Abstract
This paper compares the representations of colonialism as depicted in two English novels, Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" and Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness." The paper begins with a discussion of how colonial practices have contributed to the basis of numerous literary works, with many writings emerging during the Victorian period. This is followed by an analysis of imperialism as seen in the character of Robinson Crusoe. The paper continues with a plot summary of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" and reveals several conflicting feelings relative to colonialism. The paper concludes by stating that both literary works fit the pattern of colonial writing, as they deal with characters indoctrinated in the conquering spirit of the British Empire.

Outline:
Colonialism
Robinson Crusoe
Heart of Darkness
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe was first published in 1719 and it was inspired from the experience of a Scot, who lived for four years on a deserted island. Robinson Crusoe is the typical son of imperialism; his wealthy parents want him to become a businessman but he chooses a life at sea. His attempts are crushed as he is shipwrecked on a deserted island (he calls it the Island of Despair), where he will live for the next 28 years. He learns how to grow corn, raise goats and make pottery; he reads the Bible and becomes a convinced Christian. His time on the island is mostly used for meditation and teaching Friday the English ways. Here we begin to see the English influence in the novel."

Tags:imperialism, British Empire, Africa, cannibals, primitive peoples

Abstract
Very few films attempt to tackle tough issues that we as human beings face. This paper shows that the movie, "Crash" is a thought-provoking look at racial stereotypes in America. Written and directed by Paul Haggis, "Crash" is set in Los Angeles, a city in which strangers never come into contact unless they crash into one another - literally. The paper shows that the makers of the film had the guts to face racism in a way that is tasteful and yet entertaining. Racism and its depiction through film are discussed first. A plot overview is outlined, followed by the conclusion which ties the two together.

From the Paper
"This night, Jack crosses the line when he sexually assaults a woman whose car he pulled over, in full view of Thomas and her terrified husband. Terrence Howard plays black TV director Cameron Thayer, whose wife, Christine (Thandie Newton), endures this humiliation. The incident, combined with his treatment at work, pushes Cameron over the edge. The movie then climaxes with a turn of events that makes Los Angeles look like Redding itself with a bunch of coincidences that would never happen in a big city. All of these people's lives come to one big intersection for the grand finale, which leaves the viewer with subject material for plenty of discussions about racism and how it affects American life."

Tags:Ryan, Phillippe, Matt, Dillon, Thandie, Newton

Abstract
This paper discusses the ways in which madness always makes an appearance in Edgar Allan Poe's stories and then looks at some of Poe's interesting characters that are mad beyond any hope. Specifically, the paper looks at "Ligeia," "The Black Cat," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "William Wilson" as examples of stories with narrators that cannot fight the mad demon and instead yield to its calling.

From the Paper
"The paranoia the narrator experiences stems from alcoholism but we must remember that alcoholism is a symptom of something else that is going on inside of the man. His mental state, too, is probably enhanced by alcohol but by no means is caused by it. We see the narrator's instability with his relationship with the cat. He love he creature but he also hates it. He rids himself of the creature because it causes him mental distress but then the animal haunts him. What is most disturbing about this character's madness is how he can commit cold-blooded murder without giving it a second thought."

Tags:narrator, weakness, personality

From the Paper
"Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was the last of the great Roman Stoics and the so-called Five Good Emperors. His death brought an end to the Pax Romana, a period in ancient Roman history with relative peace and prosperity. In many ways, the Roman Empire reached its climax with the reign of Marcus Aurelius; he was perhaps the closest thing to a true "philosopher king" ever to rule a great nation. His reign from 161-180 C.E. was viewed by later generations as the very ideal of a sovereign head of state (Farquharson 25). His philosophy of life is well depicted in the movie "Gladiator", but his interests in naming an heir do not share the same historical accuracy."

Tags:marcus, aurelius, rome, roman, empire, pax, romana, meditations

Abstract
This paper shows how war is depicted in somewhat different terms in different time periods, just as war was conducted differently at different times. The connection between the leadership and the front line soldier also differs in different time periods. The paper explains how some of the differences can be seen in depictions of the Battle of Agincourt in the film "Henry V" (1989, Kenneth Branagh), the Battle of Waterloo in the book "The Face of Battle" by John Keegan, and World War I in the film "Paths of Glory" (1957, Stanley Kubrick).

From the Paper
"The Battle of Agincourt was the key battle in the effort of England's King Henry V to consolidate his rule and protect his throne against the French. Shakespeare depicts the king as a benevolent ruler, and King Henry's own words support the view Shakespeare has of him as an inspiring leader, a man able to get the job done by marshaling his forces and attracting loyal followers. Act III Scene 1 finds him urging his troops to greater effort, for instance, and shows him once more to be able as a leader. This scene, along with others, also shows that Henry understands the people around him and so is able to get the best from them. This is an important quality in a leader, and it is one of the most important qualities Shakespeare brings out in his assessment of Henry and his accomplishments. This important speech is central in the play both physically and thematically. It is offered by Henry as a spur to action for his troops. The night before the battle his mood is quite different on the surface as he speaks to various knights and muses on the meaning of the battle to come. Preparations for battle are presented on stage, showing both the French and English camps."

Tags:troops, british, henry, battle, glory, waterloo, agincourt, path

Abstract
This paper looks at the effect of nature and the healing power of the woods in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It shows how forest has the ability to repair social evils and restore the natural order of man, and how the universal themes of jealousy and true love depict how quarreling lovers can be brought to peace with each other by the healing properties of nature.

From the Paper
"Shakespeare uses the universal themes of jealousy and true love to depict how quarreling lovers can be brought to peace with each other by the healing properties of nature. Originally, Demetrius and Lysander are in love with the fair Hermia. Hermia, however, only has eyes for Lysander, but her father insists that she marries Demetrius. To make matters more complicated, Helena, a friend to Hermia and Lysander, is deeply in love with Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander, planning to elope, leave the city and meet secretly in the woods. Following closely behind is Demetrius, pursued by Helena. They are met by the raw power of nature, embodied in a magical being called Puck. A servant to Oberon, King of the Fairies, Puck is the essence of the woods. Using magical flowers and confused about the identities of the nobles, he acts as Cupid and enchants the lovers, making Demetrius and Lysander fall in love with Helena. Puck, acting as symbol of nature, works, knowingly or not, to heal the troubled lovers. Oberon wants Demetrius to love Helena. When Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius, the couples are temporarily misaligned, and when he enchants Demetrius, Hermia is left without a love. But in the woods, all error can be remedied."

Tags:harmony, personal, shakespeare

Abstract
This essay explores how three influential writers, Geoffrey Chaucer, Ian Flemming and Sheri Tepper, from three different eras have depicted women in their writing. The portrayal of females by each writer is explored separately and then contrasted with that of the other writers. Specific examples and characters from these literary masterpieces are used to support the author's argument. The author provides an analysis of the different ways in which women have been depicted throughout the history of literature

From the Paper
"The representation of women in literature has been the focus of much research conducted by both feminists and literature critics, particularly over the last thirty years. Sheri Tepper's Beauty, Geoffrey Chaucer's The Wife of Bath and Ian Fleming's From Russia with Love, are all examples of escapist fiction in which the attitudes towards women play a key role in the theme of the story. Despite the claim that escapist fiction is isolated from the world in which its author lives, the values of both the author and the society in which he or she lives are reflected in their writing. The Wife of Bath, written in the fourteenth century, represents females as identical member of one group, all possessing the same faults and desires. Fleming, writing in 1957, depicts women differently again, categorizing them into two extreme stereotypes: the dominant, aggressive female and the submissive, naive female."

Tags:bath, beauty, bond, chaucer, depiction, feminisim, feminist, fleming, geoffrey, ian, james, love, russia, sheri, tale, tepper, wife, women

Abstract
This paper compares the sexual and mystical depictions of Eros found in "Pygmalion" to the more charitable and affectionate depiction found in "The Four Loves." The paper also discusses the contrast in motivation in the two works. It suggests that Pygmalion's primary motivation for action is platonic and sexual yearning. Lewis' motivation is charity. Finally, the romantic love of today is compared to the romantic love depicted by Ovid and Lewis.

From the Paper
"Eros as Platonic yearning refers to the yearning for beauty. Ovid depicts this in Pygmalion who irrationally remains unmarried because he is critical of the faults he sees in women. He cannot find enough redeeming qualities in any woman to face spending his life with her. He then carves an ivory statue of a woman. This statue is so beautifully and perfectly made that Pygmalion falls in love with it. This is love based purely upon beauty, since the woman is not made of flesh and blood and can offer nothing else."

Tags:statue, beauty, desire, Venus, life, friendship, affection, erotic, love

Abstract
This paper discusses how the art of the Mexican, Spanish and Aztec people often depicted animals. It further discusses how the cultures of these people were significantly different from modern society, and it was the Florentine Codex that was considered the authority that clarified this contention. The use of animals therefore within the art that existed during the time was a reflection of the cultures that lived in what was considered New Spain. The paper explains that the Florentine Codex is meticulous at providing examples of how animals existed in every day life for the natives of the region.

From the Paper
The art of the Mexican, Spanish and Aztec people often depicted animals. The cultures of these people were significantly different from modern society, and it was the Florentine Codex that was considered the authority that clarified this contention. The use of animals, therefore, within the art that existed during the time was a reflection of the cultures that lived in what was considered "New Spain". The Florentine Codex is meticulous at providing examples of how animals existed in every day life for the natives of the region. It is also concise in its descriptions of the inclusion of animals in the art of the period. Through the Florentine Codex it is possible to realize that the people of "New Spain" created images of animals as a reflection of their cultural beliefs.

Tags:art, mexico, codex

Abstract
This paper looks at this piece of literature and draws parallels to modern day examples of victims as well as heroes and those who are in the wrong.

From the Paper
"Because of very recent events, victims and heroes seem to be presenting themselves in a much different light. The specific events of September 11, 2001 were a tragedy that brought both victims and heroes to the attention of the American public. In fact there seems to be three types of people who reveal themselves in situations like these. These three types, are the victim, the hero, and the wrong-doer. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe s poem Faust displays these three clearly. The three types can be seen with Margaret as the victim, Faust as the villain and the hero who shows himself in the end."

Tags:11th, faust, goethe, heroes, september, van, victims, villians