William Blake: Visionary Poet and Artist
William Blake: A Unique Romantic Voice
William Blake is generally associated with the first generation of Romantic poets, alongside Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Charlotte Smith. This generation’s writings were inspired by the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution. Equality and liberty were prominent themes in their works. These writings often criticized the nobility—especially the King and Queen—for their mistreatment of the poor.
Blake’s Distinctive Mysticism and Artistry
Despite his
Read MoreGulliver’s Travels: Summary of Questions and Answers
Gulliver’s Travels: Q&A
Lilliput
How does Gulliver end up stranded in Lilliput?
A – He survives a shipwreck.
How do the Lilliputians offer Gulliver something to drink?
D – They roll out barrels of wine.
How does Gulliver earn the title of Nardac in Lilliput?
A – By capturing the Blefuscudian fleet.
Instead of killing him outright, the Lilliputians decide on which of the following punishments for Gulliver?
A – Blinding him and slowly starving him to death.
What is the line of doctrine over which the
Read MoreFrankenstein: Key Themes and Influences
Scientific Influences on Frankenstein
Humphry Davy, Erasmus Darwin, and Luigi Galvani, along with two of their disciples (Adam Walker and P.B. Shelley), were crucial to Mary Shelley’s understanding of science and the scientific enterprise. As seen in the novel, Victor Frankenstein is inspired by the use of electricity to give life to a person. He was influenced by older philosophers such as Agrippa and Magnus.
Narrative Structure of Frankenstein
Frankenstein is an epistolary narrative with three
Bécquer’s Rhymes: Analysis of Key Themes and Metrics
Bécquer’s Rhymes: Analysis
Rima II
Abstract: Abstract poetry means that you are born but then do not know what the future holds, where you will go, what you will do, or what will happen.
Theme: Melancholy.
Metric: There are 20 verses. The lines are assonant pairs, each consisting of eight-syllable verses of minor art. It is a romance.
Rima VII
Summary: The poet sees a room in which there is a dusty harp not being used and thinks of those strings waiting to be played as the talent of people who are inside
Read MoreChildren’s Literature: History, Genres & Benefits
The Golden Age of Children’s Literature (1863-1911)
The Golden Age of Children’s Literature, spanning from 1863 to 1911, marked a significant shift in how childhood was perceived. Children’s books became more respectful, emphasizing enjoyment and imagination over pure instruction. Writers moved away from didacticism and moralizing, focusing instead on entertainment and sparking children’s imaginations.
Fairy Tales and the Rise of Fantasy
The renaissance of traditional fairy tales went hand-in-hand
Read MoreSymbolism in the Novel: Mirrors, Hats, and More
Mirrors
The mirror is a recurring symbol that appears multiple times in the novel. It supports the notion of the protagonist’s splitting, who, finding himself in the mirror, moves away from it and returns to the past.
- The mirror serves as a bridge or time warp to the past.
- It moves to the voice of conscience.
- It appears in several chapters throughout the novel.
- It serves to focus and reconstruct the protagonist’s past; that is, to delve into his memories of childhood, adolescence, and his history.