Literature

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan. It includes a summary and an examination of themes and other important points.

"Polaris", published in December of 1920, was one of H.P. Lovecraft's earlier stories. Following an unnamed narrator into the mystery of a foreign dream land, this short story is packed with mysteries waiting to be unboxed and analyzed.

Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 59' explores the idea that beauty as newly embodied in 'the fair youth' stands the test of time. The speaker wants to know if his new feelings are valid by looking back through 500 courses of the sun. Based on a biblical text, 'there is no new thing under the sun.'

"The Cats of Ulthar" is one of H.P Lovecraft's favorite short stories. But do you know the history behind this iconic piece of work? With Egyptian history, Anglo-Irish inspiration, and of course the familiar Lovecraftian mystery, there's more behind the words.

"The Machine Stops" is a story that invites us to reflect on the power of technology and the place it occupies in modern society.

Francine Toon draws upon Gothic influences with her debut novel, "Pine," but is it any good?

John Milton's 'On His Blindness'—or Sonnet 19 aka 'When I Consider How My Light Is Spent'—focuses on spiritual and creative strength and man's relationship with God. Milton, totally blind by the spring of 1652, learns of accepted patience. Biblical allusions to parables, faith and salvation abound.

Sleep—the excess or lack of it—is a common thread in many nineteenth century novels. This article examines this theme in three different Victorian novels.

A searingly honest, moving, and enlightening narrative on depression and staying afloat, Matt Haig’s international bestseller “Reasons to Stay Alive” is a literary necessity made to inform, relieve, and potentially save lives.

Dominic Suarez wakes up on Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday, and then . . . Thursday? A love story with a “Groundhog Day” twist, “How to Save a Life” is equal parts romantic and thrilling.

This article explores how Tess’s animal comparisons function throughout the novel, especially in terms of how these comparisons aid Thomas Hardy’s commentary on societal and religious laws versus the laws of nature.

If you don’t have too much time to commit, here are some of the best books that you can read in a day.

Mila is a girl chained to and strangled by her past. So when she’s offered seclusion and peace on a North Carolina farm, how could she say no? But as it turns out, peace is the last thing she finds—and the farm is anything but what she expected it to be.

In Sleepy Hollow sojourned a schoolmaster named Ichabod Crane. On the autumn night of a party, the story is told of the Headless Horseman, a ghost who seeks a replacement head from any wayward night-traveling villagers for his own missing one.

Supernatural ghosts and other paranormal entities are scattered throughout Jane Eyre. In a novel that is otherwise realistic, these elements of the supernatural are quite strange. This article explores the reasons behind these supernatural appearances.

The complete toolkit for all things acting, “The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide” is a lifeline for aspiring actors, comedians, and entertainers across the globe.

The book Lord of the Flies by William Golding is commonly found as part of English class curriculums all over the United States. Even though it is a story about boys stranded on a deserted island, the story has depth and symbolism.

Charlie Higson’s “The Enemy” is a horrific, grueling adventure where everyone over 16 is either dead or diseased, and kids all over London have to come together to fight for their lives.

This article has a short description of many short stories by Anton Chekhov.

Keep track of your journal entries because Seth Tomko reviews Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

Extremely analytical and with a highly detailed, day-by-day, blow-by-blow recounting of the track of events leading to Mers El-Kébir, "The Road to Oran" is a highly authoritative work on the battle and Anglo-French naval war coordination, but it lacks much interpretation.

In this article, I list my six favorite enemies-to-lovers novels, including "The Cruel Prince," "The Night Circus," and more.

A little look into Ken Kesey's masterpiece. Here are my thoughts on "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

This is a review of the 2002 novel "Porno" by Irvine Welsh—the follow-up to his acclaimed 1993 debut novel, "Trainspotting."

These five Y.A. novels center typically marginalized identities and provide striking commentary on culturally relevant issues faced by youth today.

In Shakespeare Sonnet 7, the speaker, still trying to convince the young man that he should marry and procreate, is comparing metaphorically the young man’s aging process to the daily journey of sun traveling across the sky.

Sonnet 6 may be considered as a companion piece to Sonnet 5. The speaker opens by referring to the same metaphor he employed in the earlier sonnet, the distillation of flowers.

Isn't all fiction (and a lot of non-fiction) speculative? Is speculative fiction just an umbrella term for sci-fi and fantasy? What does it mean for a work of fiction to be considered speculative?

"Trainspotting" by Irvine Welsh, first published in 1993, is an enjoyable and highly entertaining novel about drugs, friendship, and misfortune.

The speaker of Shakespeare sonnet 5 continues to create little dramas to convince the young man that he must procreate to preserve his youth and thereby reach a certain bowdlerized version of immortality.

A children's classic that submerges us in a world of plants and sunshine.

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer. It starts with a summary, then considers symbols, theme and some relevant questions.

This my book Review of Erika L. Sánchez's 2017 novel, "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter."

In "The Marriage Sonnets," the speaker is continuing to dramatize his persuasion of the young man to marry and produces pleasant progeny. In sonnet 4, the speaker is engaging a finance metaphor to enhance interest in his argument.

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver. It starts with a summary, then looks at it as an allegory and answers questions on the story elements.

Shakespeare Sonnet 3 from the “Marriage Sonnets” concentrates on the young man’s image in the looking-glass. The speaker will be again appealing to the lad’s vanity as the former continues his persuasive effort get the young man married.

Edith Wharton's life provided her with insider knowledge of the aristocracy of New York. In 1921, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel “The Age of Innocence.” This made her the first female to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Plan your route accordingly because Seth Tomko reviews Matt Ruff’s novel Lovecraft Country.

"Persuasion" is the last novel written by the wonderful Jane Austen.

Shakespeare sonnet 2 continues the "Marriage Sonnets" with the speaker imploring the young man to marry and produce offspring before it is too late.

Contrasting mightily with her “Garland for Queens, may be,” in which the rose is held in such high regard that it is offered an ordination ceremony, this rose remains uncelebrated and unnoticed except by the speaker and a few other creatures of nature.

Young love—there’s no topic quite as popular, nor as poorly written. But in Rainbow Rowell’s expert hands, it blossoms, and her story of Eleanor and Park, two unlikely lovers, will leave every reader speechless with awe.

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "Secrets" by Bernard MacLaverty. It starts with a summary, then looks at theme, foreshadowing, the title and more.

"Mother to Son" is a short poem, a monologue and extended metaphor. Life is a series of steps you have to keep climbing and never stop. This advice for life is given to a son by his mother. Her life has not been a crystal stair; it's been a broken and dangerous one, yet still she perseveres.

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "The Student" by Anton Chekhov. It starts with a summary, then looks at theme, the epiphany, the setting and the title.

While this Shakespearean speaker waits for what he believes to be true inspiration, he goes ahead and writes whatever he can to keep his creative juices flowing. The speaker of sonnet 79 addresses his muse directly, sorting out once again his own contribution from that of the muse.

William Blake's "The Tyger" is a metaphorical poem from his book "Songs of Innocence and Experience," also illustrated with his own inventive etchings. A rhyming poem full of symbolism and vivid imagery, it is a counterpart to his poem "The Lamb."

This article looks at the meaning in "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty. It starts with a summary, then looks at theme and symbolism.

This article looks at the meaning in "Désirée's Baby" by Kate Chopin. It starts with a summary, then examines themes and foreshadowing.