The short story "Soldier's Home,"" by Ernest Hemingway, is about a soldier named Krebs who reveals the shock of re-entry into life after war. ... Krebs is the central character in the story who didn't keep faith in himself when he came back from war. ... The theme of having faith is consistent with my own values because for me faith is significant to be a strong individual in life. ... This faith that my mother gave me motivated me to be confident to in myself and pass the class. ... However, I can relate to our mothers giving him faith to believe faith. ...

• Word Count: 748
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Another thing that stood out to me was Amelia's situation. ... The main theme in the movie Babel is communication. ... Another prime example of our theme is with Susan and Richard who have a bad case of miscommunication. ... The four interlocking stories that connect by this one rifle come together and tell us the complicated and tragic story. ... To me the stories showed us how we are all the same, we just all live in different parts of the world. ...

• Word Count: 1228
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Also, the story outlines many themes throughout the story. Two main themes that are widely exhibited are poverty and absence. ... "There is all that life that has happened outside of me, beyond me.... One of the main themes displayed in "I Stand Here Ironing" is poverty. ... Also, instead of creating the "perfect mother" scene, it gives insight to what a real working, single mother has to do in order to keep her kid safe and provide a good life. ...

• Word Count: 1084
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Tom tired to leave at times early on in the story, but she kept him around. ... They give Grandpa come coffee with sleeping medicine in it, and it does the trick. ... They then tell their story and the owner lightens up and explains to them that the people with money go to the company-owned stations, while he gives out all the freebies, and he know it will not last. Before they leave, their dog gets ran over, applying some foreshadowing to the story. ... After she feeds her family, she gives the children the scraps which they eat very quickly. ...

• Word Count: 2457
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

The novel Cloudstreet by Tim Winton is the epic story of two Australian families" whose lives come together. ... The theme of family proved to be the most dominant. ... "Dad, I cleaned up her vomit, washed her clothes dragged her home from the pub My childhood was taken from me- The theme of communication throughout the text also made readers see the novel as a real life story. ... This continuous flow of speech and thought exposes readers to deeper emotions, giving readers an insight to normal feelings felt by each character. ... The novel lacked punctuation due to the fact Fish is the narrat...

• Word Count: 1597
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

The characters give and receive assistance from others, who give out of a sense of friendship and community. ... Thomas offers to help Victor go get his father's belongings on the condition " You have to take me with you... "I know you ain't going to treat me any better- (215) Thomas is reassuring Victor that his assistance was given of free heart, with nothing expected in return save perhaps " when I'm telling a story somewhere, why don't you stop and listen?" ... Victor gives Thomas half his father's ashes in appreciation for his help. ... Like letting things go...

• Word Count: 714
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

It is the basic story of a young man eager to be on his own and to make life desisions for himself. ... The "Prodigal Son" offers well-defined life lessons from threee different points of view because of the authors use of characters and application of theme. ... Not withsatnding, the theme of the parable is one of repentance, forgiveness, and understanding. ... The father is accepting, giving, and loving as the picture held by many of a Heavenly Father. ... The father in Luke's story surely acknowledges this adage. ...

• Word Count: 661
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The book gives no physical description of Benjy. ... She tells him, "You are the only one of them that isn't a reproach to me- (181). ... The story begins with a narration by Benjy when he is 33 years old. ... Soon the story goes back in time and Benjy narrates the story as a little kid. ... Themes: 1. ...

• Word Count: 911
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Leap Into Darkness is a real life story written by Leo Bretholz. ... I understood that she sent him away because male Jews were being arrested and she wanted to give him a chance, but could not understand why he was the only one to go. ... One theme relevant to today's society is the bond between families. ... Family bonding is a theme in war and peacetime. Another theme that still has relevance in today's society is finding strength and keeping faith through tough situations. ...

• Word Count: 1567
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

The theme that stands the most is based on the relationship between parents and children. ... In "October Sky", the story takes place at a West Virginia mining town during the 1950's. ... The story makes it clear that Dee was confused about the meaning of her heritage. At first she states this by saying "No, Mamma, call me Wangero, I couldn't bear it any longer being named after the people who oppress me." ... "When I looked at her something hit me in the top of my head and ran down to the soles of my feet." ...

• Word Count: 1757
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Our Nicky's Heart This is a short story written by Graham Swift. In the story we meet Frank Randall, his wife and four sons. ... It seems to me that this is the first time that Frank does not know what to do. ... This, in some way, gives her peace at mind. ... The most important theme of the text must be to find your identity. ...

• Word Count: 1154
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Starting with the mothers who grew up in China, they tell their stories through flashbacks and what they have taken from their experiences growing up. Tradition, respect, and obedience were the main themes of their generation. ... I really enjoyed this movie because it helped me learn more about Chinese customs and traditions and gave me insight into some of the hardships many Chinese women had to experience such as arranged marriages and the importance and prestige of bearing sons, the daughters had to deal with bi-racial children, European-American fathers introduced in the family, as well...

• Word Count: 700
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The Latino American culture portrayed by this book is no different having prominent themes and traits seen in the characters and repeated throughout the novel. ... On page 32 it says that Alicia only fears mice and fathers illustrating this theme of dominance that begins at home and escalates through Latino women's lives. ... I want to be Like the waves on the sea, Like the clouds in the wind, But i'm me One day I"ll jump Out of my skin I"ll shake the sky Like a hundred violins. ... Through the main character in the book, ideas are expressed and shown through both simplisti...

• Word Count: 1127
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

What is real to me may not be real to someone with Chinese heritage, as The Sugar Sisterhood states, there are many dubious phrases in The Joy Luck Club. ... When Lindo's mother gives Lindo up in the forest the trees are very spindly. ... Harold may not have known what his wife wanted, but that is a main theme of countless films. ... I went into The Joy Luck Club expecting a formulaic story, with old characters and plots I know by heart, what I got was a very fresh, honest perspective on an old theme. Embellishments and details make stories more interesting: "I caught a fish" is boring...

• Word Count: 1560
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

It is here that he gives the readers insight to his internal anguish and depression. ... Hamlet's depression and sorrow over the loss of his father and the state of his country cause Hamlet to not act out against Claudius or his mother, which later becomes one of the main themes in Hamlet, the theme of indecision. ... / How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable/ Seem to me tall the uses of this world!" ... He is fearful of death because of the stories the ghost of his father tells about the fiery pits of hell. ... This soliloquy is much like the ones he will give later. ...

• Word Count: 1324
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The novel "Montana - 1948" by Larry Watson begins as a story of a young boy growing up in rural Montana shortly after World War II. ... However, as the plot develops, many complicated themes of lust, deceit, corruption, envy, anger and control unfold. ... The thoughts and emotions of this twelve-year-old boy are the heart of the story and of great interest to me. ... Within the pages of this novel, Watson gives clues to a trait Davy hated in his father, a trait he inherited at least in part. ... The theme that repeated itself throughout the story was Wes" inability to confront Grandpa and it...

• Word Count: 1693
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

King Lear is a combination of two smaller stories, which overlap and intertwine. ... "The subplot simply repeats the theme of the main one story."" ... "Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion of my more fierce endeavour. ... Cordelia refuses to play Lear's game and as a result, he refuses to give her a portion of his kingdom. ... "Sir, do you know me?...

• Word Count: 892
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Sexuality and gender are major themes in The House on Mango Street. ... "And the story goes, she never forgave him. ... (p.11) This story disturbs Esparanza because it shows how suffocating marriage can be to a woman like her grandmother. ... She will not give it away." ... Instead, these women, like Marin, will not give up this power until they get what they want in life; which is to escape from Mango Street. ...

• Word Count: 1121
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

A recurring theme in Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations," is the reversal of stereotypical gender roles. ... Great Expectations uses first person narrative to give a personal perspective of Pip maturing into adulthood. ... The effective use of Joe's character within this story transcends far beyond the Victorian ideology which looked at wives and mothers as angelic in their care and protection of the home, as discusses by Brunt (2004). ... During Christmas dinner, when everybody is telling Pip to be grateful, Joe, gives Pip more gravy. ... Pip says, "Whoever came about me, st...

• Word Count: 1179
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The light of the moon emphasizes the skylights of Manhattan and gives a particular ambiance to the streets below. ... There are several themes in the film Moonstruck, the obvious love; also the sanctity of marriage, superstition, and death, it is the music that defines the tone of each scene; but it is the music of the opera of La Boheme that relates to the lives of the characters in Moonstruck. ... In a fit of rage, Ronny tells Loretta the story of how he lost his hand, and his fiancée; He blames Johnny for the accident. ... The next morning Loretta is walking home obviously in love...

• Word Count: 2080
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The story first takes place in a remote cottage on the moors of Scotland, where Sigrid is kept like a prisoner, isolated and alone. ... Through out the book, Sigrid imagines seeing Virginia's ghost and it seems to give her strength and reassurance. ... I think the main theme in this novel was to let the reader know everyone has strength in themselves. ... I"m sure if that was me, or anyone else, insanity probably would have occurred. ...

• Word Count: 1175
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, each character represents distinct values that help to further the plot and theme of pursuing one's dreams throughout the play. ... "No-there's something come down between me and them that don't let us understand each other and I don't know what it is. ... Walter's values took many twists and turns throughout the story. ... Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don't know what it is-but he needs something-something I can't give him any more. ...

• Word Count: 1369
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The story begins in the warm-weather months and ends in autumn. ... She immediately writes a letter to Madame Valmonde, saying, "My mother, they tell me I am not white. Armand has told me I am not white. ... Themes Racism and Gender Bias Like many other American men of the mid-nineteenth century South, Armand Aubigny bases the worth of a person primarily on his or her race and gender. ...

• Word Count: 2905
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

As far as themes are concerned, "the dramatists dared to explore such untraditional subjects as (1) the complexities of human experience, (2) the moral and social values of American life, and (3) the economic and political problems created by technological changes and a great World War.... He simultaneously functioned as a social critic and moral guide as he believes that: The playwright must dig at the roots of sickness today as he feels it the death of the old God, the failure of science, and materialism to give any satisfying new one for the surviving primitive religious instinct to f...

• Word Count: 9352
• Approx Pages: 37
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The story Hard Times is set in an imaginary town by the name of Coketown. ... Gradgrind agrees to take Sissy home with him and make her part of his family, and give her an education of facts. ... He says "Louisa, my dear, you are the subject of a proposal of marriage that has been made to me." ... Then she asks " do you ask me to love Mr. ... Louisa and her brother Tom had come to see if she could help Stephen with anything, and to give him money. ...

• Word Count: 3472
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: High School