... to overcome obstacles set up by society to realize his aspirations as a writer (Krebs 188). The character is finally able to "go against what society deems as natural and live his own life" (Krebs 188-189). In Tales of the South Pacific, Michener's use of themes of war returns. He promotes through his characters that people are generally good, they just do bad things ... and then onto New York from the 1920's to 1930's (Bennett 226). The childhood is spent on a Pennsylvania canal where barges represent serenity (Havinghuist 55-56). Michener's use of setting in Fires of Spring comes from...

• Word Count: 1107
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , is a shameful, and disgraceful one, ( ofcourse he doesn't feel any shame or disgrace ) because there is no right to fight in it. He comes to destroy, and has nothing good mind. His act is evil. At the end of the fight, Beowulf is the victor. He overcame evil with his bravery, so his fight is an atmost honourable one. But, even if ... for blood. These evil acts are acts for which he wouldn't even waste his power to raise one of his hands against other people. A fight with such purposes would be a dishonourable one. But, as this man is a man of honour, when it comes to the protection of ...

• Word Count: 1161
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... Although Stryker is disliked by his men for his unsympathetic training methods, his wisdom is demonstrated through his squad while fighting on the island of Iwo Jima. On the other hand, in Platoon the troops did lose their innocence, but at a much greater cost. In particular the ... pathetic attempts to gain respect and control of his squad. He is seen as a coward and a suck-up, and in my opinion, a poor excuse for a leader. For every downfall in war comes a stronger bond between these men. In fact, the leadership of several higher officers is so strong that ... they become father fig...

• Word Count: 1147
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... these characters will face in their transition from sheltered high school life to the harsh and unshielded world outside its gates. Brinker Hadley, a schoolmate of Gene and Phineas, is intimidated by the impending transition from Devon to adulthood. Brinker is well liked by almost everyone. He looks athletic, but ... The most daring idea that Finny has is to jump from the tree. This haphazard, spontaneous idea is the kind of childish thought that comes without any concept of consequence. It was his idea, so "naturally, Finny was going to be the first to try" (7) the jump ... . The thri...

• Word Count: 1132
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... English writer, historian and political figure of the nineteenth century, Edward George Earle Lytton, first Baron Lytton, son of General Bulwer. The quote comes from a blank verse drama entitled Richelieu, or the Conspiracy, about a French statesman by that name. In Bulwer-Lytton's drama, the character is an anti-hero. The full ... quotation reads: "Beneath the rule of men entirely great/ The pen is mightier ... than the sword" (II.ii). Words do have power in them; and those who have words to use ultimately overcome those who wield weapons. I think of those documents ... to the occasio...

• Word Count: 694
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse I chose this book because world war two era is very fascinating tome. I find that this Period of history has many interesting aspects. Also my grandparents were apart of this period in history and lived through many of the hardships described in this book. The story letters from Rifka is about a Jewish family who has decided to leave Russia ... sent to Ellis Island. She has to stay in a ward for three weeks. Her family comes to get her and it is a joyous reunion. I have chosen Rifka as my favorite character because she is a strong and courageous girl. She als...

• Word Count: 280
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... and that no good comes from war. The phrase "so it goes" is very important and is seen through Billy Pilgrim, Kurt Vonnegut, and the overall theme of the book is based on it. To help understand the phrase "so it goes", what it means, and why the character Billy Pilgrim uses it every ... " and that he can time travel to a planet called Tralfamadore. He takes on the Tralfamadore way of thinking. This is where the phrase "so it goes" actually comes from. According to Billy the Tralfamadoreians have no concept of time such as we do on earth. Billy says, "The most important thing I learned on...

• Word Count: 679
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... , cheat, and deceive one another. The Lady from Shanghai is a classic example of film noir because it consists of three major elements of a film noir: an average man, a femme fatale, and has a complicated, unjust plot. To be considered a film noir the main character must be an average man. In the Lady from Shanghai the protagonist, Michael O' ... the Lady from Shanghai is played by Elsa. She uses her good looks to manipulate Michael in order to try gain independence and money. The main character eventually falls in love with her and, as the story unfolds, it leads you to believe that they...

• Word Count: 517
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... the most was Paul Lazzaro. Though he was weak and disgusting he had a twisted mind. The description of what he had done to the dog seemed unreal. How could I possibly like a character who whoever he has a scuffle with he later punishes. My favorite part of the story was when Billy was on Tralfamadore. Billy seemed to be in charge there and he had ... he plane crash, Tralfamadore, and Kilgore Trout. It seemed that each one of the little stories could possible be made into a story of their own. The book is very calm and quite comical up to the firebombing of Dresden. This is where the hor...

• Word Count: 471
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... sport, just ask for it". Those are the quotes of Mr. Jay Gatsby. There are many words that can describe the character traits of him, but Dependable seems to stick out the most. Jay Gatsby is faced with many challenges in his life and how he deals with them in the story shows a length of his maturity and patience with people are thrown at ... greater things in life, such as money, parties and all that glitters. One of the major themes in the story is that money cant buy true love. Elegance Jay Gatsby's self-presentation is very important in staying on top. You see this character as a goo...

• Word Count: 599
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... Greek theatre the character was seen as an individual at the mercy of the gods. With the advent of Realism the characters became a part of society and had the power to change and manipulate their destiny. Society was seen as having to conform to the individual and not the individual being restricted forever by society. Intrinsic Demands: Form: The form of realism comes from the actor ... important aspect of the speech comes from the subtext within the text. This is an intention usually hidden by indirect speech and words not said. Another type of subtext is intentional subtext, which ha...

• Word Count: 1144
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... her so I thought that this book would be good. I also chose this book because it was a Newberry award winner. Annemarie Johansen is the main character in the story, she is a ten year old girl that lives with her parents and sister at their home. She first appears at the beginning ... be, and is a friend when she needs to be. Annemarie was willing to save her friend by risking her and her life. Ellen Rosen was also one of the main characters in the story she is a nine year old girl living with her parents. Ellen appears in the story at the beginning also. Ellen a ... jew, who is Annemari...

• Word Count: 498
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... and his friends spend their time drinking and attending parties. The key events of the making of Jake's character occurred before this novel took place. During World War I, Jake was a casualty of war. Although Jake doesn't come out and say so, there are numerous times in the book when he implies,because of his injury he has lost the ability to have sexual intercourse. The ... definitely agonizing for him. This is the force that sets Jake's inner conflict in motion. (Vol.19) Jake seems to be lost when it comes to living in his world of emotional relationships. He confronts extreme feelin...

• Word Count: 854
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... her so I thought that this book would be good. I also chose this book because it was a Newberry award winner. Annemarie Johansen is the main character in the story, she is a ten year old girl that lives with her parents and sister at their home. She first appears at the beginning ... be, and is a friend when she needs to be. Annemarie was willing to save her friend by risking her and her life. Ellen Rosen was also one of the main characters in the story she is a nine year old girl living with her parents. Ellen appears in the story at the beginning also. Ellen a ... jew, who is Annemari...

• Word Count: 498
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... better than others and some just don't make it at all. This brings me to my reasoning for the theme of this novel; "survival of the fittest". From the beginning of this novel it is made abundantly clear that Phineas and Gene are the fittest. In chapter one Phineas is described as ... "...the best athlete in the school" with "a strong neck in and uninterrupted, unemphatic unity of strength."(8) Clearly Phineas is the fittest physically. His physical build and superior athletic ability give him that advantage over everyone else enabling him to survive. ... at something too. You don't stand...

• Word Count: 466
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... hero's life. Although the male protagonist knows that falling into the snare of this femme fatale is suspicious and may prove dangerous, he does it anyway, unable to fight off the urge that is too overwhelming to resist. A situation and a character can prove to be overwhelming for another character, usually the main protagonist, causing them to do something they wouldn't ... impossible. As film noir acts as the dichotomy to the American Dream, it also reflects the emotions of Americans in a post-war society: trapped, afraid, pessimistic and paranoid. Film noir depicts these emotions thro...

• Word Count: 1145
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... isolation. It is this isolation that leads to a rich content of character history from one resident to another, as the islands inhabitants are not merely neighbors, but inter-reliant partners in living. The setting of an island also represents the inherent separation of the Japanese and American inhabitants of San Piedro; just as the island is separated from the mainland ... facts, void of emotional interpretation, and plain and simple, and therefore comes through as the champion of objectivity. Much can be learned from novels, and Snow Falling on Cedars is the perfect example of this. Th...

• Word Count: 1123
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of 10 because is almost always exciting never leaving a dull moment. People should read this book for many reasons. One is that it is very inspiring, and many lessons about perseverance can be learned. Also, the book is very informative about that time period and is very interesting to read about. As a young boy, the main character ... , Louis Zamperini was a very poorly behaved child. While growing into a teen he channeled his bad behavior into running. Eventually, he was good enough to compete in the Berlin Olympics. Other runners were really jealous of Zamperini's talent. Runners tried...

• Word Count: 726
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... more than he does, and judge only by colours and figures. (8) Homer's The Odyssey deals with war throughout. Odysseus, the main character, uses many tactics to defeat his enemies. Although the stories are very intriguing, Homer gives society a false example of war and tactics. When World War II occurred, General Patton and his armies did not turn to Homer's poetry for advice ... man. So it is obvious that even though Homer is entertaining, his works are far from the truths of life. In his poetry, Homer also used a lot of emotion. Plato's view on emotion was, deal with it when you are al...

• Word Count: 732
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... more than he does, and judge only by colours and figures. (8) Homer's The Odyssey deals with war throughout. Odysseus, the main character, uses many tactics to defeat his enemies. Although the stories are very intriguing, Homer gives society a false example of war and tactics. When World War II occurred, General Patton and his armies did not turn to Homer's poetry for advice ... man. So it is obvious that even though Homer is entertaining, his works are far from the truths of life. In his poetry, Homer also used a lot of emotion. Plato's view on emotion was, deal with it when you are al...

• Word Count: 734
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... over everyone. The funny thing is, the Russians appear to feel the same way about themselves. The satire and irony of all this is that the American military, so mighty and powerful, comes off as goofy, stereotypical, and less than intelligent. They buckle under the pressure, and can not stop the planes because they trusted the codes to one man, and one ... are know-nothing imbeciles out to pollute the earth with their communistic ways. But I feel that the Ambassador comes off just as goofy and irreverent as the rest of the military cast, showing that both sides can be satired. The Ameri...

• Word Count: 867
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Spielberg bleeds colour in to show that even the innocence of a young child, could not escape the sheer horror of the holocaust. The Film revolves around the main character, Oskar Schindler, a nazi who eventually is seen to be a hero and a saviour of the later "Schindler Jews". Through the movie we see Spielberg explore his character and his motivation. From the opening scene we see many ... follow. The candle represents the Jewish population, and the burning of these candles is a symbol of the holocaust, which will soon follow. The image of smoke is similar to the smoke we later see co...

• Word Count: 819
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... in Auschwitz and Dachau he joined the Communist party as a journalist. Then only three years later he committed suicide, to be remembered for his one hundred pages of stories entitled "This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen." You can only be thankful that did you not get sent to the gas chamber. Although now ... the end, we join a Polish gentleman shipped to a concentration camp. Although his name is never unveiled, he is the main as well as the round character. All events unfold around his. He is also joined with his friend Henri, a Frenchman who works at the docks. Also at the dock...

• Word Count: 1080
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... influence. It is important however that we maintain a bias-aware perspective when reading, learning about, or recounting a situation so that we may preserve the sanctity and natural organic character of a situation, ridden-free of our personal influence. Maintaining critical thought processes, portraying skepticism, and being ever watchful for bias are all relevant while reading an article from National Geographic Magazine. When summarizing an ... -round inhabitants rather than its visitors. Scofield affectionately says the people of Maine are solid, good and are "sot in their ways". Reg...

• Word Count: 1240
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... failures. Quite often all that is achieved may suddenly be overshadowed by sudden mistakes that can create dire repercussions. Through either inefficiency, lack of character, or just plain bad luck coming from uncontrollable events, failure is something that is undoubtedly going to occur in life, and can lead ... Hitler is regarded as a man who almost had world domination in his grasp, and let it slip through his fingers with a combination of irreversible and unjustifiable mistakes which ultimately cost him the war and his life. Experts debate constantly and vigorously on the reasons s...

• Word Count: 897
• Approx Pages: 4