Lois Lowry’s “The Giver”

Within Lois Lowry’s “The Giver”, common dystopian tropes can be found , all of which warn modern day readers about the dangers of a society in which greater powers control the lives and fate of individuals under its reign. A common trope within Dystopian Fiction is the control of childbirth and reproduction, that of which … Read more

Thomas Foster’s Universal Christ Analysis

Thomas Foster’s How to Read like a Professor includes deep analysis of many different topics throughout the text. Specifically, Foster’s chapter 14 includes insight on Christian influence in today’s literature. This influence dates fairly back, particularly to European settlers attempting to engrave Christian views on different societies. The chapter also goes into how many characters … Read more

Abuse of power, depletion of self-identity and free will in modern times (Orwell)

George Orwell’s 1984 is a dystopian novel that follows Winston Smith, a normal employee in the Ministry of Truth. Life in 1984 is bleak, non-whimsical and ensued in war. With the depletion of self-identity under the tyrannical guise of “Big Brother”, 1984 serves as a commentary on politics and power. With the abuse of power … Read more

Homage to Catalonia (Orwell) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (Hemingway)

It is essential to consider the historical context which underlies both ‘Homage to Catalonia,’ and ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls,’ and how the authors’ personal experience of the Spanish Civil War may affect their portrayal of the varied personalities present in their respective novels. There are parallels between Hemingway and his protagonist, journalist Robert Jordan … Read more

Shooting an Elephant – George Orwell (symbol of oppression)

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “That I want to destroy British imperialism is another matter, but I want to do so by converting those who are associated with it”. Gandhi’s words shed light on British imperialism that took place in the article “Shooting an Elephant”. George Orwell reflects on his time serving as a police officer … Read more

Hamlet’s staunch love for Ophelia was highly dedicated in disguise for her protection

In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, although it was expressed that Hamlet drove her to her death, his staunch love for Ophelia was highly dedicated in disguise for her protection. The realism of pragmatism within Hamlet actions towards Ophelia goes undoubtedly recognized. Whether his gestures of Professing Ophelia to go to the nunnery was an act … Read more

Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the author portrays a world in which black men are dominated by a white, racist patriarchy. With this, Ellison draws a connection between both the plight of women and black men—both are oppressed by white males. The author repeatedly portrays women’s suffering from invisibility by continuously erasing their human presence … Read more

Her Share of Sorrow by Tessa Hadley (analysis)

The family is often a place where there is safe to be, but that’s not all families. This case we meet in the story ’’Her Share of Sorrow in the story’’ written by Tessa Hadley. In my analysis, I will focus on she examines these feelings through literature and the emotions are also expressed through … Read more

George Orwell’s ‘Coming Up for Air’ / Philip Larkin’s poetry

George Orwell’s ‘Coming Up for Air’ and much of Philip Larkin’s poetry observe and share comparable features of our often less-than-precise connection with the past and how it influences our attitude towards the present and future. Orwell’s central character in ‘Coming Up for Air’, George Bowling, finds it difficult to engage with a monotonous, dehumanised … Read more

Is Attention Worth A Reputation? (“Shooting An Elephant”, George Orwell)

In “Shooting An Elephant”, George Orwell uses the final scene of the killing of the elephant to convey the unbreakable qualities of the narrator: indecisive and selfish. Due to the fact that Orwell receives two different opinions, his own and that of the natives’, he is left questioning exactly who he works for. By the … Read more