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In Brynie's critical analysis of Steinbeck's book, Tortilla Flat, she stated that Tortilla Flat has similar ideas found in Mice and Me. Yet, in this book Steinbeck establishes a frame that later George and Lenny are built upon. George and Lenny don't have a home or security, yet their dream involves what they do not have currently. Also Brynie comments on how Steinbeck favors the poor or natural man in his book and that Steinbeck closely ties his books to religion. From Brynie's critical analysis, the two books, Tortilla Flat and Of Mice and Men display many similar aspects but they are told in different ways to diversify the way of the American Dream. Usable Quotes: "Steinbeck exalts the natural man, untainted by civilization, unspoiled by either conventional wisdom or conventional morality," (Brynie). "It was the first of Steinbeck's novels to look at life through the eyes of those without homes, possessions, or security, and Danny and his friends foreshadow others of their kind who appear powerfully and poignantly," (Brynie).

Argument: While often describes as an angry, and early feministic character, Jane Eyre is actually quite shameful in her narration. Claims: Jane Eyre's character is introduced into the story with the exclamation "For shame! For shame!" directed at her. Later, throughout the story, she narrates with the angry and feminist attitude that many critics quote her for, but also with a sense of shame that Charlotte Bronte could probably relate to. Evidence: "This cry 'for shame' suggests that shame constitutes both an introduction of 'Miss Eyre' to the reader and an interpellation of Jane into the contours of gendered interiority and social relations," (Bennett 1).

Argument- Bradbury has an issue letting go of an idea or a point, "squeezes it dry." This is order to make sure his point gets made through all types of his literature. Claims - Since he began writing his final works acquired a large amount of depth and polish, much more extensive than his sometimes disturbing first works. -Bradbury attempts to display machines and large things as evil as they tend to represent the adult life, something Bradbury seems to fear. -Most of his earlier stories, lacked the idea of a true story and were rather just intensely realized fragments. Evidence- "but because they are grownup things; because they symbolize the big, loud, faceless, violent, unromantic world of adults" -The author discusses how like other science fiction writers, that Bradbury's goal is to demonstrate new ideas not normally thought about. -Also, the author demonstrates his opinion of the dark side of Bradbury and his inability to properly adress the things he hopes to, as his works are sometimes more sickening than intended.

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 - Bradbury's work is a representative of dystopian fiction, a subgenre of utopian literature. Claims - Bradbury's protaganists begin their journey as well adapted perfect members of society. -Bradbury uses vivid and ambiguous imagery to display his point. -Bradbury uses his characters to demonstrate the differences in society and the expanding barriers between one side and the other. Evidence - Clarisse and Mildred display the differences between cold and mechanical and wild and free. -Books symbolize the ideal differences and interchange of ideas in society, in Fahrenheit 451 these are destroyed, represeting Bradbury's understanding of how society has a dark side but will always burn and be reborn.

The criticism starts on pg. 332 about half way through starting with "Julie Anne Peters.." Argument- "A decade after M. E. Kerr's straight-up look at lesbian gender roles in Deliver Us from Evie...Peters's book may score lower on social realism than Kerr's... but it packs more heat." Claim-Peters sets another strong-willed butch lesbian in a small town in the Midwest, while maintaining constant dramatic appeal, "The parade of human drama is a bit excessive here..." Evidence-  "Peters translates this [Mike's acceptance] nicely by allowing Mike to introduce herself in the first chapter without mentioning gender at all."  " Her [Mike's] hunger for Xanadu is achingly apparent, and Peters plays this well; Xanadu knows what Mike wants and her responses are unpredictable, to both Mike and the reader."

Argument: Comparison of two authors and how they depict their characters as impassioned lovers who overcome obstacles and end up married. Claims: Jane Eyre is stuck in somewhat of a love triangle with St. John and Mr. Rochester, but returns to Mr. Rochester where she knows she will be truly happy. Jane determines he is best for her in marriage because he loves her as an educated woman, and she feels a more passionate love for him. Evidence: "Both novels here conclude with depictions of the impassioned lovers overcoming all obstacles to enter into the happy and fruitful (each with a child) estate of matrimony," (Bubel 295). "This 'death to self' enables her to break free from an imprisoning triangular desire of a different kind," (Bubel 304).

Argument: A comparison of Jane Austen's writing and Charlotte Bronte's. Claims: Charlotte Bronte creates educated characters to play her female roles so that they can excercise reason. Her uneducated women are foolish. Her female leads are all reasonable and rational -two characteristics she probably appreciated in herself. Evidence: "Jane Eyre dramaticizes its manifesto that women must be educated to excercise their reason, with Adele Varens and Blanche Ingram proving that uneducated women become coquettes," (Harris 102).

Argument: Structure choices, such as narration and flashbacks, are the main components in Ninteen Minutes, and withour those components, the character deveopment and plot line would have suffered. Claims: Picoult uses her mulit-perspective narration in order to show how a tragedy can effect many different people. Also, Picoult uses flashback in order to develop the characters before and after the tragedy. In eliminating a protaganist, Picoult allows the reader to form their own opinion on the plot like and characters. Evidence: "Significant details from the past enhance the experience of learning about the present, and this also illustrates Picoult's use of selection of detail. " "Picoult uses these flashbacks to develop many of the characters from way before the event in question to show how they became who they were and point out what past events may have led to the disaster. " "Without the unconventional narration, flashbacks, and writing excerpts, many of the characters would be poorly developed and the story would be much less powerful"

Argument: By writing the story in Huck's own words, Twain uses Huck's point of view to reveal the conflict between innocence and goodness throughout the story. Claim: The author claims that the best in an individual, by helping Jim escape, reveals Huck's innocent side in knowing helping Jim is the right choice. By refusing to turn in Jim, Huck goes against his own society and what they have taught him all throughout his life. Slavery, to Huck, in a way doesn't exist because in his world, life is an adventure, regardless of race. Evidence: Twain uses the idea of slavery as a metaphor for all social bondage and injustice (Grant). Twain compellingly establishes the irony that Huck's "sin" against the social establishment affirms the best that is possible in the individual (Grant). Twain maintains an almost perfect fidelity to Huck's point of view in order to dramatize the conflict between Huck's innate innocence and natural goodness and the dictates of a corrupt society (Grant).

Argument: The American dream is something that George and Lennie want in their lives. Claim: Each of their "dreams" consists of owning a farm