In The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe, the main character, Niki Jumpei, becomes a student of Zen training when he becomes unexpectedly trapped inside of a large sand pit. ... In his arrogance he immediately begins to think of ways out of the hole, or rather, ways to solve the Koan. ... He was still in the hole, but it seemed as if he were already outside" (Abe 235). ... Finding his own independence inside the hole is the key to Niki's freedom. ... Niki climbs up the ladder and walks around his sand pit then back into the hole to fix "hope" and to listen to the radio. ...

• Word Count: 1670
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

And all the characters struggled with the fact that they could not just drop the mental baggage they carry, as much as they may want to. ... I think this story has an interesting way of showing the character's emotions as well, and how they are forced to deal with them, and process the situations they are put into. ... So our main character goes on and on about his sweetheart back home, that burden led into a new and tragic one, that now he must move on from. ... They would crack jokes about voiding on themselves, or that the enemy nearly added a new hole in them. ... I appreciate the si...

• Word Count: 1296
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The major characters Willy, Happy, and, in part Biff, all have problems facing life and its hardships. The lead character Willy has a difficult time confronting realism in his life because of a strong desire for his dreams to be accomplished. ... Happy is trying to fill a void of lonesomeness in his life by being so promiscuous, this behavior only creates a larger hole he digs deeper each time another pointless women comes into his life. ...

• Word Count: 1714
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School