Group items tagged

Argument: Bram Stoker's relgious and cultural customs influence the characterization of the women in his novel Dracula; there are two types of women he writes about - the New Woman and 'classical' woman - and makes clear distinctions between the two. Claim: Stoker choses to salvage the only woman pure at heart - Mina - and condems the other women because of the characteristics associated with the New Woman, reflected in the Vampire character. Evidence: "The living woman is full of 'sweetness and purity,' while the un-dead vampire is associated with voluptuousness, carnality, and wicked desire." http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=48218147&site=lrc-live.

Arguement: Gantos purpose is to educate readers 1 claim: Educate about getting on the right path Evidence: "Gantos believes that his firsthand experience with crime and punishment could be a cautionary tale for teens who "have not yet made mistakes," and for those who have, it could be a reminder that "you can still pul yourself together." 2 claim: Educate about morality and hope Evidence: One of the reasons he wrote the book, he says, is that "teens growing tip in a zero-tolerance world need to know that there are consequences for foolish behavior, but there are second chances, too." 3 claim: Educate about real life realities Evidence: "Gantos strove to make his story "authenic," and refrained from censoring or softening gritty elements of prison life."

Type stuff about the resource here. 1. Argument 2. Claim 3. Quote as evidence. http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=16362490&site=lrc-live

Argument: 1984 is a bad book, but will survive because it will always have relevance to society. Claims: 1984 has moral force as an early political warning; it is the Uncle Tom's Cabin of our time. Overall though, the book is poorly written with only the parody of the political slogans being decent aspects. Evidence: -1984's biggest reason for success is because society is moving towards the society portrayed in the book. -"Uncle Tom is a more interesting martyr than Orwell's failed martyr, the drab Winston Smith" -"Wyndham Lewis sensibly compared Orwell as a writer to H.G. Wells, but Wells was consistently more inventive and entertaining" -"A great pamphleteer, like Jonathan Swift, is a master of irony and satire. Here again, Orwell plainly is deficient. His literalness defeats his wit" -"He was a moral and political essayist who had the instincts of a pamphleteer" http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=16405585&site=lrc-live

Argument: Jane Austen discreetly demonstrates her moral and religious perspective in her novels. Claim: The inferiority of the heroines allow them to assume the role of the moral observer; therefore, allowing the degrees of 'self-contempt' of the characters in Austen's novels to portray a moral reflection on their flaws. Evidence: ". . . heroines come within easy reach of one of the great archetypes--Cinderella . . . What we get more of is the pains of the heroine in her role of compelled observer." http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=16242517&site=lrc-live.

Argument: Thomas Hardy often wrote novels set in locations familiar to himself, allowing him to know their true culture and thus write more true, compelling, profound plots. Claim: Thomas Hardy based the locations in his novels off real locations. He channeled the reputations of the real cities in order to write his novels. The locations not only correspond with real places, but with distinct portions of the plot. Evidence: "Hardy freely constructs a partly real and partly fictional locale to accommodate a series of 'local' novels." "This village [Marygreen] is based on Great Fawley, Berkshire, where some of Hardy's ancestors are buried and where his grandmother lived." "This town [Christminster] is modeled on Oxford with its many colleges and exclusive intellectual atmosphere." "Christminster represents a typical university institution." "Village [Shaston] modeled after Shaftesbury in Dorset that Hardy uses as the backdrop for Jude and Sue's troubled reunion." http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=MOL0300100593&site=lrc-live

Source#2 Argument: The Kite Runner it a novel of conflict. Claim: The conflicts range from warring armies, factions, worldviews, ethnic groups; as well as individual conflicts and gender. Evidence: Throughout the novel Amir constantly runs into a problem. If the conflict isn't obvious there is always an underlying conflict. For example, the relationship between him and his father and the judgement he recieves from being friends with Hassan.

Argument: Jane Austen's novels have become popular because of their ability to transcend generations. Claim: Austen's use of irony in character development plays a significant role in the appeal of her characters. Because she highlighted their susceptibilities with moral perspectives, the characters charm the audience more than just a blantant description of a character. Evidence: "Elizabeth Bennet may be prejudiced, but she is also far more perceptive than most of the society around her. Darcy is proud, yet at the same time curiously humble." "How different, how much less effective than the slow unfolding, he almost imperceptible growth of a character like Darcy's, or Elizabeth's, or Emma's." http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=9509236170&site=lrc-live.

Argument: Despite raging criticisms that Fitzgerald work as a American writer had failed miserably, but analyzing his success after his death, the importance and significance of his novels are proven prevalent when observing American Culture during the Jazz Age. Claim: There was much critical neglect during Fitzgerald life, much ridicule and shame brought upon Fitzgerald. His life ended with misery, yet does not lessen the writers contribution to literary representation of American culture. Evidence: "...the days and months of his private world began to descend into tragedy. He could not bring the order into his life that would allow him to write his next novel. By the end of the twenties he was living too high and drinking too much" (Shain). "...he did the final complexity of our society and to recognize that we create a large part of our moral selves as we become engaged in that society. This is the theme that runs through his fiction · and through his life" (Shain). http://go.galegroup.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=LitRC&userGroupName=chandler_main&tabID=T001&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=6&contentSet=GALE|H1479001146&&docId=GALE|H1479001146&docType=GALE&role=Scribner

Beresford states that The Time Machine is a romance, and he uses the time machine as a literary device in order to prove that time travel is possible. Beresford argues that Wells uses the future to criticize the social status of England of his era. The Eloi and Morlocks represented the haves and have-nots. Also further into future the earth is degrading and the question arises, whether the human race had a major impact in the decline of the earth, or if the earth had reached its end of existence. Beresford argues that The Time Machine lacked certain aspects of imagination and style, but it was a brilliant fantasy. The novella represents Wells' views on the world during his time and his experiments with the improbable. It uses the improbable and imaginative to create a satire of the social system in his time.

In the article "Science Fiction," primary contributor Bruce Sterling discusses the history of the literary genre of science fiction, delineating how it came into being and how it has evolved over the years. In addition to this, Sterling analyzes the various themes and ideas that recur throughout science fiction works. Organized both chronologically and by topic, the article begins with a brief explanation of the genre itself before delving into the history and evolution of science fiction as a whole. Examples are provided throughout, creating connotations with which the reader can associate the topic at hand, provided they have read the works of those mentioned by Sterling. According to the article, certain key traits differentiate works of science fiction from those of other genres such as horror and fantasy, both of which are explained to be similar in nature to the science fiction genre. Shared traits such as a dark, dreary mood and plots revolving around the notions of alternative societies, alien encounters, time travel, space travel, and alternate universes serve as distinguishing factors of science fiction novels. Other commonalities involve plot points such as apocalyptic disaster, epic voyages, and prophetic events, as well as a heavy focus on technology. Over the years, authors have begun to use the genre of science fiction as an outlet for social discontent, satirizing society in such a manner as which they cannot be persecuted for. Sterling's assertions appear to be based on factual research, and therefore are unlikely to be influenced by biases or predispositions.

Argument: The article was proving that Farewell to Arms is a tragedy. It was not written with the same structure of a traditional tragedy, so it has been argued on weather or not it is. The critic claims that the novel is because of Catherine's death. Others say that her death was pointless and uncalled for, but the critic points out that her death was part of the tragic plot. Hemingway constructs a unique relationship between Catherine and Frederic so you have sympathy toward them so he can create a tragic emotion in the end. Evidence: "Hemingway has fashioned a new form of tragedy in which the hero acts not mistakenly but supremely well, and suffers a doom which is not directly caused by his actions at all. The belief that life is a tragedy, lip itself, has become the backbone for a new literary structure." (Merrill). "…in A Farewell to Arms, as in any tragic work, we are made to feel that the hero's doom is inevitable. If the reader doubts that Hemingway has achieved this sense of tragic inevitability, let him consider whether the book could have ended with the lovers' escape to Switzerland rather than Catherine's death." (Merrill). Thoughts: Hemingway created a different style that no one had ever tried before making it open for argument. Merrill provides the reader with a detailed background and analysis of A Farewell to Arms, which supports and proves his claim to be right. He gives insight into who Hemingway was, and why he wrote the novel in a nontraditional manner. By proving his understanding of the novel I was able to see connections to what he was saying and what happened in the story. I think that because his analysis was so in depth it was hard to find a way to disagree.

Arthur Cleveland Coxe wrote "The Writings if Hawthrone" to criticize Nathaniel Hawthorne for his work The Scarlet Letter. He criticizes Hawthorne for the inspiring "social licentiousness" and making fun of all religion. He believes that the subject matter is inappropriate a romance novel and that woman everywhere would be offended that they were painted in a negative light. Coxe's argument while coherent and consistent lacks logic because he provides next to no proof of his argument. His argument is a shallow criticism that doesn't attempt to understand the work on a deeper level. The only evidence Coxe provides is the subject matter of the novel and the Nathaniel Hawthorne's participation in a six-month stay in a Transcendentalist commune. He argues that because Hawthrone associates himself with enlightened ideals he must be trying to destroy the Gospel. He deduces "this sort of sentiment must be charged to the doctrines enforced at 'Brook-Farm.'" His assumptions hold no basis because he doesn't provide any proof from the text other than dialogue that he finds disgusting. The author concludes that Hawthorne is trying to obliterate morality with The Scarlet Letter and suggest adulterous relationships are acceptable. The author's belief is not without bias to say the least. His criticism was published in The Church Review and further research reveals the author was the second Episcopal bishop of New York. Of course he would overlook the satirical purpose of The Scarlet Letter because he did not see anything wrong with the way they Puritans treated Hester Prynne.

Purpose: The primary literary critiques that the authors target is: the setting of the novel, the characteristics of Lennie and George, followed by multiple themes of the book. The story Of Mice and Men takes place in a town called "Soledad" which translated into English means solitude or loneliness. The setting is quite clever considering that all but two characters in the novel face a lifestyle of solitude; ironically, the two that don't suffer loneliness are the main subjects of the story. Lennie and George represent a committed companionship, which in many ways, complete and compliment one another. According to Howard Levant, "The good life is impossible because humanity is flawed" however throughout the entire novel the strong duo, Lennie and George, express a high level of dedication to reach their ultimate goal, which leads to the theme of the story, commitment. Evidence: "One of the themes of Of Mice and Men is that men fear loneliness, that they need someone to be with and to talk to who will offer understanding and companionship."(Pizer) "The dream of the farm merely symbolizes their deep mutual commitment, a commitment that is immediately sensed by the other characters in the novel."(Owens) "Lennie has been seen as representing "the frail nature of primeval innocence" and as the id to George's ego or the body to George's brain."(Owens) ""Ain't many guys travel around together.... I don't know why. Maybe everybody in the whole damn world is scared of each other." (Steinbeck) Reflection: The evidence is nicely organized along with carefully placed throughout the article. Louis Owens and Harold Bloom used several affective quotes from the novel itself to help support their ideas in response to past criticisms of the book. The authors did not simply claim past criticisms as incorrect however used sufficient evidence to reinforce their own thoughts as true. I did not notice any bias present in the article but only a well-organized analys

Source#1 Argument: The author describes the characters, their social status, and their relationship. Claim: Melodramatic and overly symmetrical. Evidence: At certain points the novel becomes melodramatic but not enogh to be made a big deal over. The novel needs to be melodramatic at times because the tone needs to flow with the story to emphasize the mood. In addition the story closely relates to the known fact about the authors life which is an element of being overly symmetrical.

Argument: Shakespeare's use of foil characters having differing traditional views concern the origin of suffering. Claim: Shakespeare purposely creates contradicting characters and their actions usually result in a tragedy of chance. The structure also has a role in his tragedy. Evidence: "The play however eludes both the 'providential' and the 'fatal' formulae and offers us an early, but fully articulated Shakespearean tragic structure."

Argument: Khaled Hosseini gives a face to the Afghan people in The Kite Runner. It humanizes the culture and gives outsiders to the culture a little insight to the fact that we may not be that different from each other after all. The novel offers the theme of personal redemption that many have dealt. Literary critics have seen this book as being an allegory but Jefferess takes this a step farther by pointing out how this novel is really a political allegory that uses a humans shot at redemption in comparison to that of the country Afghanistan's chance to fix itself. Evidence: "Hence the novel "humanizes" Afghan culture, providing depth and meaning to the sign "Afghanistan" for the non-Afghan reader, otherwise a mere signifier of post-9/11 conflict" (Jefferess). "While Amir's quest for personal redemption may be read as an allegory of Afghanistan's national project of healing, I read the novel as a political allegory that reflects the way in which the "third world", marked by its difference from the "West", becomes a site to be transformed through the project of nation-building" (Jefferess). "This project is presented in the West as an ethical demand that is paradoxically conceived of as both a humanitarian project and a disciplinary one; to be recognized as human, Afghanistan must conform to particular western expectations of democracy, liberalism, and multiculturalism. While the novel's reception reflects an openness to, and a desire for, understanding the Other, it also reflects the limits of acceptable difference"(Jefferess) Thoughts: The view that Jefferess took on The Kite Runner is extremely interesting. Not many have seen the novel as merely an ethical allegory, but he argues this point well. The fact that since the US has entered the war in Afghanistan, many people view that the end of the war will be when Afghanistan becomes a democracy and adopts western ideals, but what isn't always understood is that with change, comes

Argument: Naturalism is the application of principles of scientific determinism. Humans view the world as animals would, responding to environmental forces and internal stress and drives.  Claim: There are eight ways to determine if a piece of literature contains naturalism: objectivity, frankness, amoral attitude toward material, philosophy of determinism, bias toward pessimism in selection of details, bias in selection of characters, characters are subject to certain temptations, and complexity and American Determinism. Evidence: Smith gives no evidence to support his claims, however he does cite three books (Parrington's The Beginnings of Critical Realism in America: 1860-1920, Murfin and Roy's The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, and Holman and Harmon's A Handbook to Literature). Evidence, however, can be shown throughout naturalists' novels. Steinbeck, a proven naturalist by critics, has these criteria shine through vividly throughout his literature. For example, one criterion given was the bias in selection of characters. "There are usually three types: (a) characters marked by strong physiques and small intellectual activity; (b) characters of excited neurotic temperament, at the mercy of moods, driven by forces they do not stop to analyze; (c) an occasional use of strong character whose will is broken" (1). In Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Lenny (type A) is a strong, tall man with no brains. His friend, George, (type b) who has extreme mood swings between sympathetic and furious, must keep his Lenny from speaking because his stupidity might ruin their jobs. http://www.viterbo.edu/perspgs/faculty/GSmith/Naturalism.html

C. L. Chua analyzes A Thousand Splendid Suns in an attempt to find out if it was as much of a success as The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini's first novel. The different literary devices that Hosseini used are mentioned to perhaps give validity to the various arguments Chua makes. A shortfall of the critique is that perhaps not enough emphasis was actually placed on an argument; a majority of the essay was a very well written summary of the novel with only a light touch at the very beginning and end of the essay on the actual argument. "He [Hosseini] felt impelled to tell an Afghan story different from The Kite Runner's. That book had been about men-fathers and sons, male friendship, male treachery. Hosseini now felt drawn to tell a contemporaneous story about Afghanistan's women." Chua uses a clear and logical argument to assert his opinion that Hosseini really delved into the life of an Afghanistan woman in the current times. The critique remains coherent but I wish it was more focused and consistent in the argument. It would have been overall better if Chua has also given more of their insight of this novel. I'm not sure if the author of this article is male or female but depending on their gender, it could create a bias. Another bias that may exist is that the author of this critique really enjoy Hosseini's first novel The Kite Runner so they may be more inclined to say that his second novel was just as good since they are already a fan. "Hosseini's two women are strategic contrasts physically, socially, and psychologically. Socially, Mariam is from the rural lower class; Laila, the urban middle class. Psychologically, Mariam is accustomed to humiliation; Laila, to consideration. Physically, Mariam's features are "unshapely," "flat," "unmemorable," "coarse," while Laila is a green-eyed blond beauty." The stark differences that Chua notes about Hosseini's protagonists help to understand a main theme of the novel which could