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Argument: Thomas Hardy is a gifted writer who was able to craft a masterful novel, Jude the Obscure. The novel is plagued with only a few drawbacks, including the drab setting and the overcompensated characters that often render the novel unrealistic. Claim: Thomas Hardy is a gifted writer. Thomas Hardy could have chosen a more interesting setting (Dorsetshire) but instead chose a setting with a limited history and scenery (Wessex). Hardy's novel is overall well-done. Evidence: "Jude the Obscure is an irresistible book; it is one of those novels into which we descend and are carried on by a steady impetus to the close, when we return, dazzled, to the light of common day. The two women, in particular, are surely created by a master. Every impulse, every speech, which reveals to us the coarse and animal, but not hateful Arabella, adds to the solidity of her portrait. We may dislike her, we may hold her intrusion into our consciousness a disagreeable one, but of her reality there can be no question: Arabella lives." http://go.galegroup.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CH1420014281&v=2.1&u=chandler_main&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

Throughout this literary critique, the speaker targets the similarities between Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights with that of a Bulwer-Lytton novel, particularly the romantic setting and the character of Heathcliff. Overall the argument is very logical in the way that the author, Donald Stone, describes and portrays each of his points. The structure is set up to be more of a description of Wuthering Heights in its entirety; primarily the depiction of Heathcliff as "satanic and anarchic" and how he is judged through a moral spectrum. The critique is organized in two large paragraphs, which tend to drag on and makes it very dry to read. This organizational structure can be sort of distracting and in a sense never-ending. Which overall can weaken his argument due to disinterest among the audience. A majority of the evidence that Stone uses throughout his critique are simply just quotes from both of the books. In certain situations the quotes fit in to what he is saying, but they do not justify his argument. Instead the quotes act like "fluff" and are used just to make the point seem more convincing, when in the end its slowly deterring the audience from the actual meaning. Overall, there is not enough evidence to support Stone's argument because he flourishes off of one point and does not bring in any other perspectives. Stone's final conclusion is how Emily Bronte used the same ideas of Bulwer-Lytton, and in the end was the one who came out on top with a classical piece of literature, although the ideas and characteristics were ultimately the same. He claims that Wuthering Heights is "not the great romantic exception among English novels," particularly because he believes the origins were stolen. Throughout his entire argument it is hard to depict any source of bias, that is, until you reach the concluding paragraph. In his concluding paragraph it becomes evident that he holds a certain bias for Bulwer-Lytton. It is apparent that Stone believes Bul

The Survival of the Fittest Throughout The Handmaid's Tale, a major ideal is a strong feminist stance. The author is trying to convince other critics that Offred, a character in the novel, portrays a strong woman fighting for survival against politics. While others believe that Offred is "no hero," "a wimp," this author is convinced that she continuously "proves her consistent efforts not only to survive, but also to maintain her individuality." With the evidence the author has given to support his ideas about this ideal to survive, the evidence he provides proves to be logical. When the author states, "an examination of her more subtle rebellion against the oppressive totalitarian regime," he is persuasively showing that Offred portrays the strong nature of the human spirit. The focus the author commits on the argument is obvious. The author repeatedly compares Offred to other strong characters in other Margaret Atwood novels and in The Handmaid's Tale itself. This proves the author's consistency with the evidence he provides to prove his purpose. These also help show the pros of his persuasive side of the argument about how strong a feminine hero can be through human spirit. The evidence this author provides significantly supports his perspective. He starts out by attacking other arguments that have been stated, using it as a tactic to show that his perspective is more "correct." There is plenty of evidence provided in this article to help support his argument. With statements like "the Republic of Gilead is a typical totalitarian society in that it promotes terror tactics while enforcing its rigid dogmas," the author is setting up for his next piece of evidence. He uses the typical case where he sets you up for the next argument, uses evidence from text, and then attacks the opposite side of the argument, but all with a twist. Most authors would have used quotes from the novel itself or a source to attack the opposite s

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

Takeuchi successfully provides input on her finding of innocence as a major collective theme throughout Salinger's novels, especially in reference to Seymour. Argument being that everyone has their innocence and is only remembered for their innocence, and that once the innocence of the being is lost, so are they as a whole. therefore a claim made is that once the afflicted sets hands or is first to get to, an innocent, the other persons innocence is lost because of their subjection to a world run off lack of innocence. Support taken from Takeuchi from the novel The Catcher in the Rye is, "The snow was very good for packing. I didn't throw it at anything, though. I started to throw it at a car that was parked across the street. But I changed my mind. The car looked so nice and white. Then I started to throw it at a hydrant, but that looked too nice and white, too. Finally I didn't throw it at anything.(47-48)

Argument: Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" has numerous connections to the works of Virgil and Aeneas as a commentary of ethical and moral decay. Claims:-Fitzgerald was a moralist -Fitzgerald is similar to Petronius -Fitzgerald uses Virgil as a moral guide Evidence:-"Like most moralists from Hesiod to C. B. De Mille, he set a moral type (like Nick Carraway) against a moral antitype (Gatsby)." -"Fitzgerald, like Petronius, is interested in the trappings of the wealthy of his day; both Gatsby and Trimalchio have amassed huge wealth by questionable means, and cannot entirely obscure their low origins and gross habits. When both men celebrate their material success by throwing lavish parties for hordes of dissolute neighbors, they are rewarded by being the subject of their guests' gossip." -"The farmers described in Virgil's Georgics are exemplars of Augustan morality, the same kind of values cherished by Nick Carraway." -"At the end of The Great Gatsby Nick concludes the novel by speaking of the effort to escape the past and achieve one's ambition in an image expressing the archetypal element in any struggle for a distantly receding ideal."

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

Cody Villanueva E. Jensen AP Literature 27 January 2011 Literary Analysis #4 It can be concluded from several sources that Yann Martel's novel Beatrice and Virgil does not meet the standards set by his previous novel Life of Pi. An article written by Cathal Kelly not only goes into the detail of her own criticism but displays several criticisms through the use of different resources that have the same view; Beatrice and Virgil's downfalls. Hitting on points of Martel's overall idea of the book, they criticize it as being offensive and misconceived. Using the Holocaust has caused such a demeaning affect to the overall idea of the book, that ot takes away from the theme and the underlying message Martel is trying to persuade the reader to understand. Cathal not only has lots of evidence and quotation to reinstate her idea of Yann Martel's faults but she also gives insight from her personal views. Bringing forth the idea that this novel was merely pieced together after the rejection of the publication of a previous novel, Kelly points out that this book cannot really in the running on the best books list as Martel's previous novel. The novel contain too many loose ends and has and ending that does not satisfy the bulk of the readers. From these criticism it is perceived that Life of Pi contained much more attention to its detail, making it a novel of praise and prosperity. Her use of significant proof helps back up not only her opinion but allow the reader to consider such element from varied resources, crucial in attaining something believable and real. The overall article shows the downfalls of Beatrice and Virgil and its insignificance compared to Yann Martel's previous works of literature.

Argument: The novels, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, two novels written by the two Bronte sisters, Charlotte and Emily, both contain similar details and characteristics that suggest their literary greatness. Key components concerning the setting, major characters, and overall theme contribute to the social issues of the Victorian time period. The sisters all wrote on similar premise of changing the world through their feminist ideas and the further promotion of woman's rights and equality. Evidence: This point is thoroughly suggested in the analysis of the sisters' use of a gothic style, the Byronic hero, the feminist sentiments, and the industrialization of the British Empire. The gothic style is portrayed through the primary theme of both novels being the "suppressed sexual longing and forbidden love." The dark setting of Wuthering Heights, the manor, and the mansion that is depicted in Jane Eyre further portray the gothic tone. The Byronic hero is portrayed through the two key male parts of each novel, being Heathcliff and Rochester. A Byronic hero is one who is not necessarily depicted as being attractive or handsome gentlemen, but in spite of this characteristic they are able to contribute to the theme. The feminist question and search for woman independence is greatly mentioned in both Eyre and Heights, however, the time period is perhaps against this. For instance, the author of this source mentions that "Queen Victoria herself, who was a strong supporter of women's education and even helped establish a college for women…was against giving women the right to vote, calling the suffrage campaign "a mad folly." Thoughts: Overall, this source has several key components that are further going to push my paper along greatly. Most importantly are the very similar aspects of the two novels will help prove my point that both pieces of literature were probably more of a collaboration, where the two sisters perhaps discussed their societal problems and

J.D. Salingers History directly relates to his historical background. from the age 18 or so he was drafted into WWII and witnessed many a bloody battles including the Battle Of Normandy. connecting to history reveals Seymour Glass, a character of Salinger's who commits suicide, something the war has most likely made him question himself. Throughout he makes connections with his characters on loseing their innocence, growing up toofast etc. All components he himself lived through therefor useing his characters to relay his ideas of society. each character from many of his novels shares like characteristics, the only component that differs from each is their ideas given their setting.

Argument: Cultural customs influence the characterization of the women in Bram Stoker's Dracula and The Mystery of the Sea; there are two types of women he writes about - the New Woman and 'classical' woman - and makes clear distinctions between the two. Claim: Stoker bases his characters off of two different types of women to emphasize the differences between characters, and to introduce suspense into the plot. Because Stoker writes about 'classical' women like Mina Harker and Gormala (to a certian extent), these women clash with the New Woman characters because of the different lifestyles. Evidence: The New woman wanted to "acheieve self-determination through life, growth, and experience." The New woman developed through an uprising feminist movement, a rebellion that involved woman's "refusal to heed the abstraction of womanhood." "Feminism sought to change human consciousness about male dominance". Because the qualities in the 'classical woman' and New Woman were opposites, it creates suspense and conflict between characters that helps to set the mood and move the plot forward.

Argument: Beowulf is a classic hero that portrays parts of the Norse culture that created him and the Christian culture who edited his exploits.
Claim 1: Beowulf is Norse, not English.
Evidence: Norse warriors settled on the British Isles in the 500's and brought their oral traditions with them.
Claim 2: Christianity was an integral part in Beowulf's character and setting.
Evidence: The Monks who wrote down Beowulf used allusions to Cain when describing Grendel. Quotes: "Beowulf's actions speak of selfless sacrifice; if he is violent, it is because, like people of his age, the times required violent action to secure peace and bring about prosperity."

Argument: In writing Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte was divinely inspired by her surroundings, enabling her to create eerily realistic characters and a dreary, yet true setting. Claim: The moors in Wuthering Heights are based on the moors that stretch around her home. She knew her surroundings well. Joseph is based on hill-farmers that lived in the moors around her home. Emily Bronte was a very down-to-earth person. Evidence: "She was a very private person, rejecting such contacts with the world as were offered her through her sister Charlotte and her London publishers." "The author's close familiarity with the local rustic types, the fiercely independent hill-farmers living about the moors, enabled her to create the old curmudgeon Joseph." "In creating such a character as Joseph, Emily Brontë showed that, undoubted visionary as she was, she also had her feet firmly planted on earth." "All the source of her health and happiness, and the inspiration of her writing, were the moors that stretch 20 miles round about her home, Haworth, where she spent her whole life. Her intimate knowledge of the moors at all seasons of the year, and of the wildlife inhabiting them, gave her all the stimulus she needed to enrich her imagination and inspire her writing." http://go.galegroup.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CH1420001074&v=2.1&u=chandler_main&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

The author calls H.G. Wells' novel a science fiction but focus' on the social aspects of the novel. The novel shows the social issues of the time and Wells' views on them. The novel focuses on the social issues of Wells' time, but is not a science fiction. The science behind his books is well thought, but it provided a setting for his novel and was a different way to portray his social views.

Argument: Conrad's purpose for writing The Secret Sharer is to get the reader to infer the themes of " the dual Selves that exist in each person and the extent of responsibility one holds for another in contrast to one's Self." Evidence:1.The suspenseful artistry in Conrad's style of writing serves to amplify the contrasting persona of the captain and his second self. 2. He succeeds in this by vividly portraying his themes of Self and responsibility through his suspenseful artistry and his various methods of first person point of view, use of symbols, tone, and biblical allusion. Quotes: "Conrad's use of first person point of view narration via the captain is essential to showing how the protagonist views himself as an incomplete Self." "In describing the captain and his surroundings, Conrad paints the picture of a timid man who lacks confidence aboard a ship that harbors mutinous qualities." "A deep connection between the captain and Leggatt seems to exist, indicating that their meeting will have significant ramifications. With such a strong bond seeming to form immediately between these two, the reader can sense the captain's previous feeling of being a "stranger" shed. Through Conrad's use of first person point of view, the reader gets a clear picture of the incomplete Self the narrator originally feels give way to a stronger sense of completeness." Own Thoughts: I like how the source explains that characterization can be found through narrator's tone. Conrad making his writing suspenseful helps understand the characters and also helps set the stage of what is to come.

In what is known as one of Beckett's most infamous works, it appears that what occurs on stage and even between the actors and audience is a game. In his review of the work, Atkinson boldly claims that it was "Impressive in the macabre intensity of the mood", making it a close contender with Beckett's "Waiting for Godot". While the argument of the article may not be relatively easy to pick up, upon closer inspection of the critique it may seem as if Atkinson has no opinion on the matter due to the highly interpretive and almost incomprehensible manner in which Beckett's works are put forth. Atkinson even states "Don't expect this column to give a coherent account of what--if anything-- happens. Almost nothing happens in the sense of action." So what exactly can be said about the work? Clearly Beckett has found a knack in creating a feeling of nothing, in "Endgame" as well as in "Waiting for Godot", the settings are never clearly described, and what little details are given out may in fact be seen in infinite number of ways. For example the author, Atkinson, has seen the other works of Beckett before reviewing his latest, this article being published the day after the debut in new york on Jan. 29, 1958, which would indeed give him a bias as to how he would experience the work. If someone were to review the play who had never seen anything of Beckett's before, it may be almost certain that most of what is said would be confusion, and misunderstanding about the purpose of the play. I feel that Atkinson, having had the experience, accurately portrays the works in his article/review. Beckett is a modern writer who plays out work in an old style. His two plays mentioned before are both considered comedies, but not in the laugh out loud sense, but the classical interpretation of what comedies where meant to be. Yet still creating an almost post- apocalyptic environment while maintaining an elevated psychological approach to the viewing experience.

Analytical Criticism- Heroic Duty Noted as a timeless classic, The Iliad by Homer portrays a vast array of emotions through detailed imagery and character concentration. However, it has become evident that much of the emotions portrayed by each character are of similar origin to that of other Greek Mythology, this emotion being of helpless humans at the mercy of powerful, vengeful gods. Set in a time of war and destruction between both the Trojans and the Achaeans, writers from CMLC argue that it is not only the men that fight one another but also the gods that persuade the humans to do so. "Although Homer presents an extremely harsh world in which human beings appear destined to suffer as the mere playthings of the gods and fate…" (CMLC). CMLC claim that Homer is quite stereotypical in his use of Greek Gods and their relations with humans. They also claim that the contrast between the harshness of Gods and the susceptibility of humans demonstrates mans gentle nature even in a time of war. Overall writers of CMLC critique Homer's use of Greek Mythology and the common portrayal of man. The structure of this critique is weak at best and demonstrates a choppy analysis of The Iliad. This is so due to the tendency of this article to jump from one topic to another with a lack of transition. The ill-prepared structure of the article inadvertently has a negative impact on the focus as well leaving it poorly adjusted and inconsistent. However, the topic of the article is well thought out and continues to make intelligent and unobvious observations about both Homer and The Iliad throughout the piece. It is of my conclusion that the writers of this critique have the belief that Homer although renowned for his unique stories is more unique in his writing technique than he was of his stereotypical stories. There is unfortunately some bias that these writers face, being of the twentieth century much of Greek Mythology is easily accessible unlike in the age of Homer