatorConsistently considered the greatest villain of all literature Iago displays an affinity for evil so complete that not even those closest to him are safe. Iago displays a cunning that is unmatched in the play, Othello by William Shakespeare. Readers can make this conclusion by observing how not ... Read More

The Theme of the Supernatural Element in Act 1 Scene 1 of the Play Macbeth by William Shakespeare (612 words, 2 pages)

Act 1, Scene 1 starts with a stereotypical image of the witches, which would have shocked and drawn in the 17th Century Elizabethan audience in interest due to the rarity and obscurity surrounding the supernatural. The opening, as well as the rest of the supernatural elements seen in the play ... Read More

An Analysis of Morality in Richard III, a Play by William Shakespeare (1051 words, 4 pages)

The protagonist and central villain of William Shakespeares Richard III, the famous play featuring the York family drama directly after the War of the Roses, is a power-hungry individual determined to become king. Richard IIIs unrelenting ambition, lack of morality, and extensive greed pose a lethal combination to anyone who ... Read More

To What Extent is Feminist Criticism Helpful in Opening Up Potential Meanings in The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy (1252 words, 2 pages)

To what extent is feminist criticism helpful in opening up potential meanings in Thomas Hardys The Withered Arm? The short story, The Withered Arm explores the role of women in society, their submission to men as well as their independence while at all times retaining an understanding of their struggles. ... Read More

An Analysis of Social and Moral Conventions in the Importance of Being Earnest, a Play by Oscar Wilde (1536 words, 5 pages)

We should treat all the trivial things of life seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality. To what extent does this apply to The Importance of Being Earnest?The interpretation that we should treat all the trivial things of life seriously, and all the serious ... Read More

Is Victor the True Monster in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley? (1691 words, 3 pages)

In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein was the real monster. This was evident from his selfishness, from his cruelty and rejection of his creation, and because he indirectly caused the deaths of his own family and friends. Victor Frankenstein may not be hideous or look other-worldly, but he possesses devilish ... Read More

The Strength of the Female Characters in Spies by Michael Frayn (892 words, 2 pages)

It is the female characters that display the most strength in Spies. To what extent do you agree?Both female and male characters in Michael Frayns Spies equally portray testaments of power and firmness. Keith establishes his supremacy over Stephen by intimidating and belittling him, which achieves the desired effect of ... Read More

The Contrasting Generations in the Play All’s Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare (591 words, 2 pages)

Few of Shakespeare's works offer such a sharp contrast between two generations. The older characters in the play are haunted by death--the Countess has lost a husband and is aging herself Helena's father has passed away Lafew is infirm Diana's mother is, appropriately enough, a Widow and the King is ... Read More

A Comparison of the Similarities Between the Poem Paradise Lost and the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (604 words, 2 pages)

The poem, Paradise Lost has many parallels to Frankenstein. When Victor made the Monster, he is being compared to God when God created Adam. The Monster is compared to both Adam and Satan because God also created Satan. The Monster associates himself with Satan because they were both made and ... Read More

The Comedy Genre of the Past and Present (572 words, 3 pages)

Comedy, the one genre that constantly makes you provoke emotions of joy, happiness, and enjoyment. Moreover, comedy is the ecstatic genre. The genre that makes you laugh while chewing on your popcorn admiring the characters in that one book or movie, maybe even a television or radio show. For these ... Read More

Sympathy for the Monster in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1397 words, 3 pages)

Throughout her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley continuously invokes feelings of sympathy for the monster. She achieves this by emphasising the monsters loathsome existence, stirring feelings of pity and leading readers to understand the justification behind his violent and cruel actions. Shelley successfully conveys how greatly people can be blinded by ... Read More

The Dangers of Jealousy in Othello, a Play by William Shakespeare (1634 words, 6 pages)

BewareJealousy, without a doubt, is the most powerful human emotion. Looking at the world in its entirety, it is easy to observe that people are destroyed because of what they think they know as much as the truth behind certain actions. In Othello, a play by William Shakespeare, the envious ... Read More

The Story of the Tension Between Democracy and Totalitarianism in Lord of the Flies by William Golding (943 words, 4 pages)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a political allegory of different governments. A political allegory is a story or image that has a massive hidden political meaning. There is the symbolic level that all the characters and plot represent metaphorically. Though set on an isolated island, the novel ... Read More

The Use of Diction and Imagery to Portray the Ghost in the Play Hamlet by William Shakespeare (597 words, 2 pages)

This scene is a crucial part of the story, as it provides the plot for the rest of the story. Shakespeare had to incorporate empathy and emotion while writing this scene in order to hook readers into the play. By using diction and imagery Shakespeare created an atmosphere from which ... Read More

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran (1228 words, 4 pages)

The story opens up with Dr. Watson - an associatefriend of the great Sherlock Holmes, which this story is based on - recalling his memories with Sherlock mentioning that Sherlock was rather unusual, as he always chose to do the more interesting, unique cases rather than the commonplace, ordinary ones. ... Read More

Character Analysis of Viola in Twelfth Night, a Play by William Shakespeare (2354 words, 8 pages)

Transvestitism underlies Shakespeare's entire canon, it serves,therefore, to pun on the word as Hamlet does and fix our cannon on theimplications that crossdressing had for English Renaissance theater. Whywas it that a society with such rigid patriarchal structure accommodatedtransvestite boys playing the majority of female roles for the span of ... Read More

The Arrogance of John Dalgliesh in L’Affaire Uncle John, a Story by P. G. Wodehouse (591 words, 3 pages)

Within P. G. Wodehouse's "L'Affaire Uncle John (A Story in Letters)"story, Mr John Dalgliesh comes out as an arrogant character. To this end,even though he does not finance Archibald Venables' lifestyle, Mr Dalglieshtakes offense at Archibald's hospitality initiative. Moreover, Mr Dalglieshuses his walking stick to dig holes on a cricket ... Read More

An Analysis of the Plot and Message in the Detective Novel Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem (2963 words, 11 pages)

Motherless Brooklynis a late 20th century detective novel by Jonathan Lethem that attempts to recreate the traditional murder story. However, the story comes with post-modern alterations such as the implementation of a narrator with Tourettes Syndrome. The plot consists of the narrator, Lionel Essrog, hunting for the killer of his ... Read More

The Prophet and the Idea of Astrological Predictions in The Canterbury Tales, a Novel by Geoffrey Chaucer (1006 words, 4 pages)

Chaucer's Prophet Today my horoscope signified that I will ponder heavy topics.Horoscopes claim the the alignment of astrological bodies has bearing andsignificance to our lives here on Earth. Handy Nicholas of Chaucer's TheCanterbury Tales is no stranger to the concept of astrological predictions.Nicholas is the protagonist of the Miller's Tale, ... Read More

A Comparison of Bradshaw’s Little Story and Harrison’s Slight Error, Two Stories by P. G. Wodehouse (709 words, 4 pages)

Readers - Avoid Unethical Actions - "Bradshaw's Little Story" and "Harrison's Slight Error" P. G. Wodehouse's "Bradshaw's Little Story" and "Harrison's SlightError" stories caution readers against engaging in unethical actions twomale characters who hurt their colleagues suffer painful consequences. Tothis end, after lying to the Headmaster of St Austin's School ... Read More

A Comparison of Bradshaw’s Little Story and Concealed Art, Two Stories by P. G. Wodehouse (637 words, 3 pages)

Coincidence Harms Characters in "Bradshaw's Little Story" and "Concealed Art" Within P. G. Wodehouse's "Bradshaw's Little Story" and "Concealed Art"stories, coincidence harms two male characters. To this end, whileFrederick Wackerbath Bradshaw is having an informal discussion with threeclassmates within "Bradshaw's Little Story" Prater coincidentally emergesand causes Bradshaw to experience the ... Read More

The Effects of Over analyzing in Hamlet, a Play by William Shakespeare (1090 words, 3 pages)

Many instances in life we find ourselves questioning acts of violence and how a person could commit such an act. Whether it be as simple as putting a pet down or as heinous as an act of terrorism, a violent goal is much easier achieved with an apathetic mindset. Biologically ... Read More

Character Analysis of Harrison in Harrison’s Slight Error, a Story by P. G. Wodehouse (544 words, 3 pages)

Within P. G. Wodehouse's "Harrison's Slight Error" story, Harrisoncomes out as a careless character Harrison misjudges phenomena in twoimportant instances. For instance, mistaking Venables Senior's room asGraham's, woefully Harrison tricks Venables Junior into stripping this roomof its furniture. Moreover, Harrison fails to enter into the traincompartment wherein is Mace waiting ... Read More

Blindness in the Poem Paradise Lost by John Milton (1527 words, 5 pages)

O Loving Hate, O Bright Blindness Adam and Eve's conflict about the ability to solve their problem byending their lives is representative of Milton's own internal conflictregarding his blindness and whether losing his sight will be detrimental orbeneficial to his poetry. The central event of Milton's Paradise Lost is the ... Read More

English Literature Essay Examples