Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

4 page essay discussing the actions of Odysseus in 'The Odyssey' and briefly mentioning those of Aeneas in 'The Aeneid.' Stressed is whether or not their behaviors were 'necessary' and 'acceptable' with regard to their respective situations.

A thoughtful 3 page essay comparing the character of Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello with Penelope in Homer's Odyssey. Desdemona is regarded as being more of a simple person-- madly in love and fairly ignorant to the world around her. Penelope, however, was able to become a strong and triumphant woman..exhibiting more savvy and self-will. ...

6 pages in length. A comparison between Shakespeare's 'Othello' and Sophocles 'Oedipus Trilogy' in which the writer interprets themes from both stories and finds reason to assert that Othello and Antigone were both very much alike in that they were essentially outsiders, -- alienated from a group. Both characters endured grave emotional drama and sought ...

8 pages in length. An interesting look at ceremonies, rituals, and traditions in early Greek theater. Religious practices, symbolic meanings, and more are described in great detail. The role of Dionysus is explained throughout and the setting, plot, structure, characters, Chorus, etc; of 'Oedipus the King' are used together as examples of how this work ...

A 6 page paper that looks at the issue of abuse as it is presented in Greek mythology, and focuses on the issues related to the abuse of women in a number of myths. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 2 page essay comparing the journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas.. and also making some comparative mention of how women were portrayed in each of their two epic sagas. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

7 pages in length. In this well-thought essay, the writer argues that the contemporary media is not to blame for our violent ways. Thousands of years ago, crowds jeered at public executions and fights to-the-death staged in large arenas and coliseums.. Using examples from myths such as Oedipus, The Odyssey, Aeneid, and more, it is ...

A 6 page paper discussing the second chapter of the book The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam, by Barbara W. Tuchman. The author has gone beyond good reason in the amount of information she has put in the one chapter that deals with the Trojan Horse. Her thesis appears to be that ...

A 15 page essay that examines the possibility that Dido's wound is more than her love for her lost Aeneas but rather a wound of not having children. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page paper on this work by Virgil. The writer focuses on how the gods use mortals for their own designs and how mortals are essentially powerless against them. No additional sources cited.

3 page essay on this classic work of Greek mythology. Discusses the central character Aeneas and the qualities that make him a hero. 2 sources listed in bibliography.

A more-detailed, 4 page version of

A 2 page essay on fact vs. fiction in Virgil's 'Aeneid' and Plato's 'Republic.' No outside references listed.

An 8 page paper that considers the popular Grimms' fairy tale using Swiss psychologist Carl Jung's theories the collective unconscious. Includes discussion of the composition of the psyche and various archetypes such as the self, the shadow, and the God-image. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

An 11 page paper that provides an overview of Jung's imperative to interpret fairy tales and then looks at two fairy tales to demonstrate Jung's considerations and the application of this notions. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

An insightful 3 page essay in which the writer examines what meaning Watty Piper's classic story "The Little Engine that Could" holds for a child and in retrospect, the story's psycho-motivational value for an adult as well. For the most part, the writer is concerned with similarities and dissimilarities between the ways that an adult ...

A 5 page paper looking at Beverly Cleary's young adult novel in terms of its therapeutic effect on adolescents going through the same experience. The paper argues that many students who have never experienced the kind of emotional abandonment described by Cleary do not 'get' the book, while it has an enormous benefit on students ...

An 8 page paper analyzing the fairy tale 'Sleeping Beauty' through four versions -- Basile's, Perrault's, Grimm's, and Disney's. (It also mentions two others, though not in depth). The paper argues that such analysis tells us not only about our changing civilizations, but about ourselves. Bibliography lists seven sources.

A 7 page paper showing how women are depicted in the Grimm's fairy tales. Writer shows a possible correlation between societal roles and roles women play in fairy tales, since they are read to children. Bibliography lists 16 outside sources.

A 9 page paper on these two young adult books. Both the books have many similarities and these similarities are illustrated throughout the paper. They both maintain a sense of the unbelievable much like science fiction as well as their similarities in terms of philosophies and ethics. It remains important through each separate novel that ...

5 pages in length. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken is an enchanting yet slightly frightful children's story that has held its appeal through generations of adoring readers. Craftily scenic and charmingly aesthetic in both its character appeal and atmospheric detail, the book offers young adults the chance to experience literary ...

A 10 page paper that discusses the style and themes of the plays of Anton Chekhov. This paper takes a specific look at two plays, 'The Seagull' and 'Three Sisters' and demonstrates the way these two plays represent Chekhov's stylistic and thematic considerations. Specifically, this paper reacts to Chekhov's realist tendencies and demonstrates ...

5 pages in length. The writer discusses overall story content and adaptation as it relates to Anton Chekhov's 'The Kiss.' No additional sources cited.

This 5 page research paper examines Anton Chekhov's final play, 'The Cherry Orchard' (1904). Specifically discussed is how Russian political and social changes are developed within the play. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page paper looking at the change in attitude exhibited by Gurov, the protagonist of this short story by Anton Chekhov. The paper points out that Gurov, originally a Don Juan, learns late in life that love implies a responsibility to the beloved, and difficult choices must be made in order to live up ...