Abstract
The paper explains how pollution in the water of Woburn, Massachusetts in 1966 and its subsequent alleged deaths was attributed to the actions of corporations. Jonathan Harr explored the trial; the detailed legal wrangling, the lives that were affected and lost and the verdict and its aftermath. The paper discusses three main reasons why Harr's novel leaves a favorable impression of the civil trial system and addresses the critical question of whether or not justice was served in the case itself. The paper offers insights into Harr's thinking before, during and after the trial and presents an analysis of the actual trial documents that were prepared by the attorneys for the plaintiffs. The paper is of the opinion that in "A Civil Action," Jonathan Harr weaves skillful authorship with all of the power and emotion of the legal system.

Outline:
Three Main Reasons Why "A Civil Action" Leaves a Favorable Impression of the Civil Trial System of Justice
Was Justice Done in the Woburn Case?
Closing Thoughts

From the Paper
"In 1966, a priest who recently moved to the small town of Woburn, Massachusetts, noticed that the drinking water in his adopted hometown was bad- foul smelling, brown in color, and undrinkable. While this was viewed by most people up to this time as nothing more than inconvenience, it became something more when people, particularly the children of the town, began to be stricken with Leukemia in ever-increasing numbers. Ultimately, the cause of the pollution in the water and its subsequent alleged damaging affects was attributed to the actions of corporations W. R. Grace and Beatrice Foods that were industrial presences in Woburn, and had poisoned the town's drinking water with chemical runoff, resulting in huge lawsuits being filed against these corporations(Harr, 1995)."

Tags:legal, system, justice, pollution, lawsuits

Abstract
This paper states that the film "12 Angry Men" was well written and well directed with an exceptionally professional performance from the cast. The paper explains that the film is about the court trial of an 18 year old Spanish-American boy who is accused of murdering his father. The paper also points out that the jury, consisting of 12 men, must come to a unanimous decision whether to acquit or convict the boy. The paper then analyzes the dynamics of the 12 jurors and what might have influenced them in taking a decision in favor of or against the accused.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Story Line
Temerity of Juror #8
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The movie begins with the scene in which the judge is seen giving instructions to a jury consisting of 12 gentlemen. The judge informs the jury that the defendant will have to take the electric chair if proved guilty. The jury is also instructed that their judgment should be unanimous. The jury then moves into the jury room where they get acquainted with the other members of the jury and start their work. The case which opens up as an open and shut case takes a turn when one of jurors (juror #8) decides to veto the decision of the other eleven jurors."

Tags:set, jury, preservation, judge, sympathy

Abstract
This paper begins with a brief biographical sketch of the life of Tom Stoppard, outlining his adolescent years in Japan, his university education and his career accomplishments. The paper also explains how Stoppard's early works led to the writing of his play "Travesties" and how Stoppard would mix humor with seriousness and moral concern when he wrote. Finally, the paper examines and analyzes "Travesties", explaining the central concept and theme running throughout the play.

Outline
Thesis Statement
Tom Stoppard: The Man
The Early Works as a Background for Travesties
The Close Up Look at Travesties

From the Paper
"Although there does not exist a book with the title of "Travesties," that was written by Tomas Straussler, now known as Tom Stoppard the worldwide acclaimed playwright and author, there is indeed his stage play with this title. The critically acclaimed play had its first performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company on June 10, 1974, at the Aldwych Theater in London and has played to packed houses throughout the world for several years following its debut and indeed is still performed by younger theater groups particularly in the United States on the university levels."

Tags:implications, nuances, pyrotechnics, a, walk, on, the, water, novel, rosencrantz, and, guildenstern, are, dead

Abstract
This book review examines the nature of mother-daughter relationships and the Chinese immigrant experience as reflected in Any Tan's novel "The Kitchen God's Wife." The review discusses the common themes in Tan's novels, such as cultural conflict often seen between the generations. These themes are further analyzed in terms of the characters' personalities and experiences. The reviewer also considers some of the literary devices that the author used to illustrate these conflicts. The paper also cites various literary critics' opinions of the novel.

From the Paper
"With these two elements in mind, this paper provides a discussion and analysis of the "immigrant experiences" of Weili and Pearl. While Pearl is already considered an assimilated member of the American culture, her identity as Chinese-American persists, making this 'immigrant experience' not only applicable to her mother, but to her as well. This paper posits that the immigrant experience is best demonstrated through two recurrent themes in the novel: cultural conflict and the persistence of reality over 'made-up' history, or fictional personal history."

Tags:Amy, Tan, The, Kitchen, God's, Wife, Chinese, immigration, generation, gap

Abstract
This paper presents a discussion of Daniel Clowe's critically-acclaimed graphic novel "Ghost World", and its two protagonists, long-time high school friends and social critics, Enid Coleslaw and Rebecca Doppelmeyer. The paper looks at how this book offers an unflinching, sobering critique of the disgruntlement, underlying hypocrisy, and overall stasis inherent in today's American popular, social, and political culture.

From the Paper
"Daniel Clowe's critically-acclaimed graphic novel "Ghost World" via its two protagonists, long-time high school friends and misfit social critics, Enid Coleslaw and Rebecca Doppelmeyer, offers an unflinching sobering critique of the disgruntlement underlying hypocrisy and overall stasis inherent in today's American popular social and political culture. In the pages that follow, an in-depth look will be taken at how aspects of Enid and Rebecca's actions, personas and interdependent relationship mirror corresponding facets of current American culture..."

Tags:pop culture, ghost world, staus quo, disgruntlement, alienation, hypocrisy

Abstract
This paper compares the criticism and reactions to the 1962 original production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and the 1980 revival of Edward Albee's landmark work. The author states that play has thrived over the passage of time, having become an undeniable classic in the playwright's lifetime. Calling it a stark, gritty portrayal of marital disillusion and power-plays, combined with the awkwardness of public betrayals of vulnerability and deeply guarded secrets, the paper says the original production revolutionized American theater and has even been seen as the high point of Broadway in the last 40 years. However, according to this author, the 1980 revival, although critically acclaimed in its own right, did not enjoy the prestige or controversy of the original.

From the Paper
"Albee's production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf opened at the Billy Rose theater in October 1962 and starred Arthur Hill, Uta Hagen, George Grizzard, and Melinda Dillon; it consequently ran for 664 performances. The play essentially depicts the interactions of two married couples in an academic setting; the older married couple, George and Martha, represent a bickering, disillusioned older couple. George is a professor who is overpowered by his alcoholic, bitter wife who had hoped that he would have achieved a more stellar position in the academic community. The long-married couple is united by an unseen child who is later exposed to be nothing more than imaginary. The couple is paralleled with a younger couple, Nick and Honey, who are starting out in life and appear to be following a path similar to that of George and Martha. Nick is beginning his own career as an academician, and Honey, bubbly and empty-headed, has falsely entrapped Nick into marriage with a false pregnancy. The psychological, social, and emotional dynamics are portrayed during the proceedings of an awkward dinner party."

Tags:theater, Edward, Albee, Nick, Honey, George, Martha, marriage, play

Abstract
This is a book review of Aldo Leopold's work. A close reading of this critically-acclaimed book makes it abundantly clear why Leopold is touted as the father of modern environmental conservation. His thoughts on sustainable development of an ecological consciousness was truly visionary, and most of his ideology still resonates aloud today ----- and this is what has perhaps lent this unique book an enduring popularity.

Tags:book, aldo, leopold

Abstract
Paper presents contemporary arguments against television watching based on its negative effects on the cultural richness of a society like our own. Discusses the influence of advertisers on TV's creative element, and how other critically acclaimed "pure arts" like film and painting are just as market-driven.

Tags:television, anti art

Abstract
This paper examines the critically acclaimed Vietnam War novel of Tim O'Brien's, "The Things They Carried". It explores the literary issues of historical quasi-fiction in the sense that it sees truth not as definitive but as something that changes with the story. The paper describes O?Brien techniques and influences on this novel and the author. The novel is a semi-fictitious piece of work, drawing strongly from the experiences of O'Brien in the war. The paper also notes the tools O'Brien uses to tell his story, particularly the use of various symbols and relics, speaking strongly of a time long gone.

From the Paper
"Truth, for the writer, is defined by its creator. Truth, for the reader, is defined by interpretation of the text and the story behind the text. Somewhere in between lies the task of story-telling, that ability of a writer to put his or her experiences, or perhaps his or her imagination onto paper, in the most "truthful" way that he or she knows how. Truth, by a more traditional definition, is defined by facts. Truth, in an authorial sense, lies more in the hands of the reader. Truth no longer lies in fact but in the response of the reader or rather the experience of reading itself. Facts become irrelevant when an author's inventions become the vehicle for truth. Speaking of the art of storytelling, Ernest Hemingway once said that a "writer's job is tell the truth. His standard of fidelity to the truth should be so high that his inventions should produce a truer account than anything factual can be." This definition outside of a body of text is a contradiction in terms, but when examining the text, truth lies not in the words but in the response of the reader. A "true story" is not one that is true to the facts, but is one that is true to the story. Because the "truth" is not spelled out for the reader, it is the job of him or her to create the truth in the mind, the heart, and the stomach."

Tags:american, brien, carried, literature, modern, things, tim, truth, vietnam, war

Abstract
This essay takes on just one chapter of James Joyce's most critically acclaimed novel, Ulysses, and attempts to unravel some of the mystery behind the chapter entitled "The Lotus Eaters" It discusses the parallels between the Joyce chapter and its corresponding chapter in Homer's Odyssey, with an analysis of religious, political and sexual allusions in the chapter. It also discusses the contemporary influences on the main character, Leopold Bloom, analyzes his sexual inadequacy and attempts to put this single chapter in perspective with the rest of the novel. Includes quotes and page numbers from the unabridged text.

From the Paper
"The meandering route that Bloom takes to the Postal Annex is also indicative of a dreamy "lotus-eating" atmosphere that parallels the Homeric description of the land of the Lotus-Eaters. In Homer's epic, Odysseus travels to a land of men who are generous to excess, and eat the lotus flower in order to induce a confused, forgetful, dream-like state of consciousness. Bloom is likewise a bit dazed, and his thoughts seem to meander as much as his footfalls as he stops by the window of the little tea shop. "Under their dropped lids his eyes found the tiny bow of the leather headband inside his high grade hat" (71). Joyce's writing here, and the subsequent language in the following paragraph mimic the confused leaps the mind takes as it is being lulled to sleep, and Bloom's eyes are half-hooded as if he is a man in a trance."

Tags:blazes, bloom, boylan, classics, finnegans, homer, ireland, james, joyce, literature, lotus, molly, odyssey, wake, christ, impotence