Walt Whitman: Life, Poetry, and Influence on American Literature

Walt Whitman: A Literary Journey

Walt Whitman

(West Hills, USA, 1819 – Camden, 1892) American Poet. Son of a Dutch mother and a British father, he was the second of nine children in a family with limited economic resources. He had limited schooling and soon had to start working, first as an itinerant teacher and later as a printer, despite his poor academic background.

He developed a passion for journalism, an interest that led him to work for several New York newspapers and magazines. Appointed director

Read More

Johnson’s Rasselas: Abyssinia, Morality, and Orientalism

Rasselas (1759): A Discussion

Samuel Johnson’s Rasselas draws upon his prior knowledge of Abyssinia, fueled by popular interest and the power of publishers. While Johnson had written oriental tales previously, this book transcends a simple connection with England, existing outside of time and place within the setting of Abyssinia. The book incorporates information about Abyssinia not solely derived from Portuguese missionary translations, potentially drawing from accounts of Basque missionaries.

Read More

Characters of The Mayor of Zalamea: Analysis

Pedro Crespo

An old farmer appointed mayor of Zalamea. He has a son, Juan, and a daughter, Isabel. His character is dynamic, contradictory, highly complex, and continually changes as the action develops. He possesses a high sense of social honor but believes that, by natural law, peasants hold an inferior position to nobles. He is one of the greatest characters created in Spanish Golden Age drama. Almost all other characters exist primarily in relation to him, though this doesn’t mean they lack autonomy

Read More

Gothic Cathedrals: Architecture and Evolution in Europe

Architecture: The Gothic Cathedral

The Gothic cathedral is characterized by verticality and light, reflecting divinity. Its most typical expression is the cathedral, where we find all the elements of Gothic art. It utilizes a new type of arch and vault: the pointed arch and vault, which enables a transparent wall covered with glass. Rosettes are privileged under the windows of colored glass.

Latin cross plans predominate, distinguishing the header and cruise ships, three to five. The choir has an

Read More

Spanish Picaresque Novels: Key Works and European Legacy

Key Spanish Picaresque Novels

Quevedo’s El Buscón

The following picaresque masters are discussed briefly. Quevedo’s El Buscón picks up themes from Lazarillo de Tormes and Guzmán de Alfarache, but removes the element present in Lazarillo where the beginning of the protagonist’s life presents a series of open perspectives. In Quevedo’s work, the character’s childhood environment is infamous, marked by blood. Although offered a horrid job, he refuses it to continue his infamous life, owning it. Quevedo

Read More

British Culture: London Landmarks & York’s Rich History

Why ‘Britain’?

It’s called Britain for a reason: it includes the Scots and the Welsh as well.

British Pub Culture

Most pubs in Britain close relatively early, often around 11:00 PM. In contrast, some bars in Spain don’t even open until 11:00 PM. Perhaps this contributes to the perception that British people drink quickly!

The British Tearoom Tradition

A typical British tearoom might be full of people sitting at tables, drinking tea, and talking quietly. Common accompaniments include small cucumber

Read More