Library of America Essays

  • Shadows in the Yellow Wood: The Dark Side of Rober Frost's Poetry

    1518 Words  | 4 Pages

    to... ... middle of paper ... ...d Poirier and Mark Richardson. New York: Library of America, 1995. 204. Print. Frost, Robert. "Into My Own." Collected Poems, Prose & Plays. Comp. Richard Poirier and Mark Richardson. New York: Library of America, 1995. N. pag. Print. Frost, Robert. "Neither Out Far Nor In Deep." Collected Poems, Prose & Plays. Comp. Richard Poirier and Mark Richardson. New York: Library of America, 1995. 274. Print. Frost, Robert. "Nothing Gold Can Stay." Collected Poems, Prose

  • Benjamin Franklin & Henry David Thoreau

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    they existed in, but is still obvious in today’s culture. Even though both men are credited for their wise principles, their beliefs do not always coincide with one another. However, one thing they do have in common is that they both revolutionized America through their thoughts, actions, and distinctive opinions on how to improve the world around them. Henry David Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin had a lot of similar ways of life. The men didn’t believe in the Christian religious conviction of the time

  • The Theme of Nature in Literary Works

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    American authors explore the ideals of human existence through aesthetic representations of nature. William Cullen Bryant, who has been called "the father of American poetry," is one of the earliest artists to capture the essence of nature in America and apply it to the human experience. In his poem "To A Waterfowl" he uses the example of a waterfowl to reach a better understanding of human existence. In the poem, the waterfowl is portrayed as a near-perfect creation, and it is treated with

  • Heroes of American Realism

    1958 Words  | 4 Pages

    Heroes of American Realism The American realists of the late 19th century were notably adept at creating deep, memorable characters --whether virtuous or villainous-- who are continuously developed throughout the tales in which they exist. These authors often used their protagonists for a higher purpose than mere storytelling, endeavoring to construct a critique of the times by placing the characters in opposition to their respective societies. As a result, the protagonist often becomes an unassuming

  • Comparison and Analysis of The Weather of New England by Mark Twain and The Dog that Bit People by James Thurber

    721 Words  | 2 Pages

    Misconceived Humorous Analysis “A sense of humor is just common sense dancing.” -William James . The two stories that I am comparing are “The Weather of New England” by Mark Twain and “The Dog that Bit People” by James Thurber. These essays are both humorous essays. In “The Weather of New England” , it talks about the different , interesting types of weather in New England. In the dog story the crazy dog bites everyone even the own family. Both these humorous essays use style, tone, and perspective

  • Duty and Change in Melville’s Bartleby

    1488 Words  | 3 Pages

    Natural philosophers of every century of human existence have asked what we owe to each other, society or government. In The Origin of Civil Society, Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that the only natural form of duty is to one’s family, and all other obligations are based on agreement (57). Henry David Thoreau, in 1849, wrote in Resistance to Civil Government (sometimes known as Civil Disobedience), “it is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the

  • My Neighbor's Keeper?: William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily

    1629 Words  | 4 Pages

    My Neighbor’s Keeper?           William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily is set in the small southern town of Jefferson during the early decades of the twentieth century . At this time, vast and cardinal changes were being made by the upcoming new south to conceal and move from the horrid truths that were a part of the town's history. In lieu of this, Jefferson was at a turning point in which they were having difficulty coming to terms with these changes . Integrating Faulkner's use of character and symbols

  • Theme Of Family In As I Lay Dying

    1543 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the novel “As I Lay Dying” William Faulkner depicts the importance of family and how we can overcome any struggle we may face. Faulkner uses themes of family and love to show how individuals can overcome differences as long as they stick together and love each other. Faulkner also shows us how the Bundren family and friends are close, loyal, and respect each other no matter any grudge or difference they have. The novel uses many different angles of portrayal and many different narrators. These

  • Analysis Of Frederick Douglass And Henry David Thoreau

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    SLAVERY Tommy Taylor History 101 American History to 1877 Instructor Sawicki June 14, 2015 When you look at today’s government, it is viewed that everyone will be treated equally and decisions will be made in the best interest of the people. But when thinking about the government of the past, one must ask if these same views were expressed by the people of that time? Did everyone fill that they were apart of a just system

  • Black Boy1

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Black Boy1 Frederick Douglass and Richard Wright wrote memoirs recounting their experiences with racism. Though their writing styles are completely different from one another, the subjects they discuss are similar. After reading each piece they have both made me empathize with their feelings, however different their lives are from mine. Their memoirs, My Bondage My Freedom and Black Boy, provide insightful images of the racist and cruel treatment these writers experienced. Despite all of their

  • Comparison Of Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    Comparison Of Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass America, a land with shimmering soil where golden dust flew and a days rain of money could last you through eternity. Come, You Will make it in America. That was the common theme of those who would remove to America. It is the common hymn, the classic American rags-to-riches myth, and writers such as Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass had successfully embraced it in their works.Franklin and Douglass are two writers who have quite symmetrical

  • The Style, Point of View, Form and Structure of Native Son, by Richard Wright

    1087 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his novel, Native Son, Richard Wright favors short, simple, blunt sentences that help maintain the quick narrative pace of the novel, at least in the first two books. For example, in the following passage: "He licked his lips; he was thirsty. He looked at his watch; it was ten past eight. He would go to the kitchen and get a drink of water and then drive the car out of the garage." Wright's imagery is often brutal and elemental, as seen in his frequently repeated references to fire, snow, and

  • Chief Joseph Research Paper Outline

    2753 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Chief of Realism: Chief Joseph Thesis: The taking of land by the white settlers affected Chief Joseph, which influenced him to write his surrender speech, “I Will Fight No More Forever.” What was occurring in America at this time was the French and Indian War, or the Seven Years War. This war indicated that the Native Americans were willing to fight to the death in order to protect and keep their land out of the hands of the settlers. Historical Background: Realism The Civil War, 1861-1856 The

  • Emily Grierson Tableau

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Miss Emily is hidden in the fragmented description of William Faulkner’s story. She left an ineffective impression to people even though there are only few appearances of her in William Faulkner’s story “A Rose for Emily” and those outside characterizations of Miss Emily highly indicate her inner status. She is a “tableau”, a topic that people living in Jefferson will talk about on street, a symbol of a fallen nobility, “dear, inescapable, impervious, tranquil, and perverse”. Emily Grierson was born

  • Naturalism In Native Son

    1476 Words  | 3 Pages

    Richard Wright and William Faulkner both examine the psychologies of excluded members of society. While in Native Son, Wright studies someone oppressed and downtrodden beneath society, Faulkner looks at a family of outsiders cast far away from a common community in As I Lay Dying. For both, a central question becomes the function of their characters’ minds in relation to one another, and to reality. Through different approaches, both Wright and Faulkner conduct modernist explorations of the social

  • Opposites Attract

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every time period has its great authors, Realism and Naturalism are no exception. The two that I found the most compelling in their differences was, “Life on the Mississippi” and “The Lost Phoebe.” Some of the contrasts that I found range from the events that take place, to the different views of the American dream, and how one could see humor in life while the other could not. Realism dealt with the everyday middle class and Naturalism took the darker side of things and mainly wrote about the

  • Writings About Mississippi by Eudora Welty

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eudora Alice Welty practically spent her whole life living in Mississippi. Mississippi is the setting in a large portion of her short stories and books. Most of her stories take place in Mississippi because she focuses on the manners of people living in a small Mississippi town. Writing about the lives of Mississippi folk is one main reason Welty is a known author. Welty’s stories are based upon the way humans interact in social encounters. She focuses on women’s situations and consciousness. Another

  • The San Francisco Earthquake Critical Analysis

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article “The San Francisco Earthquake” written by Mark Twain, is written to talk about an earthquake that occurred. Author Twain uses humor to highlight his purpose throughout the article. “The San Francisco Earthquake” written Jack London, ( a different article) writes about a different earthquake that struck the earth. Author London uses The descriptive detail to describe the city dying throughout the piece. Twain and London both write about the subject of an earthquake Although, Twain uses

  • Mark Twain And Jack London Comparison

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both Mark Twain and Jack London describe their experiences with massive earthquakes in San Francisco. Twain’s piece focuses more on the vulnerability of humans in times of chaos, and the brash decision this can lead to. Conversely, London criticizes the attempt humans had made in conquering nature with the development of new technology and machines. Whether it be the differing points of view or the comparison both make of a city to a living being, both pieces describe the relationship between human

  • Comparing the Role of the Narrator in Melville’s Benito Cereno, Henry James’ Daisy Miller and Hwang

    1736 Words  | 4 Pages

    Comparing the Role of the Narrator in Melville’s Benito Cereno, Henry James’ Daisy Miller and Hwang’s M. Butterfly Written stories differ in numerous ways, but most of them have one thing in common; they all have a narrator that, on either rare occasions or more regularly, help to tell the story. Sometimes, the narrator is a vital part of the story since without him or her, it would not be possible to tell the story in the same way, and sometimes, the narrator has a very small role in the story