Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

An 8 page research paper that examines the roots of Eugene O'Neill's monumental trilogy of plays, Mourning Becomes Electra, which goes deep into the literature of ancient Greece. The ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus created a monumental trilogy of plays that relate the story of the house of Atreus. These plays are collectively entitled Oresteia. ...

A 5 page essay that summarizes and analyzes Plato's The Apology of Socrates. The writer argues that it is part of human nature that politicians and leaders love to be grandiose about themselves and their nation, or, as in the case of ancient Greece, their city. This factor of human behavior is still quite evident ...

This 3 page paper discusses the way Aristophanes uses the story of Lysistrata to discuss gender relations, women’s rights, and war in ancient Greece. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

In eight pages this paper examines how Sophocles utilizes Antigone’s twin sister Ismene as his tragedy’s foil in order to emphasize the gender distinctions in the politics and society of ancient Greece. Four sources are cited in the bibliography.

A seven page paper looking at this play of ancient Greece. The paper contends that Aeschylus' major conflict is between the old, matriarchal form of justice, represented by the Furies, and the new patriarchy represented by Athena and Apollo. No additional sources.

This is a 3 page paper on qualities of Greek civilization which are revealed in Homer’s “The Odyssey”. Homer’s “The Odyssey” was written around the year 750 B.C. and in addition to providing a great tale about the adventures of the king Odysseus, it also reveals aspects and qualities of the ancient civilization in Greece ...

A 6 page research paper that discusses the political positions of various authors from the ancient world. The writer asserts that the ancient world shares many similarities with the current era, as Western thought, philosophy, social system and religion find their deepest roots in the ancient history of the Mediterranean world. Examination of the ...

This 6 page paper critiques the last scene of two classic works, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Great Expectations."

A 5 page essay that looks at what can be learned about Roman culture from this ancient document.

A 3 page essay that examines the work of ancient Roman author Titus Livius, known in English as "Livy," who wrote a history of Rome during the era of Augustus that traced what was believed about the city's founding to his own era. While there is much that is debatable about the accuracy of ...

A 7 page essay that examines the theme of gift giving and hospitality in Homer's ancient epic poem the Odyssey. In ancient Greek culture, hospitality addresses the relations that exist between a guest and host, and involves the mutual exchange not only of wealth, but also of knowledge. The conventions surrounding Greek notions of hospitality ...

A 5 page essay on how the characters of Clytemnestra, Jocasta, Antigone and Medea from ancient Greek plays demonstrate certain aspects of how ancient Greeks viewed the role of women in society and women in general. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 4 page report discusses the ancient Greek comedy “Lysistrata” and how it serves as an example of how, throughout Greek drama, civil unrest is often defined and framed in terms of gender and sexual conflict. For example, female choruses, the Furies, male supremacy, female protest and incest have all been used as dramatic vehicles to convey a variety of issues, ...

A 6 page discussion of the need for caution when using ancient literary texts to interpret history. The author of this paper points out that the modern historian needs to consider such factors as authorship, language, structure and form, sources, and literary meaning in undertaking historical research. Even more important, however, is reviewing a ...

A 6 page essay that argues that while in Greek tragedy, fate and prophecy play pivotal roles in all the plays, the ancient Greek playwrights did not simply portray people as being puppets manipulated by the gods towards meeting a horrendous end. Rather, these ancient writers pictured individuals as being active in creating the ...

A 7 page paper which examines the ancient ideal warrior as seen in Odysseus from Homer’s The Odyssey and Aeneas in Virgil’s The Aeneid. The paper also examines other ancient warriors. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 10 page report discusses Arthur Miller’s 1949 dramatic classic “Death of a Salesman.” The play is clearly a tragedy but its format of tragedy must be extended to consider other implications than dramatic formula. Because it tells the story of a man of the 20th century does not make it any less “tragic” than the stories of “Macbeth” ...

This is a 5 page paper that provides an overview of kingship in ancient Mesopotamia. Art such as the Epic of Gilgamesh is examined for its insights into cultural truths. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

6 pages in length. Alexander the Great has been heralded all throughout history as one of Greece's most memorable and illustrious personalities; while he was instrumental in providing leadership for the Greeks, he was also a notorious murderer who utilized his authority to put many people to death. This aspect of Alexander's persona ...

A 10 page research paper that examines the heroines of several ancient Greek plays. Modern students of ancient Greek culture tend to see the reality of women's lives during this period as being one of suppression and patriarchal domination. Interestingly, however, this perspective differs considerably from the viewpoint expressed by ancient Greek playwrights such as ...

A 5 page essay that argues that interpretations of Oedipus Rex, particularly Freudian interpretations, overlook the context of Greek culture and values. Since the time of Freud, when he pioneered the field of psychoanalysis, interpretations of the ancient Greek play Oedipus the King by Sophocles have frequently focused on the incestuous aspects of the plot. ...

A 6 page essay that examines what Homer's Iliad tells the modern reader about ancient Greek culture. In many ways, ancient sagas are like windows on another time as they reflect the mores, customs, traditions, beliefs and lifestyles that were prevalent in societies that existed in past millennia. An examination of Homer's Iliad in this ...

A short essay examining how the writers and philosophers of Classic Greece criticized Athenian politics/the Athenian polis in their works. Mentioned are Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripedes, and Socrates. No Bibliography.

A 3 page essay that offers a character sketch of Chaereas, the young male protagonist of the ancient Greek saga "Chaereas and Callirhoe," which is a tale of love and adventure. The writer argues that this is also a tale that encompasses the Greek emphasis on the dangers of pride. Chaereas, a bold and ...

A 6 page essay that examines Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The writer argues Shelley's novel seems to speak directly to the modern reader and offer explicit warning against scientific discovery unregulated by restrictions of morality or responsibility. Victor Frankenstein, Shelley's brilliant protagonist/scientist, suffers a tragic downfall worthy of the ancient Greek tragedians. Shelley's text suggests that ...