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

27201 total results

An Analysis of Hamlet’s Depression Affecting His Mental State and His Relationship With Ophelia in the Play Hamlet by William Shakespeare (1136 words, 4 pages)

In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet experiences the major tragedy of his fathers murder which creates depression affecting his relationship with Ophelia. Throughout the play Hamlets depression and anger towards Claudius, Gertrude, and Polonius affected his mental state as well as his attitude towards Ophelia which is why ... Read More

An Analysis of the Male Characters With an Abundance of Power in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1250 words, 4 pages)

Women on Top Panel EssayIt is virtually universally accepted that most modern or ancient societies are or were patriarchies. There is then, no question as to the persistence of the patriarchy in life and in literature, both of which usually demonstrate a disproportionately large allocation of social, governmental, and financial ... Read More

The Concept of Modernism in Stephen Spender’s The Struggle of the Modern (1165 words, 4 pages)

The Modernist AestheticOriginally understood as general sympathy for the modern condition, the 1920s saw the term modernism become directly associated with the artistic experimentation that was beginning to develop within Western culture (Faulkner, viii). With experimentation as such a central part of the imaginative framework during this time, it is ... Read More

The Life and Writings of Charles Dickens (1944 words, 6 pages)

Charles Dickens was one of the greatest authors of his time because his writing was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. He used his own life experiences and incorporated them into his books. Gothic imagery in fiction during the early Victorian era functions in much the same way as the ... Read More

Charles Dickens’ Response Letter to Edward’s Suggestion on the Ending of Great Expectations (890 words, 3 pages)

Dear Edward,Firstly, I want to thank you for the suggestions that you made about the ending of Great Expectations. Your suggestions got through my consideration process, and I must admit it, I like your ending better.When we talked about the best ending for the first time, I had been obsessively ... Read More

An Analysis of Themes in the Canterbury Tales, a Book by Geoffrey Chaucer (1884 words, 6 pages)

Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales is a collection of short stories, told in the voices of various people traveling on a pilgrimage together, that provides insight into 14th Century cultural issues, such as sexuality, religion, and social class. Perhaps one of the more prominent themes throughout The Canterbury Tales is ... Read More

Character Analysis of Shylock as the Antagonist in the Merchant of Venice, a Play by William Shakespeare (1547 words, 5 pages)

The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, is a play about Antonio, a wealthy merchant, who takes a loan from a Jewish usurer named Shylock in 16th-Century Venice. Antonio uses the money to furnish a trip to Belmont, to assist his close friend Bassanio in seeking to marry Portia, the ... Read More

An Interpretation of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (632 words, 2 pages)

Heart of Darkness Final EssayAustrian writer Stefan Zweig captured the dichotomy of discomfort and enlightenment inherent in exile with his assertion that, Only the misfortune of exile can provide the in-depth understanding and the overview into the realities of the world. In other words, the firsthand experience people gain from ... Read More

The Dual Meaning of the Relationship Between Man and Nature in Mary Shelley’s Novel, Frankenstein (616 words, 2 pages)

A prominent feature of the humanities that emerged from the Romantic period of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is the relationship between man and nature. Authors often idealized the countryside and pondered mans place in it. In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, however, the country takes on a dual meaning. At once ... Read More

An Analysis of Why Piggy Would Be a Better Leader Than Ralph and Jack in Lord of the Flies by William Golding (868 words, 3 pages)

In William Gouldings Lord of the Flies, readers are presented with a seemingly innocent novel following the adventures of multiple stranded boys on an island. However, there is an undertow of savagery at the helm of the novel. Goulding crafts an intricate cell of characters, each with a unique personality. ... Read More

The Characteristics of a Bully Demonstrated by Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s Play Macbeth (770 words, 3 pages)

No two people are exactly alike, however the human race demonstrateshow personality traits get passed down through generations. Althoughhundreds of years have passed since Shakespeare has written Macbeth, manyof the characters' personality traits can be found within people throughouthistory and within modern day society. In the play, Lady Macbethdemonstrates characteristics ... Read More

An Analysis of the Allegory to the Russian Revolution in Animal Farm by George Orwell (1244 words, 4 pages)

Animal Farm by George Orwell is considered the ultimate literary allegory to the Russian revolution or Bolshevik Revolution. Orwell introduces many different themes to create a strong and slightly sinister warning against the problems of communismsocialism. By portraying common human flaws through animals, Orwell allows the reader to understand just ... Read More

An Introduction to Dystopia in 1984, a Novel by George Orwell (2449 words, 8 pages)

Most fictional literature draws from the real life experiences of the author. Therefore, in order to attempt to understand the intricacies of the text we must look at context. George Orwells 1984 exemplifies the importance of context when analyzing a text. Orwell introduced the concept of dystopia in a way ... Read More

A Prediction of the Future in Brave New World, a Novel by Aldous Huxley (831 words, 2 pages)

Brave New World by Aldous HuxleyThe future is the present projected. says Aldous Huxley and I think this sentence can sum up the place which the book Brave New World has in literary classics. Even though it was published in 1932, it is still possible to find various details that ... Read More

An Analysis of Winston and Julia Being Foils of Each Other in the Novel 1984 by George Orwell (327 words, 1 pages)

Winston and Julia FoilsIn George Orwells novel 1984, the protagonist Winston Smith and his lover and ally Julia are shown to be foils of each other. Winston and Julia come together based on their mutual hatred for Big Brother and the party. They share a rebellious characteristic, however they are ... Read More

An Analysis of Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus and Caius Cassius as Potential Tragic Heroes of the Play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (430 words, 2 pages)

Julius Caesar Tragic HeroIn William Shakespeares play Julius Caesar, it is not entirely clear who the tragic hero actually is. Though many believe that it is Julius Caesar himself, or Marcus Brutus, Caius Cassius also fits the bill. He is a great man, and just like Caesar and Brutus, he ... Read More

An Analysis of the Theme of Manipulation in the Play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (436 words, 2 pages)

Manipulation in Julius CaesarAt first glance, there seems to be a lot of manipulation afoot in William Shakespeares play Julius Caesar. The biggest manipulator however, is Mark Antony. Not only does he manipulate a large amount of people as well as those of high statue, but he does it in ... Read More

A Character Analysis of Caliban and the Theme of Slavery in The Tempest by William Shakespeare (487 words, 2 pages)

Current events and controversial topics are frequently the inspiration behind the creation of various literary works. Slavery and the colonization of the new world are two of the most controversial topics which have inspired authors to write. The Tempest by William Shakespeare is a prime example of this as one ... Read More

An Analysis of the Anti-Colonial Sentiment in The Tempest by William Shakespeare and The Royal Commentaries by El Inca Garcilaso de La Vega (1509 words, 5 pages)

Anti-Colonial Sentiment in The Tempest and The Royal CommentariesCurrent events and controversial topics frequently inspire the creation of various literary works. Colonization of the New World was met with great disapproval as the Europeans exploited the native populations for their own gain. In Peru, the Spanish took over the native ... Read More

An Analysis of Juliet’s Doubt of the Value of Words in William Shakespeare’s Play Romeo and Juliet (403 words, 1 pages)

Value of WordsIn William Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet seems to doubt the value of words. I agree with Juliet here in the sense that words cant capture the most important feelings and ideas in life. Romeo and Juliet themselves prove this to be true, there are also real ... Read More

An Analysis of the Homo-Eroticism and the Blending of Genders Explained Through the Characterization of Viola in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (1006 words, 4 pages)

Often times in theatrical productions, gender roles are flipped or reversed. Since Greek times, men were the only ones allowed on stage, even if the role belonged to a woman. Playwrights would use this to enhance and magnify the humor, drama, and plot twists throughout the play. In Shakespeares comedy, ... Read More

An Analysis of the Adventure Book Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (951 words, 3 pages)

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson An ostentatiously boys adventure book, this story holds within it much greater depth than might be expected at first glance, containing a veritable treasure trove of wisdom, mostly to do with the free will and fate encountered by the characters in the book. The ... Read More

An Analysis of the Themes of Light and Darkness in the Novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (307 words, 2 pages)

A Tale of Two Cities Light and DarknessIn Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities, metaphors circulating around the shadows of darkness and glimmers of light are developed throughout the story. These metaphors are perhaps the strongest in Book 3, when the lives of Madame Defarge and Lucie Manette ... Read More

A Character Analysis of Romeo Montague in the Play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (609 words, 2 pages)

Romeo and Juliet Romeo MontagueO Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Juliet Capulet calls to no one in particular. Who is this Romeo anyways? Well, in William Shakespeare's tragic play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo Montague proves to be a very passionate, impulsive, and dramatic character.First and foremost, Romeo is repeatedly ... Read More

A Character Analysis of O’Brien in 1984 by George Orwell (724 words, 3 pages)

OBrien in 1984This is a world where no one can be trusted. One can not trust his neighbors, and one cant trust his colleagues. One can not even trust himself. George Orwells novel 1984 is riddled with villains, most of which are doing the bidding of the totalitarian government of ... Read More

An Analysis of the Theme of Obsession and How it Leads to Demise in the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (574 words, 1 pages)

In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, she portrays the life of Victor Frankenstein and how an obsession can lead to ones demise. The main protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, has always had an interest in the pursuit of knowledge since a young age. Even after his mothers death, he still decides to go away ... Read More

Humanity’s Thirst for Knowledge and Its Pathway to Destruction in the Novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1032 words, 3 pages)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley expresses humanitys thirst for knowledge and how taking that desire too far can result in their disastrous downfall. Her main character Victor Frankenstein discovers this after he creates a monster with his knowledge of Chemistry in order to gain more knowledge and make a name for ... Read More

An Analysis of the Honesty of Iago in the Play Othello by William Shakespeare (1254 words, 5 pages)

Honest Iago A Study on Manipulation in Shakespeares OthelloAlthough the play is titled Othello and Othello is the character at the center of the story, it is Iago, the antagonist, who creates intense action and struggle within the rich text. Written into life-like prominence by Shakespeare, Iago manipulates many characters ... Read More

The Vivid Diction and Symbolism in Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples, a Reinterpretation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1379 words, 5 pages)

Immortal, blood-sucking, murderous creature a child. The nature of children normally brings to mind purity and tenderness, a brand new, unadulterated form of life. Their innocent nature makes them ideal subjects for the motif of good versus evil often found in classic fairy tales. In such scenarios, children usually serve ... Read More

A Character Analysis of Mark Antony as the Biggest Manipulator in the Play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (443 words, 2 pages)

At first glance, there seems to be a lot of manipulation afoot in William Shakespeares play Julius Caesar. The biggest manipulator however, is Mark Antony. Not only does he manipulate a large amount of people as well as those of high statue, but he does it in the most deceitful ... Read More

English Literature Essay Examples