Literature Analysis

Answer 1)

In journeying through "To Helen," several scholars, two of whom are poets, James Russell Lowell and Richard Wilbur, have been helpful guides to me. As long ago as 1845, in Graham's Magazine, Lowell wrote of Poe: "He combines in a very remarkable manner two faculties which are seldom found united: a power of influencing the mind of the reader by the impalpable shadows of mystery, and a minuteness of detail which does not leave a pin or a button unnoticed." Although Lowell is writing about the tales, the observation is helpful in reading the poems. Again, he comments: "The Mystic dwells in the mystery, is enveloped with it; it colors all his thoughts; it affects his optic nerve especially and the commonest things get a rainbow edging from it. Mr. Poe, on the other hand, is a spectator ab extra. He analyzes, he dissects, he watches."1 Poe's own comments on the way he worked support Lowell's insights. We have, as well, Professor Stovall's firm declaration: "I am convinced that all of Poe's poems were composed with conscious art." (Ambrosini, 54).

Answer 2)

In every novel, there is always two sides- good and evil and they are always fighting one another to achieve dominance. Bram Stoker has created Dracula to stand for all the negative forces, treachery, and evil. However, to combat this negative force with almost supernatural powers the author has created a group of good and brave men to combat Dracula, which is the theme of the book. The theme of 'Good' Vs 'Evil' takes on a religious tone with the two forces almost becoming God, which are the brave good men who try to fight Dracula and Satan who is Dracula. During the time Bram Stoker , the author write Dracula the theme of good vs evil was very prevalent and a theatre critic he knew that a successful novel should included good vs evil and challenging views.

In chapter 1 as Jonathon Harker is travelling to Castle Dracula he is met by several people who give him a crucifix when he tell them where he is heading. One superstition is that a rosary will protect you from all evil, and in the novel, the evil is Dracula. The rosary protects him when Jonathon cuts himself shaving, Dracula lunges for his throat but stops when he sees the crucifix around Jonathon's neck. Later in the book is discusses how you can defend yourself from Dracula and other vampires by possession of a crucifix or practically any holy item from the Christian religion.

Answer 3)

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the titular character states that "If [man's] impulses were confined to hunger, thirst and desire, [he] might nearly be free" (Shelley, 97). With this assertion, Victor imparts his belief that man is most content in the state of nature; a state where only his most primal needs must be fulfilled in order to be satisfied. Man in his natural state is the central topic in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophic essay A Discourse on Inequality, an ...