“Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded”, analysis of the novel by Samuel Richardson

The Idea

This  is a novel that published around 1740 by an English writer called Samuel Richardson. Many consider it to be a great English novel and it is reputed to have sold many copies when it was written. Continue reading

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“Tom Jones”, analysis of the novel by Henry Fielding

Henry Fielding, an astounding author born on the 22nd of April 1707, is most well-known for his literary masterpiece that is the book known as ‘The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling’. The intended comical book is known to be both a Bildungsroman, meaning a novel intended to deal with one’s spiritual education, and a picaresque novel, meaning a genre portraying a character that is rogue yet likeable. Continue reading

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“A Man’s A Man For A’ That”, analysis of the poem by Robert Burns

History of creation and publication

“Reading Burns,” S. Y. Marshak wrote, “we are surprised at his virtuoso poetic technique, and most importantly, how he could combine his careful work on the verse with the hard work of the farmer.” Moreover, Burns combined these two hard work all his life, starting from the age of 15. Lived in an adobe hut built by his father William. And yet honest poverty did not prevent William Burns from gathering villagers and proposing to open a school and hire teachers for village children for the money of their parents.

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“Wha Is That At My Bower-Door”, analysis of the poem by Robert Burns

History of creation and publication

The poem was written in the 1790s. Published in the five-volume edition of James Johnson’s “Scottish Museum of Music” (1787 – 1797).

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“My Love is like a red, red rose”, analysis of the poem by Robert Burns

History of creation and publication

The poem was written in 1794. Burns’ first poems were published in James Johnson’s five-volume edition of The Scottish Musical Museum (1787–1797) and George Thomson’s four-volume edition of Selected Scottish Songs in the Original (1793–1805). The poem has been repeatedly translated into Russian (T. L. Schepkina-Kupernik, S. Ya. Marshak, I. M. Ivanovsky, etc.).

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“Purple Hibiscus”, analysis of the novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The idea

The purple hibiscus is a novel set in post-colonial Nigeria and follows the story of Kambili as she grapples with changes in her life. Having faced a brutal and tyrannical father her whole life, she soon realizes following a visit and stay at her Aunty’s place in Nsukka, that what she has considered being a way of life for her is not what life is supposed to be.

The purple hibiscus is a symbol of freedom and is a flower growing in Aunty Ifeoma’s garden, giving renewed hope to Kambili and Jaja. The characters in the novel are a representation of the new breed of people, with divergent beliefs and cultures in a new political era, all trying to address socio-political and cultural issues depending on how they have been molded. Continue reading

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“Native Son”, analysis of the novel by Richard Wright

In 1940, Richard Wright wrote the novel Native Son. This novel tells us about Bigger Thomas, a 20-year old uneducated, poor black man. One morning, he wakes up from his apartment of the Southern part of the city. He uses a skillet to kill a rat scampering across his room. Having grown up in an environment with harsh racial prejudice, Thomas is disturbed with a high conviction that he lacks control over his life and aspires nothing apart from low-wage labor. His mother pleads with him to accept a job offer from Mr
Dalton. However, Thomas instead decides to meet with his friends to plan the robbery of Mr Dalton’s shop. Continue reading

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“The Bell Jar”, analysis of the novel by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar is a novel first published in 1963. It was first released under a Pseudo author name of Victoria Lucas. In 1966 it was then published under the author’s real names; Sylvia Plath. The novel is a part biography depicting the life and times of a young woman who seemingly had a great life but suffered a mental breakdown but recovered later. The young woman was Esther Greenwood who hailed from Boston, Massachusetts. The main author of the book, committed suicide after the publication of the novel which took a similar turn as the main character in the novel. Continue reading

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“Love and Poverty”, analysis of the poem by Robert Burns

History of creation and publication

Burns’ first poems were published in James Johnson’s five-volume edition of The Scottish Musical Museum (1787–1797) and George Thomson’s four-volume edition of Selected Scottish Songs in the Original (1793–1805). The song “O Poortith Cauld and Restless Love”, widely known to the Russian-speaking reader under the title “Love and Poverty” (translated by S. Ya. Marshak), was obviously written in the late 1780s. The song “Love and Poverty” by Vladislav Kazenin became the smash hit in the USSR to the text by Burns / Marshak, performed by Alexander Kalyagin in the film “Hello, I Am Your Aunt” (based on Brandon Thomas’s play “Aunt Charlie”), which premiered in late 1975 year, in the new year prime time.

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“My heart`s in the Highlands”, analysis of the poem by Robert Burns

History of creation and publication

The poem (song) was written in 1790. Published in the five-volume edition of James Johnson’s “Scottish Museum of Music” (1787 – 1797).

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