There are several symbols used in “A Sense of Shelter” by John Updike. The most important symbol is the house itself. The house represents the protagonist’s sense of safety and security. It is a place where he can be alone and think about his life. The house is also a symbol of the past, as … Read more
George Orwell was a British author and journalist who is best known for his novels “Animal Farm” and “1984.” “A Hanging” is a short story that was first published in 1931. The story is set in Burma, where Orwell was stationed as a member of the British Imperial Police force. The story centers on the … Read more
Flannery O’Connor is a master of the short story. In “Good Country People,” she tells the tale of two women who are complete opposites. Hulga Hopewell is a woman who is sure of herself and her intelligence. She looks down on those around her, including her mother. Mrs. Freeman is a simple woman who takes … Read more
Bob is one of the main characters in A Christmas Carol. He is a hardworking man who cares deeply for his family. He is also very generous, giving Scrooge a loan when he needed it most. Bob is a good friend to Scrooge, despite his grouchy attitude. Dickens portrays Bob as a loyal and honest … Read more
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an American novel that tells the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer in the deep south during the 1930s. The novel centers around his defense of a black man accused of raping a white woman. To Kill a Mockingbird has been interpreted in many ways, but … Read more
Being an outsider can be tough because we all have a natural desire to feel like we belong somewhere. Belonging means feeling understood by both the individual and the group you’re trying to be a part of. If that back-and-forth fails, then exclusion happens, which isn’t great for anyone involved. An individual can feel alienated … Read more
Arrangement in Black and White is a short story by Dorothy Parker. The story tells the tale of a black man named Jim who is treated as an inferior by whites. Jim eventually realizes that he is just as good as any white person, and he decides to fight back against the racism he faces. … Read more
Literary criticism is the practice of evaluating and interpreting works of literature. It can be performed on individual works or on entire genres or movements. Literary theory, on the other hand, is a framework for understanding how literary texts work. It provides a set of tools for analyzing literary texts, and it can be used … Read more
Cry the Beloved Country is a novel by Alan Paton that was first published in 1948. The book tells the story of Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu pastor, who goes to Johannesburg to find his sister and help his nephew get out of trouble. Along the way, Kumalo meets many different people and experiences the harsh … Read more
The Fall Of The House Of Usher is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. The story was first published in 1839 in Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine. The story is about the Usher family, who live in a mansion that is slowly falling apart. The family is plagued by a curse, and the only way to … Read more
Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women is full of symbolism. The most obvious symbols are the four main characters, who represent different aspects of human nature. Jo, the protagonist, represents independence and creativity; Beth represents kindness and innocence; Meg represents domesticity and conventionalism; and Amy represents vanity and self-indulgence. Other symbols in the novel include … Read more