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Literary analysis of the Odyssey
Heros journey character analysis the odyssey paper
Heros journey character analysis the odyssey paper
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Recommended: Literary analysis of the Odyssey
This portrait depicting Henry’s abandonment of the Tattered Man focuses on the literary element of characterization, as it helps the viewer better understand Henry’s “character”. As seen in the illustration, Henry’s has a cold and selfish expression on his face and is in much better shape than the other (tattered) man. Accordingly, this would allow the onlooker to comprehend a portion of Henry’s character in this point in the book, showing that he was very self-centered and did not care for others. The Tattered Man is actually dying, and one can clearly see this in the drawing; he is bleeding all over his body, he has a fading look on his face, and his uniform is in pretty bad shape. Despite this, Henry, looking practically untouched, leaves
Henry's first-person narrative is the most important element of these stories. Through it he recounts the events of his life, his experiences with others, his accomplishments and troubles. The great achievement of this narrative voice is how effortlessly it reveals Henry's limited education while simultaneously demonstrating his quick intelligence, all in an entertaining and convincing fashion. Henry introduces himself by introducing his home-town of Perkinsville, New York, whereupon his woeful g...
The first and most obvious change in behavior is shown by comparing Henry?s actions when they stopped at the place with the willows during the road trip and the description of Henry when he first returned home from the war. While resting at the willows, Lyman said, ?Henry was asleep with his arms thrown wide? (366). Henry was completely relaxed. When a dog or cat lies on his back with his belly exposed, he is making himself vulnerable, so therefore this is a sign of trust. Henry is showing a similar trust by lying in that position. This changes drastically when Henry comes home from the war. Lyman states, ?Henry was very different, and I?ll say this: the change was no good. You could hardly expect him to change for the better, I know. But he was quiet, so quiet, and never comfortable sitting still anywhere but always up and moving around? (367). The war has turned him into a very cautious man...
Henry is somewhat naïve, he dreams of glory, but doesn't think much of the duty that follows. Rather than a sense of patriotism, it is clear to the reader that Henry goals seem a little different, he wants praise and adulation. "On the way to Washington, the regiment was fed and caressed for station after station until the youth beloved
such a process, this was just one of the causes of the break with Rome
In the very beginning of the book, David Henry makes a decision he will live with for the rest of his life. He gives his newborn daughter away. He justifies this action by saying, “This poor child will most likely have a serious heart defect. A fatal one. I’m trying to spare us all a terrible grief” (Edwards 19). Little did he know, that by telling his wife their daughter died, he would be destroying his relationship with his wife and son. Because of the strain on his relationship with his family, the rest of them go on lying as well. In the end, they all have secrets that tear them
An author can reveal characteristics of characters in literature through several different methods. Some common methods of characterization include one’s appearance, speech, thoughts, name, actions, and emotions. However, unconventional means can also be used, such as imagery, which is visually descriptive or figurative language. In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, imagery is used to characterize central characters to the play. Firstly, Hamlet’s characteristics are revealed through the imagery of death in his speech. Secondly, Claudius’ characteristics are revealed through the imagery in the Ghost and Hamlet’s descriptions of him, as well as his own thoughts. It is through this visually descriptive and figurative language, that readers can identify characteristics of these central characters.
The most important idea that is conveyed in the story is summed up in two sentences, near the end of the story, "There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination".
When the two first meet, Catherine is still dealing with the death of her fiancé in battle. This presents her as a woman who knows the dangers and possibilities of war. As a nurse physically present during the war, she is rightfully not perceived as grieving and mortified by her fiancé¹s death. She did not marry him because he wanted to enlist in the war, ³I would have married him or anything ... But then he wanted to go to war and I didn¹t know² (Hemingway, 19). Typically, many women married their sweethearts in lure of the war. She goes onto say that she ³didn¹t know anything then,² but the fact that she did know that the war was not an excuse to get married presents her as perceptive and intellligent (19). The war alone could not justify her love for her life long friend and fiancé. This tragic event explains her confusing emotional behavior towards Henry at first.
The author stylistically ascribes negative personality traits prior to the death of a character. These negative characteristics portray the character as corrupt. In the text, Homais furiously mentions, “You[Justin] are on a downward path”(Flaubert 231). The textual evidence indirectly describes the flaws of Emma. The excuse of Justin committing a crime and Emma’s presence “coincidentally” in the text or purposely by Flaubert exemplifies reality. Furthermore, the blind beggar mentions, “Dream of love and of love always,” before the death of Emma (Flaubert 300). In the text, the blind beggar is singing a song, although the song implies traits of Emma. Emma always desires and dreams of love which provides the purpose for the song and demonstrates her not being satisfied with the love Charles provides for her. Additionally, Flaubert mentions, “Charles was suffocating like a youth beneath the vague love influences that filled his aching heart,” (321) which implies that he still loves Emma dearly. Th...
...in the text is mention within the quote, “I know, now, that when one loses one’s good looks, whatever they may be, one loses everything (…) Youth is the only thing worth having.” (Wilde 70). It is this in which we can see Henry’s theory about beauty as well as societies perception of beauty and how it is the most valuable aspect of a person. According to Patricia Rigg within her article Aestheticism, the Maternal and “That extremity of love” she mentions how beauty is commonly associated to how a society perceives it as she states, “The word ‘‘aestheticism’’ is etymologically linked to the Greek word
... the story of “The Human Stain” seems like a direct narrative, and according to reader response criticism, we understand that the writer has written the book with a brilliant and intelligent individual in mind. This book deals with the past and present and it is also about reality that suggests us an impressive reflection of what we might learn about each other. At the end of the story the narrator made an unexpected conclusion, by having those experiences that shows up his own personal thoughts. The personal nature is one reason that the book’s ending keeps such important meaning. For the reader the story is illustrated in the way that the text deals with the themes that are very close to some of the people in this world. By contrasting the characters of this story, the author Philip Roth uses to illustrate the world that suggests the responsibility and obligation.
The weakness of women is found in various forms throughout the text. Henry refers to women as “a decorative sex” and that “they never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly.” (Wilde 43) Nowhere is this better supported than during Lady Henry’s conversation with Dorian Gray. Speaking blatantly about nothing in particular, the young woman rambles from her husband’s views to parties and flowers. Without even so much as a pause to breathe, the young woman continues to talk down herself, probably not consciously, explaining that though she loves music, she is afraid of how it makes her feel, as if it is a crime to enjoy and feel passion for the arts. She then stumbles into admitting her love for the musicians themselves, leading to question how much she actually enjoys music. It is as if she meets or learns of a stunning new artist and then chooses her fascination with the sound. Following her rant on musicians, Lady Henry finds herself on the topic of foreigners. She uses this opportunity to point out that her husband’s guest has not attended any of her parties.
...rd Henry would appreciate Waterhouse’s painting for its honesty and self-appreciation it depicts. Lord Henry and especially Dorian would appreciate the fact that Narcissus is admiring himself— seeing as the two men admire themselves quite often. The painting is definitely true to the Aesthetic movement at the time.
The Theme of Love is presented by the widow, as she demonstrates a deeper love for her dead husband. She refuses to following the precession with the loose hair, and the beating of the naked breast in front of the crowd. At the beginning of the story, the widow is presented as being devoted. Her actions are described as being overly devoted to her dead husband by the dissatisfaction with the traditional norms of mourning. Petronius writes, “She followed the dead man even to his resting place, and began to watch and weep night and day over the body” (1, paragraph 2) Petronius suggests the widow’s love by her state of mind being lost in her grief, “Even to his resting place”. Another example of the love the widow demonstrates through the story is the sacrifice of her dead husband body to save her new love. The widow reacts to the soldier’s grief, for a crucified man’s body has been taken and he will have to take its place. She shows that even ...
Brought together by their mutual friend, Rinaldi, Henry seems to fall dangerously hard for a girl he only lays eyes on once. This instant is the start to an interesting relationship. Henry’s spontaneous love for Catherine has him returning everyday to see her. The reader soon discovers that Barkley feels the same way towards Henry. They are quick to proclaim their true love to each other leaving Henry in a state of insurmountable happiness. Hemingway does not leave the couple to have a happy ending - for when love is involved, pain closely follows. The war separates the two lovers as Henry has to tend to all those who are going to be wounded on the offensive. The separation causes not only emotional but physical pain. Henry is injured and is dealing with an enormous amount of pain. This pain is sy...