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Early American Literature: European Settlers and Native American Storytelling
Modern American literature evolved from the early foundations of the country’s literary ancestors. The European explorers brought their writing system with them to the New World. They wrote journals, letters, and narratives of their experience in this new place. When the European explorers...
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Women's Contribution to Early American Literature
Women’s literature presents a unique view into the female American experience. America experienced many changes following the Civil War. The country was in a period of transformation, including political, economic, social, and literary shifts. As the country emerged into the Industrial...
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English Literature's Reflection of 17th Century Society
The 17th century marked a shift from an age of faith to an age of reason. Literature represents the turbulence in society, religion, and the monarchy of this period. Life for the English people changed as religious controversy and civil war shook the nation. These issues reformulated the role of...
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Theme of Desire in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"
William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” was written as a fictional play, but the characters and situations of the play offer keen observations of 16th century life. Desire is an emotion experienced by all people. Shakespeare presents the desires of the multiple characters in “Twelfth...
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Poetic Feminism in Aphra Behn's 17th Century Poem “The Disappointment”
Aphra Behn’s “The Disappointment” represents the female role in a patriarchal society. The poem offers a scandalous tale presented in a charming and traditionally poetic way. Behn’s ideal of improved status of women is clearly reflected in this poem of love, sex, and power. Behn uses...
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Middle English Life Depicted in 14th and 15th Century Literature
Classic English literature provides readers a look into the past. Middle English life was difficult unless born to nobility. The feudal system kept noble families in power whereas the lower class people worked to support the wealthy. Middle English literature offers creative representations of...
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Evolution of English Literature by Female Authors
The works of modern and post-modern authors, such as Alice Munro and Anne Carson, may share common themes with Victorian and Romantic authors, such as Emily Bronte and Mary Wollstonecraft, but the language of the pieces are quite different. As time passes literature reflects this phenomenon in many...
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Child Development Theories in Children's Literature
Children’s literature offers a wonderful mixture of magic and reality. This article aims to explore child development theories through the lens of James and the Giant Peach.
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Evolution of Children's Literature in Western Culture
Children’s literature has evolved through the generations from oral story-telling to modern child-centered stories. In ancient times children did not have their own stories, they listened to stories intended for adults. As time passed children’s literature began with educational writing and...
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The Role of Reality in Children’s Literature: “Island of the Blue Dolphins:”
Children’s literature offers young readers the opportunity to explore the world around them via entertaining stories with realistic characters, settings, and situations. Scott O'Dell's 1960 Newbery Medal winning children's novel "Island of the Blue Dolphins" is a captivating story with realistic...
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Religion in Colonial American Literature
Colonial literature, written in simple and expressive style, presents history of colonial times, rules to live by according to pilgrim and Puritan ideals, and the punishment that goes along with violating those ideals. As people immigrated to America from England, they brought their religious...
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A Review of the Elizabethan Poem "Weep You No More Sad Fountains"
The anonymous English poem “Weep You No More, Sad Fountains” provides rich imagery, melancholy metaphors, and insight into the Elizabethan period. Poetry lovers are still enjoying the work today.
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Emotion in Romantic Modern Literature
The poetry of the early modern period into the age of enlightenment forged the way for romantic literature. William Shakespeare’s sonnets of the 17th century as well as William Blake’s and William Wordsworth’s poetry of 18th century follow the romantic formula of expressing emotion through...
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Harry Potter, a Modern Day Mythical Hero
J.K. Rowling’s creative character Harry Potter serves as a wonderful example of the classic mythological hero. The hero story has been portrayed for centuries with early works present in the works of Homer and Hesiod. The classic format for the hero follows the idea of the monomyth. Harry...
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Divided Self Theme in Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekykll and Mr. Hyde" presents the theme of divided self while offering insight into Victorian England. Jekyll’s personal battle with his inner demons creates a literal division of self that would have been empathized by society of the...
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John Keats' "Lamia" Romanticism's Influence on Modern Literature
The Romantic Period offered many extraordinary works of literature. The writing of celebrated English writers, such as John Keats, still resonates with readers today. The concepts and formatting of Romanticism strongly influenced many modern authors. Keats’ representation of the epic poem...