Group items tagged

Argument: Asimov uses character motivation to progress the story by having the purpose behind the characters shift in reaction to events in the plot. Claims: He changes his characters from rational to reactionary and impulsive to indicate the climax and the rising anxiety of action. Evidence: Highlighted

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Argument: Joan Hope, in her literary criticism of "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier", makes an assertion that Baeh highlights the complexity of human nature under strenuous conditions. Furthermore, Hope stresses the importance of political discussions on the effects of war on children. Components of Argument: 1) Hope supports her argument by highlighting Baeh's narration technique - helping the reader through story by maintaining the tone of a story teller somewhat distanced from what has happened. Hope also acknowledges the neutral tone in which the story is told which allows the reader to draw his/her own horrific conclusions. 2) Hope's secondary support lies in her recognition of the first person account by a child with little understanding of the reasons for the war. Evidence: 1) "Their conversation shows no compassion for the people they killed and no remorse for their actions" (Hope). 2) "In fact, Baeh's memoir describes a society in so much chaos that it is not clear that even the military leaders have a good understanding of what war is about" (Hope). 3) "In the end, the book gives no evidence that one side had greater moral authority than the other" (Hope). MLA Format (My choice to do this): Hope, Joan. "A Long Way Gone." Magill'S Literary Annual 2008 (2008): 1-3. Literary Reference Center. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.

Argument: In the literary critique Camus' The Stranger, written by Arthur Scherr, the concept of Meursault's characterization and the misinterpretations that result due to this characterization are discussed. The author discusses and dismisses the various viewpoints of literary scholars in regards to discussing the intellectual competence of the main character. Claims: The author claims that many literary scholars view the existential hero as an "irrational, unintelligent child" due to his inability to emphasize with others and rationalize his own actions. However, Scherr claims that no such correlation between Meursault's irrationality and intelligence exist. More so, the author discusses how Camus actually presents the stranger as an individual of high intelligence, citing interactions Meursault has with other characters as prime examples. Evidence: "Meursault's ephemeral comrade…Raymond Sintes…trusts that Meursault possesses sufficient intellect and verbal acuity to compose a convincing letter for Raymond to send to his unfaithful girlfriend" (Scherr). "Meursault's boss recognizes his abilities and offers him a promotion" (Schell). "Appropriately enough, the last person to remark on Meursault's intelligence is the prosecuting attorney at his trial for murder. 'The prisoner is an educated man,' he tells the jury. 'You havee observed the way in which he answered my questions; he is intelligent and he knows the value of words'" (Scherr).

Argument: Bill Delaney argues the weaknesses of Dumas's work, The Three Musketeers, and how these weaknesses contribute to the effectiveness of the novel itself. Claims: Along with a synopsis of the novel itself, Delaney establishes the importance of the main characters in the story and what it is about these characters that makes their role so effective. Delaney also establishes the idea that Dumas knew how to "please an audience", which explains why Dumas was able to create characters that had a large impact on his readers. Evidence: "He had a genius for plotting and understood that the most important element in a plot is a strongly motivated protagonist who will not stop until he or she has either achieved the goal or gone down in defeat."

Argument: Both Orwell's nonfiction and fiction works deserve further attention. His novels are able to fully grasp social and political struggles while captivating the audience. Saunder's book makes a convincing argument describing the captivating authors importance. Claim: Clerke acknowledges that many academics including, Orwell himself saw the author of 1984 as a nonfiction writer. Although many of his novels have not been studied, they deserve attention because they capture a character's conflict in a unique light. Character's are brought to life as they share real-world experiences with those living in Orwell's time. His powerful voice as analyzed by Saunder's bring economic, social, and political conflicts to for front of the reader's mind. Evidence: "Orwell was acutely aware of the political connotations of such words and the complex economic and cultural structures they attempted to describe. His use of them shifted as his ideas developed, and it was always shaped by a sensitivity to context" "Saunders's emphasis on artistry enables her to engage with the texture of Orwell's prose, even in this relatively short critical study, and she is at her best in her close readings of specific passages, which expose the varied, often sophisticated methods Orwell employs to achieve particular effects. She is especially illuminating in her analyses of his use of free indirect discourse, and the dangers of identifying the narrative voice with Orwell himself" "insisting that his own voice tended to intrude in his narratives and that he was continually tempted to incorporate accounts of experiences that interested him even when they did not fit the design of a novel"

Argument: The point that "Gatsby and the pursuit of happiness" makes is the different motives that Gatsby had in the book and how his actions were interpreted by other characters such as Nick Carraway. Claims: Even though Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan have acquired wealth, Gatsby acquired it out of his own actions while Buchanan simply inherited it. These circumstances do not truly matter, but instead what matters is what each character does with their wealth, such as their motives. The reason why Gatsby wanted to become rich was so that he could end up being with Daisy. He did illegal business and interacted with gangsters because he was so hopeless and desperate to gain money quickly. Evidence: "The most American, most winning, and most disquieting thing about Jay Gatsby is his casual assurance that nothing is settled merely because it has already happened. If we don't like the hand we're dealt, the world we live in, we have the right and duty to call for a new one." "The matter is more complicated than saying that Nick approves of the wealthy man who acquires a fortune while disapproving of the wealthy man who inherits one." "Nick's circumstances are such that he knows something about both inheriting money and trying to rise in the world."

Argument: Literary dystopia reveals human weakness, social problems and often criticizes or exaggerates social trends. Claims: Leisure in dystopian novels are called anti-leisure in the fact that it "perverts to achieve the perpetuation of tyranny". Instead of abolishing tyranny in this sense, dystopia does the opposite. Not only that but it also demolishes human individuality and self reliance through various compulsive activities, "such novels encourage the re-examination of theories of leisure from a humanistic standpoint". Evidence: "Such leisure regulates identity, prevents individual thought, impedes self-sufficiency, encourages immoderation, and distracts citizens from social injustice through varioius compulsory activities" "This recent term was coined for its overtones of disease and malfunction, making it an accurate label for the genre's depictions of human foibles, weaknesses and messiness that defeats attempts to create a perfect society" "Dystopias usually exaggerate contemporary social trends and in doing so, offer serious social criticism"

Argument: In his article, Wm. Laird Kleine-Ahbrandt, argues the motives behind Edmond Dante's reason for his actions as well as his motive behind his seeking revenge on all those who had hurt him. Claims: Along with a summary of the novel itself, Kleine-Ahbrandt also makes inferences that suggest that the author of the novel, Alexandre Dumas, saw him self as a version of Dantes, the main character of the novel. Kleine-Ahbrandt also gives more background as to why Dumas wrote the plot the way he did. Evidence: "Dantes is so consumed with a passion for revenge that he does not realize that he is in danger of losing his soul." "The official morality in Dumas's time was to punish the wicked and force sinners to atone for their sins" "Such satisfaction is worth a little moralizing"

Argument: This article is about the second book I am reading. In this abstract it talks about religion. Sometimes religion can be controlling. Control is what I am writing about for my paper. Claims: Control can be found in many aspects of life. I would research different religions and find controlling things about them. Evidence: "The Grapes of Wrath has been read typically as a period of social activism". "...emerging from a self-satisfied and legalistic moralism into a new ethos of universal love in pattern of Christ".

-Main Idea: Describing what Albom's purpose of writing the book; how divorce affects the children. Themes: man vs society, and man vs himself. Learn to forgive yourself. -Claims: Makes readers relate to the story, his themes in other books including this one always seem to be universal. Everyone goes through disappointment, sadness, or loss one point or another in their life. "Many people are hanging on the past, so it would be nice to read something that would go back to it and learn the things that you never learned in your past life." -Evidence:  "This book let me explore how children, when their parents split, chase after the love thateludes them. That chase often haunts you right into adulthood" "He always gives inspiration to thereaders and this time an eye opener to the children who always took their parents for granted. " "You can find lessons that arealready seen by your own eyes but not yet felt by your hearts"

Argument: Death is defined not only by what is causing it but how the individual handles the strides of it. Claim: The disease pales in comparison to how the person chooses to live their life. If a person is encouraged and allowed to act negatively, they will be so. Finding the passion in something to throw oneself in is more valuable then giving up or submitting. Evidence: "The real question, though, is whether any lasting strength can be gained from an account like this one--strength that derives from knowing ourselves (as Morrie and Mitch do not) to be the legatees of inviolable traditions, cultural and professional alike, as well as members of a vast and enduring human community that stretches back into history and forward into the experience of those yet to come."

Argument - Ray Bradbury's main goal is to employ the ideas of the goal and joy of living. Claims- Bradbury holds a hopefullness for humanity. -Bradbury's interest with the stars and other worlds is the depiction of his interest in the unknown and new fronteirs. -Bradbury is only acutely aware of the evil nature of humans and their potential to cause destruction. -Bradbury seeks to depict a rebirth in society representing his trust in mankind to destroy the bad and create new. Evidence - Fahrenheit 451 - The destruction of the city as symbolized by the phoenix, depicts rebirth of a new phoenix from the ashes. - "Charles points out, however, that humanity is not free of temptation, for the desire for empty impossibilities is in them all, and there will be many other attempts to exploit this desire in their long lives" - By the pricking of my thumbs,! something wicked this way comes." In William Shakespeare's Macbeth (c. 1605), the witches speak these lines as Macbeth approaches for his second meeting with them"

Argument: The government of Oceania uses the minds of citizens are their biggest tool for ultimate control. In order to do so, the Party establishes two "sides" or truths of events and facts so that the citizens are unsure of the real issue/truth. The Party also meddles with the history of Oceania in order to blind the public. Claims: The Party uses doublethink to corrupt the minds of the public by making everyone second guess themselves at all times. This paranoia results in people refusing to question the tyranny of the Party. The Party used conflicting truths to support doublethink and oppress freedom of speech. For some Winston the real truth behind events and the past and his doubts of the Party are based on instincts and not facts. This is the goal of the Party as this supports doublethink. Support: "[The Party] attempts to impose two different and conflicting attitude to truth. They insist both that truth is absolute and vital, but at the same time that people must dispense with traditional concerns with the distinction between what is 'true' and what is 'false', and with the role of objective empirical evidence in distinguishing between the two" (Chapman 1-2). "For Winston, truth exists as something ontologically distinct from 'lies', but in the absense of objective evidence the restricted society of Oceania it can be known only by 'instinctive feeling'" (Chapman 2).

Argument: That the problem with trying to write a literary criticism on TKAM is that there isn't anything to criticize. Claim: That TKAM is ranked as one of the most influential books in Americans' lives. Evidence: "To Kill a Mockingbird sells about a million copies per year, for a total of 30 million to date, and is consistently ranked in reader surveys as the most influential book in Americans' lives, after, of course, the Bible."

Argument- Author observes a connection between Charles Dicken's, "A Christmas Carol" and Dante's "Inferno". Claims- Both stories revolve around Christian holidays (Dante's story takes place between Black Friday and Easter and Dicken's story from Christmas Eve to Christmas). In addition, both have 3 main parts and have characters that are guided by ghosts/spirits. The main character of both stories struggle with overcoming internal selfishness to receive personal salvation. Evidence- "Deliberately dedicated to religious themes, both stories encourage us to rise above selfishness in order that we may lead a Christian life and thereby attain personal salvation. Though The Divine Comedy is crowded with a multitude of sinners, its plot tracks the spiritual trajectory of a single flawed human being, Dante himself. Similarly, the narrative line of A Christmas Carol follows the spiritual progression of another flawed individual, Ebenezer Scrooge" (Bertman 167). "Each "traveler," Dante and Scrooge, finally arises from his dream-like state to a new vision of life's glorious possibilities" (Bertman 167).

Argument: The theme of the story is derived from the characters' setting and other factors, not the characters themselves. Claim: "Christmas's response to Freedman Town is not the only time heresponds to African Americans in this way. It actually echoes several otheroccasions on which he responds to African Americans, not as a mass, butas individuals whose individuality and language he fails to understand." Evidence: "Focusing on the unstable margins of Jefferson,and presenting the role of African Americans as an unbridgeable gap atthe heart of the text." "Faulkner provides in Light in August an even moreeloquent expression of the southern need for social change."

Talon argues the extreme irony throughout the novel Lord of the Flies by contrasting the innocence of children and the cruelty involved between the tribes in lord of the flies. Talon emphasizes the seriousness of the "game" the boys play. Even though they create a structured system of Constitutional monarchy, the idea of survival on the island become a game for the young boys without the guidance of adults. Irony comes from the group of boys trying to create a civilization based on savagery to survive eth other and survive their setting and environment. " And thus, when fear of the unknown and dread of the on-coming storm have brought the frenzy of the dance to its highest pitch, the children, half believing that Simon is the Beast in disguise, murder him."