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A Reader's Guide to "Mandy" by Julie Andrews Edwards
Julie Andrews, known for "Mary Poppins," wrote a children's novel called "Mandy" in the vein of "A Little Princess," "The Secret Garden," and "Anne of Green Gables."
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Doctor Faustus vs. Mephistopheles, or "The Unfair Bargain"
In the classic Marlowe play, Dr. Faustus makes a bargain with Mephistopheles: twenty-four years of unlimited power for the price of his soul. Unfortunately, Faustus learns too late that he received the raw end of the deal, but he turns his back on any chance of redemption.
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Can You Whistle That Tune? The Coolest Popular Songs with Whistling
Some songs are memorable for their whistling. Here's a countdown of 15 popular whistling songs, from pop music to movies.
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Best "Harry Potter" Spoofs, Parodies, and Fan Contributions
The best "Harry Potter" parodies show a familiarity with the characters and an obvious love of the series. Here are some of the most popular and enduring "Potter" spoofs available on the web.
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Poem Analysis: "The Author to Her Book" by Anne Bradstreet
In "The Author to Her Book," Anne Bradstreet expresses trepidation as she releases her poems to the world. Let's examine the poetic devices she uses to develop a metaphor.
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Sibling Rivalry in Genesis: Am I My Brother's Keeper?
The first families found in the book of Genesis had their share of troubles, sibling rivalry and parental favoritism chief among them. Explore how these Biblical brothers dealt with conflict and how they drove God to come down and settle squabbles.
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William Blake on Innocence and Experience
William Blake combined two of his collections of poems to create Songs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the two contrary States of the Human Soul. His Songs of Innocence portrays the childhood purity of consciousness that is not altogether...
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Cary Fukunaga's Gritty, Gothic "Jane Eyre" (2011) Adaptation
"Jane Eyre" (2011) by Cary Fukunaga devotes as much attention to the gothic aspects of the novel as it does the romance. Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender deliver passionate performances as Jane and Edward Rochester.
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30 Memorable Movie Taglines
Movie taglines capture the spirit of the film in a line or two. These 30 famous taglines come from popular films, including "Almost Famous" (2000).
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Medieval Romance: Archetypal Chivalry and Courtly Love of Arthurian Tradition
Knightly chivalry appears in many of the stories of Arthurian tradition, becoming almost mythic and archetypal because of its enduring popularity. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are associated with chivalry, the codes of honor that...
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Recreating a Ghost of Beauty in Hitchcock's "Vertigo"
"Vertigo" presents a man driven to obsession over his lost love. Scottie tries to reconstruct the ideal woman, but this beauty is an illusion that won't hold up in reality.
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Memory and Imagination in Wordsworth and Coleridge
William Wordsworth’s “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison” are similar in many ways, in part because they are the poets’ personal reflections on the beauty of nature and the power of memory.
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Dissonance and Harmony: T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets"
T.S. Eliot considered "Four Quartets" to be his masterpiece. Its use of symbolism, paradox, and religious allusions help develop its theme of human suffering.
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The Body is Bawdy in Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy"
Laurence Sterne’s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is full of unfortunate mishaps and strokes of bad luck that usually have tragic consequences on the human body. Indeed, the three central characters—Tristram, Uncle Toby, and...
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Stream of Consciousness in Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse"
Virginia Woolf is well known for her stream-of-consciousness approach, which allows her to delve into the minds and feelings of her characters in an intimate way. The point of view shifts rapidly from one character to another. Read on for my full analysis of the stream of consciousness in the novel.
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Guns and Violence in Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" (1996)
Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" (1996) was controversial for its depiction of teen violence in a modern world rife with gang warfare and school shootings. The film does not trivialize or sensationalize violence but rather shows the tragic consequences of such behavior.
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From Pet Rocks to Silly Bandz: Remembering Fads
Fads tend to fizzle out as quickly as the flame up. Here's a look back at some of the most beloved (and befuddling) fads, from the pet rock and Cabbage Patch dolls to Beanie Babies and Silly Bandz.
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How to Write a Literacy Narrative
A literacy narrative is a personal account of learning how to read or write. Explore the significance of books and the written word in your life with this writing exercise.
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Comprehensive Guide to "Jane Eyre" Adaptations
Since the advent of film, there have been over 20 film and TV adaptations of Charlotte Bronte's classic, "Jane Eyre." Here is an examination of "Jane Eyre's" film history and other adaptations on the stage and in other media.
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"Othello" and Tim Blake Nelson's "O": Shakespearean Violence in High School
"O" will forever be analyzed in the context of the Columbine school shooting. By teening down "Othello," Tim Blake Nelson explores the sensitive topics of youth violence, sex, and drug use.
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American Dialects: I Speak American, How About You?
Every American has a dialect, even if it's not obvious to your ears. Dialects can reveal a great deal about people, but often we misjudge another person's friendliness or intelligence based on the way he or she speaks.
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Jane Eyre the Child: Breaking the Rules
Even as a child, Jane Eyre defied the conventional standards that governed how people of her age, gender, and social status should behave. The stifling forces that Jane faces as a child shape her identity as a woman later in the novel.
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Sequels, Prequels, Spin-Offs, and Retellings of "Jane Eyre"
Several authors have written prequels, sequels, and creative retellings of the classic novel "Jane Eyre." If you love the original, these books offer a new spin on your favorite characters.
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The Nature of Facebook Friendships and Voyeurism
What is the difference between real-life, face-to-face friendships and Facebook friendships? Discover how social media has affected the way we communicate and relate to our friends.
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Kate Atkinson, Gillian Flynn, Tana French, Carol Goodman: Modern Mystery Mavens
Kate Atkinson, Gillian Flynn, Tana French, and Carol Goodman deliver modern literary mysteries guaranteed to add spookiness, dread, and thrills to your reading experience.