The concept of a literary "foil" character is one seen in many a great work of fiction throughout history. A foil is a character (usually a minor one) that, either through direct comparison or through stark contrast, highlights significant traits of a major character (often the protagonist). Through this relationship that showcases the strengths and flaws of various characters, a message or meaning can be gleaned from the book. ... It's intriguing characters are all special in their own way, and some are more so than others. Herbert Pocket and Phillip "Pip" Pirrip...

• Word Count: 1229
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

Marxist literary theory presents a challenge to traditional criticism in the sense that it provides a political social perspective upon literary works. ... The characters are determined by their financial position and judged accordingly. ... May Sinclair seems critical of the class structures that invade the personal relations between her characters. ... Patriarchal authority and expression is extremely relevant to the characters, as Harriett's mother within the text does not have a forename. ... The descriptions seen above are a short analysis of the symbols and actions within the text t...

• Word Count: 1734
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Three literary works from the death unit that illustrate the conflict that many women encounter are "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy, "No Name Woman" by Maxine Hong Kingston and "The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window" by Joy Harjo. ... In these works, each character represents a woman trying to come to terms with, and find a solution to her depression and anxiety. ... Each character in each story is left to fill the void with high self-esteem, so they can thrive as individuals. ...

• Word Count: 979
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

While the Elizabethan perspective, revealed through Shakespeare's use of several literary techniques, interprets the play primarily as a social tragedy. ... (Act 1, Scene 3, line 109-110) Shakespeare uses a variety of literary techniques to reveal the Elizabethan perspective. ... Animalistic imagery, used by Lear to describe Regan, reveals how characters that step outside their place in "the chain-of-being" transform into something "unnatural" and unpleasant. ... Through these personal and intimate speeches the intentions and thoughts of individual characters are revealed. ... Through ...

• Word Count: 1119
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Anderson's work is appreciable at using characters to portray the modern day relationship between men and women. Characters are the central point in the novel and are the personality in the book. Characters are also helpful in developing the themes of the text. ... Feminist literary criticism views literature to see how the culture, economy, politics, and society in the text oppress women . ... In conclusion, Anderson portrays power relationships between men and women through different literary aspects such as the characters, themes, symbols, imagery and the feminist critical lense. ...

• Word Count: 1774
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

It has been such an important factor during our existence that it has influenced enormously also the literary world. ... These two literary pieces, although written a little less than a century apart and in two different countries and cultures, present many similarities that can help us understand how the social stratification was and will always be part of our society. ... Understanding the historical background of both writings is essential to comprehend the behaviors of every character. ... Witnessing this fact is the character of Lopakhin. ... The position of the characters in a uncl...

• Word Count: 1327
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Jude is therefore more like a traditional Marxist literary hero rather than a Greek hero of tragic myth. ... Hardy demonstrates Jude's inaccurate perception of Sue's character. ... Because he believes these conventions he never overcomes his inevitable tragic ending due to this character flaw, which is his inability to think of himself in terms other than what society has prescribed on him. This character flaw is what links him closer to the Marxist literary hero who tries desperately to overcome the societal conventions against him but in the end will have no choice but to succum...

• Word Count: 982
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, all the characters are in one way or another, attempting to achieve a state of happiness in their lives. ... Scott Fitzgerald clearly shows through his use of his characters and literary devices in The Great Gatsby, that this is clearly a novel based on how the American Dream is inevitably crushed beneath the harsh reality of life, because of a society which is robbed of its social and moral values, leaving many people's lives without meaning or purpose. ...

• Word Count: 535
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In literature a very common literary device is symbolism. ... They use objects, actions, and characters to give more meaning to the thing itself. ... Lastly, the main character Trevor, he symbolizes demotion and with his demotion from the upper class to the lower class he wants to take charge and get back. ...

• Word Count: 634
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Literary and historical scholars agree that women did not enjoy political, economic, or social parity with men during Shakespeare's time, and this historical reality is important to keep in mind when analyzing the variety of female characters in the plays of Shakespeare. ... Although the male characters generally fail to notice or refuse to acknowledge women's authority and influence openly, they are affected by it. The contemporary reader can't help but be aware of them and in many cases, to view many of the characters present in several plays by Shakespeare as some of the main...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate

In order to reveal the characters that have different language habits representing different social positions, in the novel, Flags in the Dust, William Faulkner compared the spelling variation of pronunciation in American southern dialect with the standard spelling of the standard pronunciation in American English. Characters can be divided into three types according to their language habits in this novel. ... To make a conclusion, William Faulkner exploited the southern dialect as a means of expressing his literary ideas, and used it as a symbol to represent characters in the novel standing o...

• Word Count: 682
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

He remarks "You and I have different role to play-, likening the situation to a literary scenario where the characters have clearly defined roles that evidently supports his behavior. ... Brian, the only male character to defy prejudices, reveals his homosexuality to Ellen challenging the roles of customary males. ... When Kate slowly becomes an invalid, the inadequacy of fixed roles is revealed, as imbalance becomes evident and a characters assurance is uncovered by Quindlen to be misguided. ...

• Word Count: 844
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He remarks "You and I have different role to play-, likening the situation to a literary scenario where the characters have clearly defined roles that evidently supports his behavior. ... Brian, the only male character to defy prejudices, reveals his homosexuality to Ellen challenging the roles of customary males. ... When Kate slowly becomes an invalid, the inadequacy of fixed roles is revealed, as imbalance becomes evident and a characters assurance is uncovered by Quindlen to be misguided. ...

• Word Count: 834
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The social structure of a story is often what motivates the actions of the characters. ... The characters are going on a pilgrimage, all traveling together. ... Literary Aspects Even with the different social stations of the characters and their different situations, each of the three pieces of literature mentioned above have overlapping themes. ... It might be said that the characters that Chaucer writes about are the most diverse, including characters from all social classes. In others, we see a major change in characters. ...

• Word Count: 1419
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Within the depths of this setting O"Connor introduces the character of Mr. ... In developing the character of the old woman, Mrs. ... In introducing the character of Mr. ... O"Connor through the use of this symbolism depicts the character of Mr. ... In the short story, "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" O"Connor uses many literary devices such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony to illustrate this gothic view of southern civilization and the cruel truth of innocence being over turned by misfits like Mr. ...

• Word Count: 1041
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In the beginning introduction of Literary Theory: An Introduction, Eagleton states numerous definitions of literature to prove the point that there has yet to be one specific definition. ... Plato believes that art will manipulate the character of humans and will not allow the norms of society to shape people. ... First, I believe that the arts are no more damaging to character than any form of literature. ... Mikhail Bakhtin is a critic who studies literary theory, ethics, and the philosophy of language. Bakhtin "[views] language-especially literary texts-in terms of discourses and dial...

• Word Count: 2612
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The plays twists and turns around this theme, its characters lying in order to be "Ernest," and then discovering that because of a number of remarkable circumstances they had not in fact been lying at all. ... The play mocks this earnestness; it is the characters who do not act earnestly who are rewarded with love, and who are proven not to have been acting dishonestly at all. ... Oftentimes, these epigrams express ironic views contrary to what we would expect characters to believe. ... It pokes fun at the aristocracy, the literary world, marriage, English manners and customs, women, men, love...

• Word Count: 946
• Approx Pages: 4

These epigrams express ironic views contrary to what we would expect characters to believe. ... In contemporary parlance, "character- and "reputation- were nearly synonymous. A person whose reputation was blotted had lost his or her "character- or public moral identity. ... Sheridan opens The School for Scandal with a full presentation of London society snared in the ritual of scandalmongering; the character's names emphasise their roles in this society. ... They poke fun at the aristocracy, the literary world, marriage, English manners, customs, women, men, love, religion, politics, ...

• Word Count: 1627
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

While exploring sources for my Literary Review, I came across two very different research materials Levstik's (Stephen J. ... Thornton breaks his analysis into groups – character of the social science and social education position analyzing in detail their principles and problems, then comparing two eras 1920 – mid 1940s and late 1950s – early 1970s (Levstik 51). ... As far as my Literary Review, I find both articles interesting; however, there is not much of a connection. ...

• Word Count: 1498
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

While exploring sources for my Literary Review, I came across two very different research materials Levstik's (Stephen J. ... Thornton breaks his analysis into groups – character of the social science and social education position analyzing in detail their principles and problems, then comparing two eras 1920 – mid 1940s and late 1950s – early 1970s (Levstik 51). ... As far as my Literary Review, I find both articles interesting; however, there is not much of a connection. ...

• Word Count: 1498
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Among these 5 characters, pretty much all types of family situations are represented (to a certain extent) which is a very significant aspect of growing up. ... Thanks to the controversial topics, relatable characters, and popularity of the film altogether, The Breakfast Club serves as a landmark film of the 80s and also serves as a perfect film to critique using various critical lenses. ... Cultural and feminist literary lenses can be used to analyze John Hughes The Breakfast Club to better understand different aspects of the film....

• Word Count: 1156
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Charles Dickens' literary masterpiece, "Great Expectations," was written as a brutal commentary on the social hierarchy system during the Victorian era. ... Throughout the novel, the essentially good-hearted characters learn to live with what they have and therefore, find peace and happiness in even the harshest of life's realities. Some of these "good" characters are noteworthy; Joe, Wemmick, Herbert and Matthew Pocket. ... Allegorically, each character represents a different level of the social system and Pip's changing relationship with each of them shows the delineations b...

• Word Count: 1549
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In the short story "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner, emphasizes on the evolution of industrialization using characters such as Emily to reflect on tradition. ... Next, as the story unfolds, the mindset of the townspeople or 'society' shows that they were disgusted with this character when, " the next day he [the mayor] received two more complaints'send her word to have her place cleaned up' the broke open the cellar door and sprinkled lime" (Faulkner 301). ...

• Word Count: 1189
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Hamlets' character flaws mirror my own. ... She was assumed to be untrustworthy and of ill character. ... Like mirrors, literature enables us to see our situations by observing a character's achievements and flaws. ... Different readers can make different opinions or comments of the same literary words. ... The character is instantly unlikeable, ignorant and dismissive of her husband's heritage. ...

• Word Count: 1988
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Cheever presents the story in a third-person point of view with a narrator who reveals the thoughts of the main character, Neddy Merrill, during his journey home through his neighbour's swimming pools. ... Cheever uses these literary methods to show the reader that lifestyles like the one Neddy lives leaves individuals only with temporary happiness-when this is stripped away, they are left feeling empty....

• Word Count: 1090
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School