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Fairy Tales, 2008.
Looks at several 'happily ever after' fairy tales and their relationship to culture.
2,240 words (approx. 9.0 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 69.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, like myths, fairy tales have great importance as cultural productions because they emphasize the basic aspects of each culture. The author relates that certain predictable ritualistic motifs, such as the wicked stepmother in "Cinderella" or the marriage between two antagonist characters, one ugly and the other beautiful, in "Beauty and the Beast", are absolutely essential fairy tale ingredients. The author also relates that the theme of love and marriage or the 'happily ever after union' is an archetype; wherein, the human being is fulfilled through his or her union with another being and the fulfillment is naturally achieved after a great quest and fantastic trials. The paper includes references to several fairy tales.
From the Paper
"Without being a general pattern, many of the folktales focus on the love union between a hero and the heroine. The blueprint here varies widely, but in many stories, the love bond is formed sometimes between two characters that belong to different worlds. It can be said in most of the stories one of the two characters that will be together "happily ever after" always pass through sufferance or great trails before the love bond is formed. Also, in almost all the fairytales, the hero is usually the active character who has to win the princess through great efforts and deeds while the latter passively waits for him. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, and in some stories the heroine is given the active role, while the prince is passive."
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"Holding up Half the Sky", 2008.
A review of the content of Annie Wang's article, "Holding up Half the Sky."
895 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the article, "Holding up Half the Sky," written by Annie Wang, which concerns itself with the situation faced by Chinese business women in modern-day China. The paper describes the article and provides examples from Wang's work of five featured business women who have overcome challenges in order to make a great success of their respective businesses.
From the Paper
"On the other hand, women are still facing a fundamental inequality in the business world, spurred by the 2000 year mindset that will take more than 50 years to erase. Indeed, Wang notes that discrimination starts at the cradle: boys are still more highly prized when girls at birth. This continues in terms of governmental policies that do not favor small businesses. Such business owners experience difficulties in obtaining loans and the opportunity for growth is limited. Furthermore, discrimination is also evident in the countryside, where the majority of women are denied higher education. This in turn results in migration to cities, where women obtain low-paying, non-prestigious jobs that are not very secure, and from which it is almost impossible to be promoted."
"Nevertheless, Wang offers hope in the form of five featured business women who have overcome the challenges mentioned above in order to make a great success of their respective businesses. These women exemplify the opportunities offered by the Chinese business world. Although problems still exist, the author holds that women do have opportunities to follow the examples of the five women she discusses. Furthermore, the increase of such women have the potential to eventually overthrow the prevailing inequalities in the country's business sector."
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Narrative Style in Literature, 2008.
A comparison of the narrative style used in "To Room Nineteen" by Doris Lessing and "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver.
1,015 words (approx. 4.1 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the use of point of view in "To Room Nineteen" by Doris Lessing and "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver. The paper describes the plots and the characters of each story and discusses and compares the narrative style in the two works. The paper then focuses on what the choices of narrative style portray about the story and how this affects the reader's perceptions.
From the Paper
"Thus, even more so than having an affair, Lessing's wife realizes that she cannot go on living a double existence, one existence characterized by an absence of autonomous identity and one in a room by herself, in Room Nineteen. She is 'cheating' on her husband--with herself, by enjoying her solitude. Finally, Susan lies on the bed in her room, smells the sex of other people in the stale motel sheets and she chooses to annihilate herself, a scene that would be unbearably painful if the reader identified with her as completely the reader inevitably identifies with Carver's first-person narrator. Thus Lessing's use of a third-person narrator deliberately creates distance, and encourages the reader to see Susan as a case study that shows the limits of female existence as fully human beings with an identity beyond sexuality. Carver in contrast encourages the reader to identify with the narrator, as the narrator identifies with the blind man, because the story is about an internal shift that occurs within the narrator, and about a case study of humanity."
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"When the Legends Die", 2008.
A review of Hal Borland's novel "When the Legends Die".
1,001 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 0 sources, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how protagonist Thomas Black Bull comes full circle in Hal Borland's novel "When the Legends Die". It examines how as a Ute native from Colorado, Tom spends a large portion of his childhood in the wilderness, how he is tricked into returning to mainstream civilization and how, after spending years of his life in misery, Tom eventually returns to the woods at the end of the novel. It discusses how the old ways are better than the new ways for Tom because they teach Tom how best to survive and stay physically and mentally healthy and how, in many ways, the novel is about survival.
From the Paper
"After spending many years on the Ute reserve, Tom and his family take some time to adapt back to the old ways. They rely only on a bow and arrow to go hunting. They learn how to preserve meats to store for the long winter. The family seeks an ideal site on which to build a winter cabin and teach Tom the old ways. After several years Tom grows into a traditional Ute boy and knows little else but the ways of his ancestors. When his father dies in an avalanche, Tom is prepared to become a man and carry on the Ute ways of life. Even Tom's transition into adulthood is marked with Ute traditions. The burial of Black Bull and Tom's assuming the name Bear Brother are both in keeping with age-old Ute traditions. "
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"The Red Convertible", 2008.
An analysis of the symbol of the red convertible in "The Red Convertible" by Louise Edrich.
1,465 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at "The Red Convertible" by Louise Edrich that depicts how the Lamartine family, especially the two brothers, deal with the older brother's return from Vietnam. The paper discusses how the altered family dynamics are shown by the symbol of the red convertible and how this symbol changes throughout the story.
From the Paper
"The story presents the struggles of two brothers to cope with their changing relationship, as well as the changes taking places in the post-Vietnam world. In fact, the relationship between the two brothers is used as a direct parallel of the post-war situation in the sense that their story is a symbol of the difficulties and readjustments that many Vietnam veterans and their families were faced with after the war. The theme of brotherhood is central to the plot. The story is told from Lyman's point of view which means the reader has no direct insight into Lyman's brother's thoughts."
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"Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen, 2008.
An analysis of the changes in the character, Brian in the novel "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen, as he adapts to his environment .
704 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 25.95
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Abstract
The paper describes how the character of Brian in Paulsen's "Hatchet" grows to manhood as he learns to adapt to his environment in order to survive. The paper explains that Brian feels anger and despair but understands that he must depend on himself. The paper therefore shows how his survival has stimulated his emotional growth and development.
From the Paper
"After his initial shock at the pilot's death, Brian panics, as just about anyone would in that situation. He finally gains control of the plane and makes radio contact with someone, but he realizes he is going to have to land the plane himself. He is frightened, but this is the first sense of his will to survive - he begins to realize that he will be safer if he lands on water, and he begins to plan, as much as he can, his descent so he can live through the crash. Although the crash itself is extremely dramatic and emotional, Brian survives, and that is his first adaptation of many that will occur throughout this novel."
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Sigmund Freud's "Civilization and Its Discontents", 2008.
Analyzes Sigmund Freud's "Civilization and Its Discontents" from the standpoint of Socrates and Jesus Christ.
2,155 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 3 sources, APA, $ 67.95
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Abstract
This paper states that, in Sigmund Freud's "Civilization and Its Discontents", Freud contends that the feeling of spirituality or religion is the result of one's ego. The author, who plays the role of Socrates, uses the Socratic method to question Freud's arguments. The paper concludes by questioning how there could be sinfulness if Freud believes that religion is an illusion. The author, in the role of Socrates, relates that "sins" are concepts that religions have invented to make people feel guilty and go to church. The author concludes by analyzing each of the beatitudes of the "Sermon on the Mount" from this psychological position.
Table of Contents:
Socrates Responds to Sigmund Freud's "Civilization and Its Discontents"
Sigmund Freud on the Sermon on the Mount
From the Paper
"But let's move on to Beatitude number four: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled." In my own research I have discovered that a desire for happiness in many hearts and minds is matched by a willingness to do good, to try to accomplish positive things for others. This satisfies the ego, and when the parents of a child instill in that child the values that are unselfish, that person while growing up will have a strong desire to be righteous."
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Djuna Barnes' "Nightwood", 2008.
Looks at the symbolic function of homosexuality in Djuna Barnes' "Nightwood".
1,315 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Djuna Barnes's classic novel "Nightwood" was one of the few great modernist works to address the subject of homosexuality in such an explicit light. The novel deals with the tumultuous relationship of Nora and Robin, a pair of lesbians, and their circle of friends, most notably Matthew, a gay doctor. The author selects a few passages to examine the symbolic role that homosexuality plays throughout the novel particularly within the symbolic polarity of "night" versus "day". The paper explores the connection articulated by Barnes between homosexuality and death and attempts to unravel the complex implications of such an association.
From the Paper
"The third chapter, "Watchman, What of the Night?" explores this notion of homosexuals as "night people" in great detail. Shortly after Robin has left Nora, Nora shows up at Matthew's house one night around three in the morning in order to discuss her loss. While arriving unexpectedly on someone's doorstep at such a late hour would be considered highly unusual from a "normal" perspective, it seems perfectly natural within the discourse of the "night people" that Barnes has set up in her work. In lieu of consolation, Matthew offers Nora a prolonged discourse on the nature of homosexuality."
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Seat Belts Save Lives!, 2008.
A persuasive essay that wearing seat belts saves lives.
998 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper provides a short history of seat belts and reveals impressive statistics about their capabilities. The paper talks about child safety belts in cars and on school buses and relates that the better educated and women are more likely to wear seat belts. The paper emphasizes that wearing seat belts for safety simply makes sense; your life may depend on it.
Outline:
Introduction
Introduction to Seat Belts and Their Capabilities
Child Safety Seats
School Bus Safety Belts
Demographics of Seat Belt Users
Seat Belt Usage Grows
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Seat belts have been around in some countries since the turn of the century, and they have been mandatory in U.S. automobiles since 1964. Seat belts have been proven to save lives in most cases, because they keep the person inside the car and stable. Many people are killed in car accidents because they are thrown from the vehicle, which is often a deadly situation. Two safety experts note, "Most studies suggest that, on balance, wearing seatbelts is a safety precaution for which the benefits to the average individual exceed the costs" (Hakes, and Viscusi). In addition, since traffic fatalities are the main cause of death in America, the use of seat belts can help save more lives quickly and effectively."
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A Personal Journey: Aging, 2008.
A personal reflection of the positive and negative aspects of the writer's own aging process.
1,237 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper presents a personal reflection on the aging process - particularly of being a woman, especially a forty-eight-year-old woman in America today. It begins by listing the positive and negative aspects of aging and then provides a personal reflection on the process. The paper describes the impact of Christianity in the writer's acceptance of her own aging.
Table of Contents:
Good Things About Aging
Bad Things About Aging
Reflections On My Personal Aging Process
From the Paper
"One of the reasons I think that I have been able to tolerate aging so well, psychologically, somewhat in contrast to other members of my culture, is because of my strong Christian faith. Christianity tends to focus on spiritual refreshment and renewal from within, rather than seeking solutions from without. I have always had an awareness that 'the body dies, eventually' but the soul is eternal. In God's eyes, I have always believed, we are all young when compared with the age of the earth and eternity, and also, somehow, all old because death comes very soon on the mortal plane, while from the perspective of the divine, what is really important and lasting is attached to the soul. What is most important to me is what I am learning on earth, here, not what I look like in terms of my body. That is why when I see young people making the same mistakes I made when I was in my teens, twenties, and thirties, and know I won't have to make those mistakes again, the feeling is relief, as well as a sense of pride in my strong sense of self and the personal and financial independence I have gained that I did not have when I was younger. I have also lost many of the hang-ups I did have when I was younger, because I know that according to my culture, now I will never be 'the ideal,' in terms of beauty, so I can accept my appearance and even see that for younger women, the dominant beauty standard is highly unrealistic."
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The Works of Maria Edgeworth, 2008.
A comprehensive analysis of the style of Irish writer Maria Edgeworth in "The Castle Rackrent", "The Absentee", "Ormond" and "Helen".
10,366 words (approx. 41.5 pages), 12 sources, MLA, $ 207.95
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Abstract
The paper relates the background of the eighteenth and nineteenth century Irish writer, Maria Edgeworth. The paper focuses on the author's works, "The Castle Rackrent", "The Absentee", "Ormond" and "Helen" and shows how her novels follow the themes of Irish identity and national character and the moral development of the individual in the social context. The paper provides an in-depth look at Edgeworth's style and techniques and concludes that Edgeworth manages to be engaging despite her didacticism and she also succeeds in using all her fictional instruments and devices with the best results. The paper adds that Edgeworth's novels all treat similar issues but they are nevertheless very different, each time revealing a new aspect of her style.
From the Paper
"Of Anglo-Irish descent, Edgeworth was born in 1768 in Oxfordshire, where she spent most of her early childhood. Her father, Richard Lovell Edgeworth is certainly one of the most important figures in her background, as he had an overwhelming influence on her education and her writing. Her mother, Anna Maria Elers, died when Maria was only six years old, leaving thus even more room for the father figure in the child's life. Soon after, Richard Edgeworth remarried and Honora Sneyd became Maria's first stepmother. The growing family moved to Ireland, and Maria was sent to school in England. When she was twelve years old, her stepmother became ill and died and her father married Elizabeth Sneyd, his second wife's sister, as the latter had actually advised him to do in advance."
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"The River Between" and "Nectar in a Sieve", 2008.
A review of "The River Between" by Ngugi wa Thion'o's and "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya.
1,408 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 46.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses how, in the novels "The River Between" and "Nectar in a Sieve", the characters are doing things that have application to people and cultures everywhere else on the planet. The paper describes the culture clash between the people of Makuyu and Kameno in "The River Between" and conveys the hopelessness of the terrible grinding poverty in "Nectar in a Sieve".
From the Paper
"What a reader finds immediately profound and dramatic about The River Between is the symbolism of the two mountains (ridges) laying "side by side" with a river running between. In the story, the two cultures are dead set against one another, with opposing religious beliefs and values. The culture living on the Makuyu ridge subscribes to the Christian beliefs, having been affected and greatly influenced by the British colonial indoctrination; but the tribe living on the Kameno ridge - where the story's protagonist, Waiyaki lives, wants to continue the old cultural traditions (like polytheism and circumcision). In fact Waiyaki is anxious for his circumcision to happen, notwithstanding the hideous feelings a reader gets as the author describes what it is like to be circumcised."
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"The Brothers", 2008.
An analysis of the brotherhood, separation and reconciliation in Bjornstjerne Bjornson's "The Brothers".
702 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 25.95
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Abstract
The paper describes Bjornson's "The Brothers", the touching story of Baard and Anders, two brothers who fight and are reconciled eventually after much suffering and distress. The paper shows how Bjornson drafts a remarkable analysis of the subtleties of the human heart and the fragility of human bonds.
From the Paper
"Bjornson's choice of two brothers as his main characters in this story is significant because it is an example of one the most profound relationships between two people. Baard and Anders were very close all their lives, and loved each other deeply as two brothers should. Nevertheless, when, after their father's death, they intend to sell his goods at an auction, they find that they both want the same thing: a golden watch. The bidding is an important moment because it shows how this small event divides the two for a very long time. Their beautiful relationship is destroyed during the bidding, when each of them considers that the other should give the watch up in favor of the other."
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Cultural Influences in Consumer Buying Behavior, 2008.
A research paper comparing traditional brick-and-mortar purchases and online sales in the United States and Russia.
14,950 words (approx. 59.8 pages), 35 sources, APA, $ 249.95
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Abstract
This research paper provides a background and overview of how cultural influences affect consumer buying behaviours to identify any commonalities and differences between consumers in the United States and Russia, and to determine what impact these differences and commonalities have on online and brick-and-mortar outlet purchasing behaviours. Chapter one introduces the topics under consideration, provides a statement of the problem, the purpose and importance of the study, as well as its scope and rationale. Chapter two provides a critical review of the relevant and peer-reviewed literature concerning e-commerce and e-tailing and a discussion of the respective economies of Russia and the United States today. Chapter three presents the study's methodology, a description of the study approach, the data-gathering method and the database of study consulted. Chapter four is comprised of an analysis of the data developed during the research process and chapter five presents the study's conclusions, a summary of the research and salient recommendations for companies seeking to establish or expand their online presence in the future.
Outline:
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
Methodology
Data Analysis
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper
"The trends are clear and unmistakable. Just a decade ago, online sales were a very small part of the national economy of the United States and were virtually nonexistent in the former Soviet Union, and online sales in total comprised a tiny fraction of global trade. Today, though, online sales are in the tens of billions of dollars, and electronic commerce is becoming increasingly important to consumers, sellers, and entire economies. Though considered to be in its relative infancy, Internet usage and on-line marketing are also growing explosively. In fact, during 2003 alone, approximately 40 million households in the U.S. made at least one purchase from the Internet, up from only six million in 1994 (Black, 2005). Rapid innovations in a wide range of telecommunications, the volume and rapidity of air travel (in spite of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States), e-business and instantaneous "live" television coverage of important - and not so important - events have made the world a smaller place in which to live and shop, but with an enormously wider selection of choices available for those with the right tools and access. Today, new words and terminologies have entered the vernacular to describe this emerging reality; e.g., Internet, e-commerce, KBE, ISPS, dot-com companies, web portals, telephony, PGs, wireless application protocols; combined with other buzzwords such as "creative destruction" and "paradigm shift," as well as neologisms such as "glocalization," "globalating" and "technoglobalism," it is clear that more and more businesses will be turning to the Internet as a way to improve their competitive advantage and increase their market share in current and additional markets (Mutalib, 2002). Indeed, advances in technology have provided useful supportive tools in the conventional market. For example, television and radio have greatly facilitated one-way communication. Various information systems can be used to process transactions, collect and analyze data."
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Shakespeare's Sonnets, 2008.
An analysis of Shakespeare's sonnets 30 and 62.
1,002 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 2 sources, APA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The paper asserts that Shakespeare is just as unrivaled in his sonnets rhyme, rhythm, melody and sound as he is with plays. The paper examines Shakespeare's sonnets 30 and 62 and highlights the theme of individuals looking back on their lives to see how they have succeeded or failed. The paper maintains that people continue to struggle with the same questions and self-doubts and it is Shakespeare's uncanny knack of placing that humanness in words that everyone can appreciate.
From the Paper
"Although William Shakespeare is well known for his plays, his sonnets have also been greatly appreciated and enjoyed for hundreds of years. Traditional sonnets are fourteen-line lyric poems, written in iambic pentameter or lines ten syllables long, with accents falling on every second syllable. They originated in Italy and were first introduced into England during the Tudor period by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard. The collection of Shakespeare's Sonnets consists of 154 short poems. These were published, together with a poem called "A Lover's Complaint," in 1609."
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"Hamlet" and "Orestes", 2008.
A comparison of the plots and characters in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and the Greek tragedy, "Orestes."
1,337 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the connection between William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet" and the Greek tragedy, "Orestes." It describes the parallels between the two plays and the similarities between the plots and the main characters. The paper suggests that the main thing that makes the two plays collude is the attitude of the main hero who hesitates and suffers in front of his ponderous duty.
From the Paper
"In Hamlet however, the psychological complexity of the situation surpasses even that in Oresteia. Modern thought sublimates the tragedy and the decision that has to be made by Hamlet is even more unsettling than that which has to be made by Orestes. Confronted with a state of moral rottenness that reigns over Denmark, Hamlet is, as Showerman stresses, "caught between irreconcilable imperatives": "The Oresteia of 458 BC and Shakespeare's Hamlet both explore the interaction between gods and ghosts and the tragedy of human beings caught between irreconcilable imperatives."(Showerman, 67) Hamlet goes through various states of mind throughout the play, ranging from sheer indignation at the immoral state in which the royal family and implicitly his country is, and reaching almost a state of indifference. Thus, Hamlet's first reaction upon hearing the truth of the murder from the ghost of his father is to state that he is anxious to take his revenge to the end as fast as possible: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift/ As meditation or the thoughts of love,/ May sweep to my revenge."("Hamlet", 1.5. 33-35) Gradually however he begins to doubt everything, and loses all assuredness. He begings to see the difficultness that lies in his moral duty: "O cursed spite,/ That ever I was born to set it right!"("Hamlet", 1.5. 207-208) As in Orestes' case, Hamlet sees his father in a aura of distinction, as a sacred representative of monarchy and righteousness: "See what grace was seated on his brow--/ Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself,/ An eye like Mars, to threaten or command,/ A station like the herald Mercury/ New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill." ("Hamlet", 3.4.55-58) The injustice of the crimes grows continuously in Hamlet's mind, baffling his initial decision to take immediate revenge on the murders."
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Toni Morrison's "Beloved" and "The Epic of Gilgamesh", 2008.
Compares Toni Morrison's "Beloved" and "The Epic of Gilgamesh", translated by N. K. Sandars, as heroic literature.
1,450 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
This paper introduces the heroic elements of the plots of Toni Morrison's "Beloved" and "The Epic of Gilgamesh", translated by N. K. Sandars. The writer explains that "The Epic of Gilgamesh", considered to be the first tale of a mortal hero, contains themes similar to biblical stories just as Morrison uses similarities of the biblical Cain to shape her main protagonist Sethe. The writer also explains that Morrison tries to break stereotypes through Sethe; while, Sanders in the "Epic" attempts to shatter the image of the vulnerability of male heroes. Both stories can be treated as literary landmarks because these characters defy the convention of a typical hero.
Table of Contents:
The Gilgamesh Epic
The Tale of Beloved
The Ideas of a Hero/Heroine
From the Paper
"Morrison also shows indebtedness to African American and African traditions and mythologies. Toni Morrison in her book has given a new style to fiction and the whole work is very imaginative and thought provoking. The typical master slave image of a strong man or a woman with a strong and healthy body but with a very servile attitude was prevalent but came the decade of 1910s that the African Americans started rebelling against the stereotypes and typical gender and racial roles associated with them. Toni used flight of the imagination and mythic elements along with realistic portrayal of racial, gender and class conflict."
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"A Modest Proposal", 2008.
An analysis of the purpose of Jonathan Swift's book, "A Modest Proposal."
1,716 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 55.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the conditions in Ireland during the times of Jonathan Swift. It specifically discusses Jonathan Swift's book, "A Modest Proposal" and discusses how it reflects the environment in Ireland at the time that it was written. The paper describes Swift's personal background and the purpose that he had in writing his book.
From the Paper
"Those who do not understand the work as a satirical look at the plight of Irish children often misunderstand Swift's intentions in writing the piece. Taken literally, Swift could be viewed as an unthinkable English imperialist. However, this is simply the perspective chosen by Swift. His experience as a household servant to the English undoubtedly gave him a chance to experience the English attitudes towards the Irish first hand. A Modest Proposal has an air of truth in the manner in which the English viewed the Irish at the time. It is simply an exaggeration of what Swift saw in everyday life. This exaggeration was meant to make the English step back and look at their own behavior and attitudes."
"If one understands the horrors that Swift saw in his travels to Ireland and understands A Modest Proposal as the piece of satire that it is, a sense of compassion can be seen in the work. Swift understood the hopelessness of Irish children born into poverty. A Modest Proposal is an analogy. The key point that he was trying to make was that if the children were to be treated as animals, perhaps an early death would be better than a long life of suffering. This was the main idea of the proposal and summarized Swift's observations and feelings about the treatment of the Irish poor."
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