A Free Spirit of Rebellion, Mason and Dixon Show Flashbacks in Vineland

    In “The Female Quixote,” the whimsical nature of fiction is not just a barrier to social acceptance, but an absurdity. Following popular notions of the time, fiction is presented as a diversion and an indulgence that cannot be reconciled with reality and threatens the reader’s perception of actual experience. The theme is common, as is evident through the basis of this novel, Cervantes’s “Don Quixote,” and other works such as “Northanger Abbey” by Jane Austen. The story is a series of examples of what not to do, acting as both a cautionary tale and conduct guide. But there is a fundamental instability in the work resulting from the opposition of the moral and the means in which it is

The literary movement of realism addresses material in an accurate way that is true to life, regardless of the moral boundaries which may be broken. Several authors have undertaken efforts to define this movement in the most accurate and concise way possible. Theodore Dreiser, in “True Art Speaks Plainly”, strives to identify those components which are necessary to literature that is classified under the realism movement. William Dean Howells’s “Editha” is a literary work that reflects this definition of realism. Dreiser’s arguments regarding the presence of immorality in literature as a precondition for artistic honesty find an example in the actions of the protagonist of Howells’s story. Theodore Dreiser’s “True Art Speaks Plainly” defines realism as literature that speaks the truth regardless of its moral substance, and this definition is observable in Howells’s “Editha” through the corrupt motivations of the protagonist, the critical portrayal of nation states at war, and the ugly manipulation utilized by the protagonist.

Literary writers incorporate narrative elements in order to convey the flaws of humanity in society, such as gender or class based issues. The Wife of Martin Guerre, by Janet Lewis, portrays the individual’s struggles in feudalist, sixteenth century France and delves into the issues of a complete authoritarian rule, the place of women in patriarchal societies, and the concepts of family honour, justice, truth and love. Lewis utilises metaphorical characterisation of Monsier Guerre, Bertrande de Rols, Martin Guerre

The present paper traces the origins of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland and Robert Coover’s dramatic monologue Rip Awake to Washington Irving’s short story “Rip Van Winkle” and attempts to analyze both adaptations. Though Irving’s short story dates back to an earlier time period in the American landscape, it nonetheless forms the foundation of both Pynchon’s and Coover’s work. Though Irving’s writing style has often been called exceedingly British sounding, his narratives are steeped in American history and the American way of life. Both Thomas Pynchon and Robert Coover on the other hand belong to the postmodern age and deal with experimental fiction in America. If Pynchon’s fiction is described as encyclopedic, labyrinthine and convoluted then Coover’s is termed otherworldly and surreal. Despite the fact that most critics see both Pynchon and Cooveras being as dissimilar as chalk and cheese, they nonetheless use experimental forms and techniques that are distinctly postmodern as the present study will depict.

One of the primary aspects of literature that makes it multifaceted is its ability to reflect the attitudes, beliefs, values, and customs of a particular time period or society by focusing on issues central to these cultures. Thus, as civilizations have expanded globally, literature has also grown to accommodate and reflect upon their problems. Once suburban neighborhoods and an upper middle class began to rapidly emerge in the United States, American authors began to explore and uncover the problems faced among the populations of these areas. Consequently, pieces of literature, particularly short stories, began to fall within the aesthetic of Suburban Realism, which is defined as the fidelity to actuality of the customs, manners, and habits

Though an effective tool in “Lachrymose Love,” Mencken’s positive review of Theodore Dreiser in his essay, “A Modern Tragedy,” lacks as much of a sense of humor. He demonstrates a similar viewpoint on what the import values are, praising the novel as “a criticism and an interpretation of life” (245), which does not try to outdo itself with fancy language and over-the-top emotions as compared to Corelli. But, to reach

A further expounding of the relationship between black humour and existentialism in literature will clarify Catch-22’s position in literary history (La-mei, 2014).

There is plenty of opportunity for interpretation in Carter’s writing, particularly in her book ‘The Bloody Chamber’ which is commonly considered to be her masterwork, brimming with intertextualities and ambiguities. Some may find her work to be excessively violent or savage, perhaps even alienating. Yet others may have found this no-holds-barred approach to be exhilarating and refreshing in comparison to other authors of her time. In her re-writing of Perrault and Beaumont’s classic tales, Carter proposes a reading of several well-known stories with intent to unveil through a feminist perspective the ideological content they present. “The Bloody Chamber” is her take on the tale of Bluebeard; “The Werewolf” is her variation of the tale of

   In the Harlequin romance Time of the Temptress, by Violet Winspear, the author seems to be trying to write an intelligent story of romance, bettered by its literary self-awareness. She fails on both counts. Winspear appears to recognize that more valued literature tends to involve symbolism and allusions to other works. It seems she is trying to use archetypes and allusions in her own novel, but her references to alternate literature and culture are embarrassingly obvious and awkward. Another inter-literary connection, though, is more difficult to notice unless the book is pondered -- something the typical romance reader is not likely to do. Although Winspear

Bronwen Levy discusses issues in women’s crime fiction, written by women or for women in her article “Introduction to Marele Day: Reading Women’s Crime Fiction, Some Problems”. She thoroughly discusses authors in the genre, such as Agatha Christie (Levy ¶1) and cites other critics on the subject, such as Sherri Paris (¶5). By bringing in other authors and critics on the subject, she precisely provides objectivity with other viewpoints. Levy did well in meeting the basic goals of literary criticism.

Foremost, we will be exploring how the story would differ if the novel was written in the modern day. This book was written in the fifties and is mildly outdated. Since the writing of this book a tremendous amount has evolved in these past seventy years. For one the way women are treated.

James, Henry. The art of fiction: and other essays. New York: Oxford University Press, 1948.

Thomas C. Foster provides an entertaining and informative guide into the world of symbolism, themes, literary motifs, and more. Each chapter of this novel depicts a lesson that helps us to comprehend and decipher the world of books around us. The factor of comedy adds a level of interest to the novel while the facts being stated allow insight. The range of this book is broad enough so that it may apply to just about any novel.

In this essay I will be comparing Oscar Wilde's play 'A Woman of No Importance' to John Fowles' novel 'The French Lieutenant's Woman'. I will be exploring their differing views of woman in Victorian society. Generally, woman were viewed as inferior to men, yet Wilde shows compassion for them in his writing, this can be seen through his kindness to Mrs Arbuthnot towards the end of the play. However, John Fowles, although much darker in his presentation of woman, portrays Sarah Woodruff as

Readers have not always considered the idea that they have the opportunity to choose the path of the story they read.  In The French Lieutenant’s Woman, John Fowles revolutionizes the traditional art of story telling by breaking away from certain aspects of the novel to introduce a whole other world of fiction. The narrator plays a significant role, by providing insight into Victorian society, acting as a character in the story and creating relationships with the characters, all of which breaks away from the conventional role of the narrator and forces the reader to consider that she is an active participant in the art of storytelling.