Abstract This paper reviews and analyzes C. S. Lewis' book, "Miracles". The paper contends that, although highly readable for a text of its kind, "Miracles" is not an easy or facile read. Rather, it poses many questions that are difficult to reason through even when following Lewis' reasoning process. The paper also maintains that, because this book is based on unfinished research and because it lays the pathway for following historical proofs rather than arguing them, it does not always present any clear conclusions.
From the Paper "C. S. Lewis was a prolific Christian writer. He is perhaps best known for his series of books included in "The Chronicles of Narnia". His reach extends far beyond that of those books, however. The book "Miracles" is a good demonstration of why his work is so popular, even many years after his death. Although the book is a deep discussion of many philosophical ideas, it remains highly readable for someone who enjoys such topics. Lewis does not use what has now become the traditional warm and fuzzy "feel good" method of discussion that so many books use today. Instead, his work uses logical arguments to explain his perspective on the topic of miraculous works."
Abstract In this paper, Lewis offers a personal account of the cutthroat world of Wall Street, as seen through his own personal experiences. In this manner, the reality of interpersonal relationships in his professional life often result in the author delving deeper into the belly of the money hungry beast within the Salomon Brothers firm. Although he does seem to represent a confessional approach in his narrative, Lewis often makes claims as to how Wall Street operates without the benefit of quantitative analysis in regards to how financial institutions really operate.
From the Paper "The central aim of "Liar's Poker" by Michael Lewis is to present the reality of the Wall Street and the wanton greed associated with trading. There are many books that I have read about Wall Street that provide instructional or "self help" approaches to becoming a successful business person in this type of environment, but Lewis's perspective teaches the most about the realities of trading life. By having used his own personal experience to reflect the business environment he had to survive on a daily basis, the cruelty and passive aggressive behaviors of his "gentleman" business associates often resulted in nightmarish greed and excessive monetary squandering."
Abstract A narrative of the expedition across the United States performed by Lewis and Clark including politics at the time, Jefferson's influence and goals and successes of the "Voyage of Discovery". A description is also given of geographic characteristics, Sacajawea and the Indian nations. Spanish claims in the West and explored and short and long term results of expedition defined.
From the Paper "Thomas Jefferson won approval for and then began planning an expedition to the west to explore new uncharted lands. He went to his friend Meriwether Lewis and Lewis? friend William Clark to lead this new twenty five hundred dollar, later adding up to over thirty-eight thousand dollars, expedition. Although the well-known reason for this dangerous, unknown expedition was to see if the land was livable for the large American population which was condensed mostly within fifty miles of the Atlantic Ocean, that barely scratches the surface of what Jefferson had in mind for this long trip. Not only did he want to know if the land would support his taxpaying citizens, but he wanted to know about the numbers and military capabilities of Spanish and French peoples in the areas. Furthermore, he wished to have expanded knowledge of the Indians and their trade, and to ally with these Indians in an attempt to establish trade and create a profit. Lewis and Clark headed off into the unknown with limitless credit and limitless expectations of what they would find and report to home. The underlying question was what would this expedition do for the expansion of American settlers into the frontier and their safety once there."
Tags: clark, expansion, expedition, jefferson, lewis, meriwether, william
Abstract This paper argues that the treatment of reality and fantasy in works by LewisCarroll is unique in the annals of literature, for never has it been accomplished with such an effectiveness, subtlety, delicacy and poignancy. The paper first outlines the realms of reality and fantasy, before positing a commentary on the treatment, the juxtaposition and the eventual merging of these existential states in the earlier set of works by LewisCarroll. The works considered are: "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass".
From the Paper "Looking at these works, an extremely interesting fact emerges. The author has made use of a skillful set of frames in the narration of works that aspire almost to the status of epics. Literary frames are devices that enable an author to activate various levels of demarcation in a work, enabling the author himself to remain relatively discrete of his own work. The first frame used in 'Alice in Wonderland' is the concept of a dream into which Alice tumbles, thus entering the world of Wonderland. The figure of the White Rabbit, the harbinger of chaos, a denizen from the other world setting foot into this one is the first element of fantasy that one finds in the book."
Abstract This paper relates that LewisCarroll's "Alice in Wonderland" is the quintessential portmanteau allegory with themes ranging from evolution, growing up in an adult world, class structure in Victorian society, meaning and manners and human sexuality; however, the glue that holds these themes together is the plasticity of reality and the subjectivity of meaning. The author points out that in "Alice in Wonderland", the device of the rabbit hole, which establishes the entire underground setting of the book, replicates the cave in the "Allegory of the Cave" from Plato's "Republic" because control, enlightenment and freedom are all prominent in both allegories. The paper explains that many of the bizarre images in LewisCarroll's "Alice in Wonderland" are actually literal--or actually figurative since they involve figures--expressions of figurative expressions, which are actually literal because they involve letters and words. Long quotations.
Table of Contents
Alice in PlatoLand: The Allegory of Wonder
The Cave
Properties of the Forms
Forms in "Alice in Wonderland"
Factor of the Mathematical Pun on 'Remain'
From the Paper "An allegory employs a literal story to convey a figurative meaning. Through allegory, a more complex subject or idea is described in terms of that of a lower which is made out to resemble it in properties and circumstances, the principal subject remains obscure leaving the reader to make the connection between the secondary and the primary subjects. The subject of both Plato and Carroll's allegories is appearance and reality---or the good or the true."
Abstract This paper explains that LewisCarroll and Edgar Allan Poe have both developed strong relationships with children; but Carroll's focus on children was a healthy one, whereas Poe's was not. The author points out that Poe can be viewed as a troubled man whose childhood caused him to develop significant problems in his view of women and relationships, which can be seen in his poetry and short stories. The paper stresses that Carroll's relationships with children are healthy ones where he relates well to children and feels a genuine fatherly care for children as seen in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
From the Paper "The only question that remains to be answered in regards to Carroll is why his interest was mainly in young girls, and did not extend to young boys. This is a point that can be suggestive of Carroll having a perverse interest in young girls. Once again, though, the content of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" provides the logical answer. The interesting thing about "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is that all of the images presented are more female-focused than male-focused. Obviously, the main character is female. But there is also the white rabbit, the Cheshire cat, and the tea party. Overall, these seem to be images more feminine than masculine. The suggested reason for these images is that masculine images would tend to be more brutal. A tea party is a typical game for girls to play. The equivalent for boys might be playing war games, or more physical sports."
Abstract This paper begins by presenting an outline and definition of the realms of reality and fantasy. It then posits a commentary on the treatment, the juxtaposition and the eventual merging of reality and fantasy in the earlier set of works by LewisCarroll. The works considered are "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass".
From the Paper "The treatment of reality and fantasy in works by Lewis Carroll is, shall I say, unique in the annals of literature, for never has it been accomplished with such an effectiveness, subtlety, delicacy and poignancy. The principal idea in this first set of works is one of a visible, palpable and tangible 'transition point', from which the protagonist enters a realm of fantasy from a realm of reality. That 'point de depart', so to speak, is symbolized by the rabbit hole in the first work, and a looking glass in the second, both of which have a special significance as motifs of transition between the planes of reality and fantasy. Once Alice crosses these points, she passes into a realm where logic and reality as she knows it no longer applies. The idea of a definite transition point, through which one may pass in order to get to another realm is a form of subconscious demarcation used by Carroll between reality and fantasy. A portal through which one may pass automatically represents a gateway back from the other realm to this one, thus preserving the integrity of both worlds."
Abstract This paper looks at specific influences in the life of Charles Dodgson (aka LewisCarroll) such as split personality disorder, sleep difficulty and Victorian era social problems and examines how they are represented in the story of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". A detailed analysis of the story shows that there are characters, events and symbols that may serve as allegorical representations of the influences in the author's life.
From the Paper "What is the difference between dreaming and pretending? The pretender creates the environment for the action while the dreamer is forced to negotiate an environment that was not consciously created. One of the most celebrated dreams in literature involves a girl named Alice and a place called Wonderland. On a hot July day in 1862, Charles Dodgson began telling a story to three little girls during a boating trip. It was a fantastic tale about a mysterious rabbit hole, talking animals, magic potions and a particularly violent Queen. One of the girls on the trip, Alice Liddell, begged Mr. Dodgson to write down the story for her. The story was written as Alice's Adventures Under Ground, which was later published under the more commonly known name, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Bassett 49). For the causal reader of this fairy tale, it may be hard to imagine how the author created such an outlandish story. The characters are bizarre and often absurd. Nothing in the story seems to be of this world, at least not within the realms of known sciences. However, a detailed analysis of the story shows that there are characters, events and symbols that may serve as allegorical representations of the influences in the author's life. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a story comprised of extra ordinary characters and events that correspond directly to the real life biography of Charles Dodgson."
Abstract The paper offers an analysis of the novels, poems and photographs of LewisCarroll. The paper includes an argument that his lack of emotional expression with other adults in his life found its outlet in his creative work.
From the Paper "Lewis Carroll is the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, born in England in and best remembered as a writer of books specifically for children. Harmon Carroll was a poet and photographer as well as an author but he also spent years as an Oxford don where he excelled as a teacher of mathematics. Whether through his use of absurd language, his exceptional visual images of children he photographed his preoccupation with numbers or his visual poems. Carroll was a master of imagery."
Tags: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, imagery, poetry, photography, little girls, shaped verse, mathematics, dreams, dream state, unconscious mind
Abstract The paper discusses that the reader may discover insights about himself and the world amidst the gobbledygook of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". The author believes that Carroll uses language, such as puns and linguistic play, as a tool with which he introduced the reader to ideas often times overshadowed by nonsense. The paper explains that nonsensical events such as the Mad Hatter's tea party and the Knave's trial, have a deeper meaning in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
From the Paper "Through the character of Alice, Carroll provides readers with knowledge of Victorian people, as well as our personal struggles to mature and find our true identities. Amidst the madness in Wonderland, Alice remains her rational self, concerned with reciting her lessons so that others will appreciate her being well educated. However, what she recites is ?"not quite right . . . [because] some of the words have got altered"? (Carroll 49). Alice's fretting over saying her lessons correctly is Carroll's way of satirizing Victorian education. One critic points out that Alice's swimming in the pool of tears she has wept is ? . . . [Carroll?s] making an astute observation on Victorian education, notably that the acquisition of knowledge and guilt over assumed transgression often accompany each other . . .? ."
Abstract This paper briefly describes the education, family life and political career of Charles Carroll, as well as how he helped promote the independence of the American colonies and his role in the Declaration of Independence.
From the Paper "Charles Carroll was born into a wealthy Roman Catholic family in Annapolis Maryland on September 19, 1737. Charles Carroll was sent to school at the Jesuits at Bohemia on Harmon's Manor in Maryland at the age of 10 years. One of his fellow students was his cousin, John Carroll, who was later Archbishop of Baltimore. The following year, 1748, they both crossed the ocean to the Jesuit College at St-Omer in French Flanders, where Charles remained for 6 years. After a year at the college of the Jesuits at Reims, Carroll entered the College Louis le Grand at Paris. In 1753, Carroll went to Bourges to study civil law where he remained for a year and then returned to Paris until 1757. In this year he took apartments in the Temple, London, where he studied law for several years. In later days he spoke in highest praise of the training he received at St-Omer and the College Louis le Grand. To the former he owed his deep conviction of religious truth, and to the latter his critical ability, his literary style, and the basis for the breadth of knowledge, which made him an invaluable citizen (Hanley 145)."
Abstract This paper states that Sinclair Lewis was an American author who became famous and controversial because of his novels and his satirical style of writing which criticizes the popular American culture during the 1920s to 1930s. The paper then provides an overview on who Sinclair Lewis was and why he became famous for his writings. The paper also discusses critics' remarks about the works of Sinclair Lewis as well as opinions as to why Sinclair Lewis' works are still relevant today.
Outline:
Introduction
Short Biography
Sinclair Lewis's Main Street
Lewis's Rise to Fame
Relevance of Sinclair Lewis' Main Street
Conclusion
From the Paper "Main Street sold around 200,000 copies with a few months of its publication and released. It sold around two million copies in the United States alone in 1951. While novels before dared not, Main Street was the first novel by an American to become successful by using criticisms on American popular culture. The publication was timely because Main Street was published during the time when American culture was being questioned, World War I had just ended and women were declared legally equal to men."
Abstract This paper discusses the life and works of C. S. Lewis. The author shows how C. S. Lewis took the everyday questions about religion and faith, tackling them head-on. It is illustrated with various examples how Lewis was a Christian writer who was deeply influenced by the teachings of God and His Scripture, although Lewis's views differ greatly from the fundamentalist view of scripture.
From the Paper "CS Lewis was born, in 1898, in Belfast, Ireland. He was educated at various schools throughout England (Hooper, 1996). In 1914, he began studying Latin, Greek, French, German and Italian and later moved to Oxford. His education was disrupted by the first World War but within two years, he resumed his studies.
In 1924, Lewis became a teacher of Literature and Language at Magdalen College in Oxford, where he remained until 1954. During this time, he wrote the majority of his work. Lewis later moved to Cambridge where he spent the rest of his life teaching Medieval and Renaissance Literature."
Abstract This paper explains that Lewis and Clark were not the first explorers to cross North America by land, but the Lewis and Clark expedition was monumental because President Thomas Jefferson arranged the journey, the expectations of the expedition, the members of the Corps of Discovery and the overall achievements. The author points out that some of the major achievements were knowledge gained about the Western lands through the maps of rivers, mountains and terrain, the discovery of almost 400 new species of plants and animals and the strengthening of the American claims on the territories of the West. The paper relates that not only are the names of Lewis and Clark famous from this expedition but also the names of York, a black slave, and Sacagawea, an Indian woman.
Outline
I. Why Jefferson wanted the West
A. It was a really long distance to travel
B. States allowed access to Louisiana
1. Louisiana obtained through Louisiana purchase
2. New Orleans had access to world through port
C. Land important status symbol
1. Jefferson and Washington both Virginia land owners
D. Vision of coast to coast land united
II. Preparing for the Expedition
A. Earlier explorer had made the journey
B. Congress made decision
1. Expedition would have twelve men
2. Would have budget of $2500
C. Group would need wide knowledge
1. Botany
2. Geology
3. Wildlife
4. Mapping terrain
III. Establishment of group
A. Dubbed "The Corp of Discovery"
B. Jefferson elected Captain Meriwether Lewis C. Clark elected partner William Clark
D. Clark brought Black slave York
E. Joined later by Native American woman Sacagawea
F. Only member to die on trip was Sergeant Charles Floyd
IV. The Journey
A. Began May 14 from Camp Dubois
B. Followed Missouri River
C. Camped at Fort Mandan for first winter
D. Traveled west, crossed Rocky Mountains
E. Reached West coast in December 1805
F. Spent second winter at Fort Clatsop
G. Back home September 1806
V. Achievements
A. Knowledge of West
1. Rivers
2. Mountains
3. Terrain
B. New Species
1. Plants
2. Animals
C. Paved way for American expansion
1. Fur trade
2. Naive American contact
3. Claims on Western territories
D. Would guide Pioneers on part of Oregon Trail
E. Social Achievement through voting
1. Black slave
2. Native American woman
VI. Conclusion
From the Paper "The expedition would eventually be called the Corps of Discovery, and would have between thirty and forty members in total. Jefferson himself selected the leader for the group, a captain named Meriwether Lewis. Lewis was allowed to select his own partner, and chose William Clark. An interesting fact about Clark is that although he was known by the other members of the expedition, as well as by many history books, as a captain, he was in fact only a Lieutenant, apparently because of delays in Army paperwork. Also on the mission was York, who was the Black slave of Clark. Later on the journey, they would be joined by a Native American woman names Sacagawea, who was of the Shoshone/Hidasta tribe."
