Mary Shelley

Percy Shelley argues that poetry is the device that elevates the beauty of society. Poetry brings imagination to the forefront, either by developing a divine idea or making a beautiful object even more beautiful. In response to the idea that poetry lacked relevance, Shelley claims that poetry not only elevates what we perceive as beauty; it is also the center of knowledge. This idea is further clarified when Shelley notes the comparison between poets and philosophers. Through his approach,…

Over 1,400 years have passed since the legend of the Loch Ness Monster arose in Scotland. The Loch Ness Monster famously known as Nessie is said to inhabit the Scottish Highlands. The legend of Nessie emerged in the book ‘Life of Saint Columba’ by Adomnan written in the sixth century AD. Saint Columba was an Irish Monk who was in the Land of the Picts to visit the Pictish king when he noticed some residents burying a man by the river. Some of the residents who witnessed what happened explained…

Explore the ways in which Shelley explores the transition of the monster between Chapters 11 and 17 In the beginning in Chapter 11, the monster is portrayed as an infant or a baby. “[He] knew and could distinguish nothing”, this demonstrates his lack of awareness for his surroundings mirroring the actions and mind-set of a new-born. They have no ability/are not alert of their capability to hear, see, speak and smell. As a result they are highlighted as vulnerable. At first the monster seems…

The short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, takes place in the 19th century. The story begins just after the main character Jane gives birth to her first child. Shortly after she suffers from what is now known as postpartum depression. She tells the story through a series of diary entries which she keeps a secret from her husband as this disobeys her medical instructions. “The Yellow Wallpaper” explains the importance of American feminist literature, as well as attitudes…

Michel Foucault and Roland Barthes demonstrate themselves to be divergent thinkers and writers with the ideas they present in their lectures and writings. Their compelling critiques inspired the ideas of esteemed writers such as Julia Kristeva, Gilles Deleuze, along with students all over the world. Foucault and Barthes also expand upon and modify the ideas of others and were, themselves, influenced by revolutionary theorists. Some notable examples of this is how Karl Marx affected the writing…

Butterfly is known as one of God’s masterpieces that is created by transforming from something ugly to a glamorous creature. However, it is the pain that actually creates the beauty of a butterfly’s wing. Without the extreme struggle when the caterpillar breaks its own cocoon, the butterfly would never, ever be able to fly. I have to confess that I was born a caterpillar, “unsightly blemishes” as I identified my corpulent body and ugly out looking. When I was young, I did not understand how an…

Emile Zola was a French Novelist, who wrote plays, essays, short stories and novels, in the late 19th century. Here is a background and synopsis of Emile Zola. Zola was born in Paris in 1840 and died at age 62 in 1902. He is one of the most famous and controversial figures ever know on the French literary scene. Zola was noted for his theories of naturalism, and he is considered the founder of the Naturalist Movement and was called ‘Father of Naturalism, in which his works consisted of…

Absurdism is the belief in that all human beings exist in a purposeless, riotous universe. Inside The Stranger, by Albert Camus, Camus centers to a great extent around persuading his readers of the idea of absurdism. The novel is depicted in the first person of the character Meursault from the time his mom dies to his trial for killing an Arab man. These occasions portray how human life must be comprehended by tolerating the reality of death. Camus effectively persuades his readers on his…

ABSTRACT The gothic novel, albeit not considered high literature, counts among the most distinctive literary genres. The literary form was at its prime in late 18th century, although its days of glory have past elements of the Gothic can be found even in contemporary literature. Over the centuries, several sub-genres of the gothic novel have developed, including Southern Ontario Gothic. This branch of the Gothic is characterized by criticism of social attitudes towards race, politics, gender and…

Romanticism is the individual expression and style in fine art and literature. The idea is based on doing things with passion rather reason and imagination rather than intuition and logic. Romanticism contrasts with another style called Classicism and developed as a revolt against it. Artists and writers throughout history have demonstrated Romanticism through their work, but at one point in history it was an actual movement that created the transition between old and new ways of thinking. The…