The factual nature of his first book and the relatively conventional narrative methods of his second give way to a much more imaginative account of Vietnam in Going After Cacciato (1978), the book that launched him to stardom. ... These same concerns are evident in his award-winning short-story cycle The Things They Carried (1990), powerful tales so much like memoirs that O'Brien feels compelled to emphasize in a prefatory note that what follows is "a work of fiction." ...

• Word Count: 781
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This virtue is just one I will focus on, in consideration of length restrictions, but it's important to note that Little Women deals with a broad spectrum of emotions and ideas. ... While this criticism may be a bit harsh, I would deem it quite accurate, as the perception Alcott appears to give off is that a young woman may be free and independent for a brief while, but eventually she must conform to society's standards. ... Whereas Alcott seeks to grapple with the hardships of everyday life, putting her characters through common situations and conflicts, Barrie writes to escape fr...

• Word Count: 1473
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Starched clothing is known for making clothing look more formal, which is interesting to note because Santiago is the one who wears unstarched white linen clothing and José Dias, a dependant, is the one who wears starched white trousers. ... Although the starched clothing gives José Dias a formal and well-to-do look, it also symbolizes his consistent need to depend on Bento's family due to the fact that his clothes need to also be repeatedly starched. ... The color of Santiago's clothing gives the illusion that the man wearing the outfit is pure and innocent. ...

• Word Count: 1389
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

., p. 7) Films that are adaptations are generally popular and successful: according to Maurice Beja the biggest box-office successes tend to be adaptations, and he [ie Beja] also notes that since the Oscars began in 1927-28, more than three quarters of the 'Best Picture' awards have gone to films which are adaptations of novels (Beja, 1979: cited in McFarlane) . ... The fidelity issue gives primacy to one aspect of a film at the expense of many others (stars/studio style/directorial ouevre/ genre/cinematic qualities/social comment/etc). ...

• Word Count: 971
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This "duo" emphasises their incompetence on a satirical note, though maintaining their prestige and power throughout. ... Yossarian's dead man in tent scenario torments him perpetually as to him it seems that nothing can be done, until "Yo-Yo's roomies" arrive, and remove the deceased Mudd's belongings, which then gives reason for Yossarian to dislike the new air crew. ...

• Word Count: 2754
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Eco's Postscript is also a manifesto proclaiming the authority of serious historical fiction: the characters in a historical novel may not appear in encyclopedias, he notes, but everything they do could only occur in that time and place. ... As he remarks, he gives his audience, "Latin, practically no women, [and] lots of theology," partially rewarding their attention by also providing "gallons of blood in Grand Guignol style" (Eco, 1983). ...

• Word Count: 4697
• Approx Pages: 19
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The use of the repetition of the 's' sound, sibilance, of the words 'ice' and 'freezingly' gives a sinister air to the situation and also adds to the already cold tense atmosphere between the two women and reminds us of other evil fictional characters such as 'The White Witch' for example or Cinderella's evil stepmother. ...

• Word Count: 3018
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Seeking and Maintaining Balance: Rohinton Mistry's Fiction. (Critical Essay) Abstract: Balance is an important quality in the fiction of Rohinton Mistry, as suggested by the title of his second novel, 'A Fine Balance.' Mistry was born in India, a member of the Parsi community, and immigrated to Canada in 1975. Mistry's short story collection 'Tales from Firozsha Baag' and his two novels, 'Such a Long Journey' and 'A FIne Balance' focus on the Parsi community in India rather than on the immigrant experience. The Parsis and India become metap...

• Word Count: 4675
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Seeking and Maintaining Balance: Rohinton Mistry's Fiction. (Critical Essay) Abstract: Balance is an important quality in the fiction of Rohinton Mistry, as suggested by the title of his second novel, 'A Fine Balance.' Mistry was born in India, a member of the Parsi community, and immigrated to Canada in 1975. Mistry's short story collection 'Tales from Firozsha Baag' and his two novels, 'Such a Long Journey' and 'A FIne Balance' focus on the Parsi community in India rather than on the immigrant experience. The Parsis and India become me...

• Word Count: 4673
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Fiction being the most popular choice for recreational readers is exciting because it gives any reader a chance to believe and in-vision something that they are not particularly exposed to in everyday life. ...

• Word Count: 3767
• Approx Pages: 15
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate