Abstract
In English literature, George Bernard Shaw represents a manifestation of New Comedy in the British social order, and the comedy in his plays serves as a tool for criticizing the hypocrisy of British society and the direction taken by the social and political order. This paper examines how Shaw uses New Comedy in his famous play, "Man and Superman". It also touches on how Shaw uses New Comedy in several of his other plays.

From the Paper
"The older generation places obstacles in the path of the lovers, difficulties which have to be overcome before the match can take place. The lovers in these comedies represent ideas, movements, or ideologies which serve them in overcoming the obstacles, and thus it is important how they overcome the obstacles because it furthers the themes inherent in the work. The young lovers will be successful, of course--this is comedy and not tragedy--and their success is celebrated. Why this celebration takes place is important--they have proven the worth of themselves and of what they represent. Ultimately, the structure affirms a celebration of life and of the vitality of the young."

Tags:Tanner, Ramsden, Ann, philosophy

Abstract
The paper discusses how classical literature often uses pairs of dependent characters to justify the unusual, extraordinary adventures and experiences of the main heroes. The paper looks at Virgil and Beatrice in Dante's "The Divine Comedy" and Olivier in the anonymous "Song of Roland" as examples of guiding characters.

From the Paper
"The heroes of classical literature almost always have guides who help them or sometimes prevent them from achieving their goals. These character guides are sometimes the peers or friends of the heroes and other times supernatural beings or forces. The role of the guiding figures is obviously that of contributing to the initiating experience of the hero. Because the adventures portrayed in classical literature always have an initiating character, the main hero of the story requires help from other men or forces in his journey. Such guiding roles belong for example to Virgil and to Beatrice in the Divine Comedy, or to Olivier in anonymous Song of Roland."

Tags:heroes, poetic, device, Virgil, Beatrice, Olivier

Abstract
This paper explores drama in various forms, focusing mainly upon theatre. The paper explains that drama and theatre have been an important part of literature and entertainment, and whether there are one act or ten acts, the main elements will always be the same, depending on the classification - tragedy or comedy. The paper clarifies that tragedy deals with adversity or it is believed to deal with unhappiness, while comedy, on the other hand, deals primarily with joy and laughter. A commonly held belief, the paper states, was that tragedy dealt with royal class and comedy with the masses. The paper gives the play "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller as an example of a tragedy.

From the Paper
"But this distinction was not necessarily the right compass to use for identification. If this method was used then any play ending in disaster was a tragedy and any that introduced middle-classes was a comedy. By the 17th century, critics began noticing some other points of distinction and raised their voice against the commonly held belief that tragedy dealt with royal class and comedy with the masses. So in 1660, Pierre Corneille wrote:"

Tags:dramatic, literature, entertainment

Abstract
This paper tries to find the similarities, despite their obvious differences, between tragedy and comedy. The paper explores Greek and Shakespearean literature to qualify points made. The author of the paper concludes with a personal opinion and an example of the correlation of tragedy and comedy in life.

From the Paper
" This criticism can however be rebutted by the fact that tragedy and comedy can entail elements of each other. Although a tragic Greek play involved more death and injury than the comedy, both genres focused on the meaning and the consequences of actions. To once again take the example of Oedipus, several people die as a result of his inability to escape his fate. He however accepts this and does what he feels is necessary to once again balance the elements. This, in an extreme way, gives meaning to Oedipus' tragedy and provides him with a sort of peace. Comedy approaches life from a different angle but also with the basic search for meaning in life. The obstacles before the glory in the end can be related to the obstacles in tragedy, all of which need to be overcome to reach the appropriate end of the play. The common element therefore is the search for meaning and peace through the turmoil of the obstacles provided by means of either tragic or comic elements in the ancient Greek play."

Tags:Shakespeare, literature, common, element, genre

Abstract
This paper is an analysis of the poem "Inferno" by Dante Alighieri. The author discusses the comedy in "Inferno" and the importance of its style of writing and use of language for the times it was written in.

From the paper:

"When a man steps up to construct a work of art, they do it for a plethora of ideas. These can be either to change viewpoints, express personal ideas, or insure their name in the years to come. Yet the creator cannot simply be the only one to make a work of art one of importance. It must include the passion of the times and the eagerness for something new and vivacious. To break traditions from the past is to set traditions for the future. Dante Alighieri created a poem in the 1200's that Florentines and the world had never conceived up."

Tags:alighieri, dante, florence, italy, literature

Abstract
This paper takes a look at how styles of literature in different historical periods express the culture and mores of those respective periods. To illustrate this contention, the paper examines three works of "Tartuffe" by Moliere during the period of Neoclassicism, "Candide" by Voltaire in the age of Enlightenment, and "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley in the times of Romanticism.

From the Paper
"The Neoclassical period characterized a response against the optimistic,
high-spirited, and enthusiastic Renaissance period where man was seen as being basically good and having unlimited personal ability for spiritual and intellectual growth. To the contrary, Neoclassics saw humans as being flawed, innately sinful and with limited potential. The importance placed on innovation, experimentation, and mysticism during the Renaissance was replaced with structure, reason, moderation and common sense, as well as socio-economic, religious and political conservatism. Although the derivation is debated, the term Neoclassical may have come from the resurgence of interest influenced in the ideas of the Classical world, particularly by the Greeks. Emotions were understated and intellectualism stressed. On the other hand, times were optimistic since it was thought that the stress on intellect and reason could solve many common problems and provide security and contentment."

Tags:transition, change, paris, intellectualism, stability, theatre, comedies, age, of, enlightenment

Abstract
This paper discusses that the ideology of paganism and Christianity clash within Dante's "The Divine Comedy" and "Beowulf" (anonymous). The author points out that, by observing the earlier authorship of "Beowulf", one can see the similar use of Christian domination over pagans but without the absolutist values of the Church of Rome in Dante's later times. The paper relates that, by understanding the contrasting time periods of the poems, one can understand the historical and literary conflict of paganism and the Christian faith in medieval times.

From the Paper
"This literary analysis compares and contrasts the different conflicts of paganism and Christianity that appear within "The Divine Comedy" by Dante and "Beowulf". By using various passages from both of these epic poetic works, one can realize the conflict in the way that paganism was still a part of Christian belief systems in early and middle medieval literature. Through Dante and the anonymous author of "Beowulf" the burgeoning Christian system was slowly overcoming the Pagan polytheistic ideals that had existed for centuries before the Roman Catholic Church came to power in northern Europe. In "The Divine Comedy" by Dante, Canto IV presents the polytheistic nature of paganism, which was beginning to wane through the power of the Roman Catholic Church in the 13th century. "

Tags:dante, beowulf, poem

Abstract
This paper will compare three works from the Grecian literature. These works span several centuries, yet all illustrate a type of feud between the genders. Two works are tragedies and the third is a comedy. Through examining these three works, the sexual politics of ancient Greece can be better understood. The first of these works is the "Iliad". The second piece of Grecian literature that will be examined in this paper is the play "Antigone", written by Sophocles. The third piece to be examined is the comedy "Lysistrata", by Aristophanes.

Abstract
This paper examines, through a literature review of such works as Plautus?s two comedies, ?The Pot of Gold? and ?Pseudolus?, how Roman drama is not a seamless construction of slave identity, or even a seamless construction of a world of upside-down power relations between master and servant. It shows how it is an uncertain negotiation of real life tensions where harsh realities and punishments of slaves existed simultaneously with portrayals of individuals in the Roman media of the day who were clearly human.

From the Paper
"Clearly, slavery in the ancient Roman world was socially stigmatized. However, what is so fascinating about the Roman's version of this "peculiar institution," as slavery was often called in the American South, was that slaves did not occupy a stigmatized racial class, as they did in the American South. That is to say that in the racist, antebellum South, a free black man was still stigmatized by his race. However, in Rome, an individual who was a slave might be highly regarded as well as treated like chattel, if he or she possessed special educational or artistic skills. Slaves were often captured prisoners of war, and valued for their social contributions as well as socially despised."

Tags:master, servant, plautus

Abstract
This paper studies Viola, the protagonist in William Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night". The paper examines Viola's disguise as Cesario, focusing on the themes of self indulgence, disguise, self deception and identity. The paper also looks at how Shakespeare uses the comedic vehicles of disguise and mistaken identity to make Viola an even more intricate character.

From the Paper
"Viola is a young woman born into aristocracy whose ship is wrecked in a storm, causing her to wash up on the shore of Illyria. Believing that her brother, Sebastian, is dead, Viola disguises herself as a young man who she names "Cesario" and becomes a page to Duke Orsino. Viola falls in love with Orsino, while Olivia, the woman Orsino is courting, falls in love with Cesario. Hence, Viola finds that her clever disguise has trapped her, as she is unable to tell Orsino that she loves him, and she is also unable to tell Olivia why she, as Cesario, does not and cannot love her. Viola's predicament is the central conflict in the play."

Tags:comedy, identity, literature, play, tragedy, Cesario, Orsino