Key Themes and Literary Movements in American Novel History
Symbolism in John Barth’s The Floating Opera
The showboat in The Floating Opera, a novel by John Barth, is a very important symbol that reflects the main character’s philosophical struggles.
The Showboat as a Central Symbol
The showboat represents several aspects of life and existence:
Symbol of Life
The showboat moves constantly from one place to another. This movement symbolizes that life keeps going, just like the boat. Life is always changing, and people are always moving forward.
Symbol of Performance
The
Read MoreAntonio Machado’s ‘To a Dry Elm’: Analysis and Symbolism
Antonio Machado: ‘To a Dry Elm’ (A un olmo seco)
The Poem Text
At the old elm, cleft by lightning
and half-rotten,
with April showers and May sunshine,
few new leaves have emerged.
Elm Hill centenary,
licking the Duero! A yellowish moss
stains the white bark,
the trunk decayed and dusty.
It will not be singing the poplars which
guarding the path and shore,
inhabited by brown nightingales.
Army ants in a row
are climbing it, and deep inside
gray spiders wove their webs.
Rather than throw you, elm of the Duero,
the
The Journey Motif in Literature: From Physical to Inner Worlds
The Physical Journey in Medieval Literature
In the medieval period, the protagonist is often a hero, a demigod, or a divinely protected figure. The knight of virtue, as an incarnation of the values of a theocentric era founded on Christianity, is oriented toward a quest to recover or establish his honor and prove his loyalty to the crown he serves. This was the case for El Cid, who, after being banished, toured Spain and fought against the Moors to gain territories, thus regaining his honor and the
Read MoreThe Lost Generation: American Writers and Post-War Disillusionment
The American Novel: The “Lost Generation”
The Lost Generation refers to the group of American writers who reflected the pessimism, chaos, and confusion resulting from the First World War and the Great Depression in their work. The historical and cultural context of this generation is defined by the climate of disillusionment and confusion that followed WWI.
Frustrated with the cultural landscape of their home country, many of these authors took refuge in Europe. Their writings vividly described the
Read MoreAlfred, Lord Tennyson: Victorian Poet and Major Works Analysis
Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Chief Victorian Poet
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (born August 6, 1809, Somersby, Lincolnshire, England—died October 6, 1892, Aldworth, Surrey) was an English poet often regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian Age in poetry. He was raised to the peerage in 1884.
Early Life and Education
Tennyson was the fourth of 12 children, born into an old Lincolnshire family; his father was a rector. In 1815, he was sent to Louth Grammar School, where he was unhappy, leaving in 1820.
Read MoreJohn Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men: Themes and Analysis
Author: John Steinbeck | Published: 1937 | Genre: Novella, Tragedy
Plot Summary
Set during the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men follows two friends, George and Lennie, who dream of owning land. Lennie is mentally disabled and unintentionally harms things due to his strength. They find work on a ranch, meeting various characters like Curley, his wife, and Crooks. A tragic accident forces George to make a heartbreaking decision for Lennie’s sake.
Main Characters
George Milton
A small, smart man who