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The Dark Ages, 2006.
A review of the new Roman Empire of the West and the crusades.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 3 sources, $ 71.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews the Dark Ages, the period from circa 500 AD up to about 1066 AD when William I became Norman king of England, period that is often unjustly been referred to as a largely uneventful epoch in which Europe essentially lost track of its past and ignored its cultural legacy. According to the paper, the truth is somewhat more complex and it now seems evident that the Dark Ages were a period wherein concerted and dynamic efforts were made to reconstitute the ancient Roman Empire - if only in Western Europe. The following paper will explore one of the most remarkable phenomena of the period - Charlemagne's crowning as "Emperor of the Romans" in 800 AD - and outline why he was crowned as such and the enduring significance of the event.
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The Golden Age of Islam, 1994.
Reviews the period of history known as "The Golden Age of Islam," from the 7th through the 12th centuries, when Islam was the major force in the Mediterranean region & the Christian world was in the Dark Ages.
2,475 words (approx. 9.9 pages), 8 sources, $ 87.95
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From the Paper
" Islam developed into a major force in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region from the seventh to the twelfth centuries. It became so again under the direction of the Ottoman Turks from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The first period was the Golden Age of Islam, an age which ended as the Islamic world passed into an extended period of decline. But this decline did not mean the extinction of the core beliefs of Islam. A resurgence would come about after several centuries of retreat and seeming dormancy in the Islamic world. A number of reasons can be offered for the retreat of Islam during this interim period; among them are the military defeat in Spain, the invasion by the Mongols and the Tartars, the burning of the library in Baghdad, and the rise of the Ottomans as a military and political force. Further than these reasons, however, is the.."
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Turning Points in History, 2005.
This paper selects two turning points in Western history in each of these periods: The period of Greece and Rome, the period of the Dark Ages and the Renaissance and the period of the Reformation and Enlightenment.
3,840 words (approx. 15.4 pages), 13 sources, MLA, $ 105.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the author chose different turning points, moving away from victories on the battle-fields or conquests of uncharted territories to persons whose life's work moved forward the essential difference that separates man from lower orders of animals: Thought and reasoning. The author points out that, in the Hellenic Age of philosophy and art, when the mind for the first time in recorded history developed the first formation of moral and ethical standards, Plato and the advent of Christianity through Jesus were selected. The paper also selected as the turning points, in the Dark Ages, the adventurous merchant, son of Venetian merchants, Marco Polo; in the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci; in the Reformation, Martin Luther and, in Age of Enlightenment; Thomas Jefferson.
Table of Contents
Two Turning Points in Western Civilization: Greece and Rome
Two Turning Points: The Era of the Dark Ages to the Renaissance
Two Turning Points: Reformation and Enlightenment
Some Conclusions Concerning the Various Turning Points
From the Paper
" DaVinci was born as an illegitimate child in Vinci,. Italy, in 1452. While we tend to consider the Mona Lisa as his most significant work, he did so many things, outside the world of painting and there is so much distortion about his accomplishments that he has become known as "the Hamlet of art history, whom each of us must recreate for ourselves. He is justly well-known for his drawings, especially how life-like his anatomical representations are. He advised students of painting that "It is necessary to know the inner structure of man." However, when one lists his accomplishments and innovations outside Art, he is a most remarkable creative Human...truly the outstanding example of a "Renaissance Man". To begin with, he ante-dated Galileo and Copernicus when he said "the sun does not move.""
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"The Autumn Of The Middle Ages", 2002.
An analysis of Johan Huizenga's book.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 1 source, $ 63.95
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Abstract
Analysis of Johan Huizenga's book. End of the Middle Ages, and the end of an era known as the Dark Ages. His thesis that the Middle Ages brought a negativity to love. The role of symbolism, and its use by the medieval Church; the lack of imagination. Anti-intellectualism of the period.
From the Paper
"THE AUTUMN OF THE MIDDLE AGES
To most of us, this was a period often referred to as "The Dark Ages". It was a time of lean intellectual accomplishments. The only light at the end of any creative tunnel occurred in the monasteries. What had been attempted in the Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne had not really lasted. But, the autumn of this period was really unlike the autumn of the seasons in the sense that it would lead to a cold winter. Instead, it led to the recovering of Man in the rebirth- the Renaissance- of thought, art, and prospects of a better, un-serf like existence even for the common man. But Huizenga, according to his editor here, does not see the 14th and 15th centuries as a bridge to the Renaissance. Instead "as the end of the Middle Ages, as the age of medieval thought in its last phase of life, as a tree with overripe fruits, ..."
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"Heart of Darkness", 2006.
This paper reviews and analyzes Joseph Conrad's literary classic "Heart of Darkness" as well as the author's use of dark imagery throughout his novel.
1,989 words (approx. 8.0 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 63.95
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Abstract
This paper examines British writer Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" as well as the novel's primary theme of darkness, which the author maintains that each person contains within himself. This well-written paper clearly details the setting of the novel, which originally appeared in serial form in "Blackwood's Magazine" in 1899, as well as the plot and main characters. This paper analyzes Conrad's placement of his characters in the face of European imperialism and the colonization of Africa which results in giving even more depth to the concept of darkness. The author suggests that darkness is hidden deep within every person, yet he does not make an overt attack on the business of imperialism itself that acts as a catalyst for that darkness, as depicted in this particular novel.
From the Paper
"The trip up the Congo when the ship is finally repaired further evinces a criticism of the company. Natives are employed and "educated" for menial tasks and no native receives any respect or much attention at all in Marlow's story. Marlow considers the humanity of the native voices he hears along the shore and he thinks about "principles" and "acquisitions," but then concludes "Fine sentiments be hanged! I had no time...There was surface-truth enough in these things to save a wiser man." Work and duty saved Marlow from letting his sanity be compromised by the forces at work in the Congo. A sinister fear is attached to the sightings of natives along the shore which culminates in the attack of Marlow's boat when it has nearly arrived at its destination: the ivory outpost where the legendary Mr. Kurtz is the lone person in charge."
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Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", 1973.
This paper explains Joseph Conrad's metaphorical use of light & darkness in his novel "Heart of Darkness": Light is viewed as symbolizing life, passion and hope, darkness as symbolizing mystery, ignorance and despair.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, $ 39.95
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From the Paper
"The novel, "Heart of Darkness", by Joseph Conrad, makes great metaphorical use of light and darkness. Properly analyzing these metaphors requires being aware of what they have symbolized in the past. Light has often been used as a symbol of life, passion (fire), knowledge (seeing the light), hope and the future. Dark-ness has often been used to symbolize death, mystery, ignorance and despair. Thus, light has very positive associations, and darkness has very negative ones. Readers bring these associa-tions with them as they read Heart of Darkness.
Conrad's use of metaphor, especially in the first few pages, reveals his great love of the sea. He describes a ship,sitting in the harbor with canvas gleaming with varnished spirit. The ship is surrounded by a haze that is emanating from the land near it: "The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back ... "
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"Araby" and "Heart of Darkness", 2008.
This paper compares the imagery of light and darkness in James Joyce's short story "Araby" and Joseph Conrad's work, "Heart of Darkness".
1,300 words (approx. 5.2 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 43.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at James Joyce's short story "Araby" and Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" and the important role of light and dark imagery in both texts. The paper shows how, while the authors of "Araby" and "Heart of Darkness" use this imagery to very different effects, in both works images of light and dark are central devices employed to convey meaning and illustrate themes.
From the Paper
"As the title of Conrad's novel would suggest, imagery of light and darkness is of great importance in this narrative. From the opening of the novel, the text and its characters seem to exist in a permanent twilight. The narrative of Heart of Darkness is a tale told by Marlow to a number of listeners aboard a boat on the river Thames around sunset: "The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed in a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth" (Conrad 7). The imagery of darkness is thus employed to establish a reflective mood from the outset of Conrad's narrative. Clearly, the imagery of twilight - at the close of the day, and when the promise of the day has been realized or not - is conducive to reflection."
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"The Heart of Darkness", 2002.
A review of the book "The Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, focusing on the symbolic search for light in the midst of the darkness.
1,223 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 0 sources, $ 41.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the literary work by Conrad, "The Heart of Darkness", illustrating important and interesting themes and symbolism. The paper discusses the book and the main characters of the story, and describes the lead protagonist's quest for light, for inner peace.
From the Paper
"Joseph Conrad, author of the Heart of Darkness creates the idea of nihilism. Darkness created a fascination resulting to an obsession with Marlow, the main protagonist in the story. He is on a quest for some shimmer of light in the heart of darkness, the African Congo. Kurtz, a man with no morals or any self-restraint intrigues Marlow by his abrupt change in lifestyle. Marlow hopes to find a glimmer of light in Kurtz, but shockingly fails to do so. In the acceptance of darkness, Marlow is desperate in finding some glimmer of light, but in the end only attains inner peace instead of finding the light itself."
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The Darkness Within: Imagining Edgar Allen Poe, 2002.
A review of the theme of darkness in the novels "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Pit and the Pendulum" and the poem "For Annie" by Edgar Allen Poe.
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 13 sources, $ 89.95
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Abstract
This paper explores two stories by Edgar Allen Poe, "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Pit and the Pendulum". These stories are considered in relation to a poem Poe wrote called, "For Annie", a verse written for a friend of his, Annie Richmond. The theme of this paper is about "darkness," where darkness is a metaphor that imbues Poe's horror stories with themes of consciousness and experiences with terror. Because Poe was especially interested in the susceptibility of the imagination, this paper attempts to "imagine" Edgar Allen Poe in relation to varying metaphors of darkness that characterize the author's life and literature.
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Nature and Hearts of Darkness, 2002.
This paper discusses the role that images of nature play in three novels of clashing cultures: Tayeb Salih's 'Seasons of Migrations to the North', David Malouf's 'Remembering Babylon', and Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'.
4,175 words (approx. 16.7 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 111.95
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Abstract
This essay discusses the following three novels: Tayeb Salih's 'Seasons of Migrations to the North', David Malouf's 'Remembering Babylon', and Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' . All of these novels reveal the shadow side of the human soul, the dark, forbidden side that most of us don't want to admit exists and show how it manifests in relationship to the unknown. When humans come into contact with something other than that which they know well, they often react out of fear which springs from the depths of their own hidden inner selves. Joseph Conrad's The Heart of Darkness is the classic on this theme to which the other two are compared. In these novels human life is represented as a duality hovering between light and darkness. All three writers use nature extensively to symbolize this duality. In these books most often nature is evil and dark, though now and then we catch a glimpse of beauty and light.
From the Paper
"This study will explore the role that images of nature play in three novels of cultural conflict. Tayeb Salih's Seasons of Migrations to the North, and David Malouf's Remembering Babylon, will be discussed using Conrad's Heart of Darkness as the standard by which all such works are measured.In addition to being about clashing cultures, these novels are about the shadow side of the human soul, the dark, forbidden side that most of us don't want to admit exists and how it manifests in relationship to the unknown. When humans come into contact with something other than that which they know well, they often react out of fear which springs from the depths of their own hidden inner selves. Joseph Conrad's The Heart of Darkness is the classic on this theme. In these novels human life is represented as a duality hovering between light and darkness. All three writers use nature extensively to symbolize this duality. In these books most often nature is evil and dark, though now and then we catch a glimpse of beauty and light."
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"Darkness", 2002.
A review of the poem "Darkness" by Lord George Gordon Byron and a comparison to his poem "She Walks in Beauty" .
877 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how in contrast to the pleasant and romantic world depicted in "She Walks in Beauty," Byron illustrates a dark, cold, and hopeless world in "Darkness." It analyzes how "Darkness" is an elaborately detailed poem that remains a testament to Byron's flexibility as a poet. By considering the personal and external forces at work in Byron's life at the time, it attempts to understand how he could so masterfully create a world that was full of despair and so far removed from the world he illustrated in "She Walks Like Beauty."
From the Paper
"In addition, Byron's poem "Darkness," written in 1816 after a volcanic eruption temporarily altered the world's weather patterns. "Byron seems not only a poet of his past and present, but of our terrifying future glimpsed by Thomasina as well" (Cox). This is verified in Robock's account of volcanic eruptions (Robock) In fact, Robock goes on to explain that he believes that the first fifteen lines of the poem deal specifically with the effects of what the eruption (or a similar one) would produce. In addition, Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, speaks of the gloomy weather that persisted for days as well. (Shelly xxii). This is particularly fascinating as I consider what message Byron must have been trying to convey in "Darkness." It is also important to note that Byron was going through a separation with his wife at this time, which could partially explain Byron's desolate picture of the future. Due to growing rumors and constant hounding by the press, Byron fled England. (Martin 209)."
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Heart of Darkness, 2007.
This paper analyzes the book 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad.
997 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer points out that Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' draws a parallel between the physical journey of the main character, Marlow, and his mental or spiritual journey as he travels more deeply into the physical darkness of the African continent. The writer notes that the physical journey is then indicative as he becomes increasingly aware of the darkness in the human soul, which culminates in the character of Kurtz. Further the writer notes that when Kurtz dies, the darkness reaches its ultimate level, and for Marlow, there is no return. The writer discusses that in terms of point of view, the novel is structured in an interesting way.
From the Paper
"This indicates a gradual shift of viewpoint from the Western, or civilized, to the uncivilized. In this, Marlow's viewpoint shift foreshadows his meeting with Kurtz. The latter is iconic of the completion of this viewpoint. The reader is therefore prepared for an increased contact with darkness as Marlow travels deeper into the physical darkness of Africa towards the ultimate heart of the matter personified in Kurtz. The decay of Kurtz's station indicates not only his absence, but also his lingering influence during the time when he was present at the station. It is central to the novel to note that the barbarian nature of the natives influenced the Western-born Kurtz and Marlow to a greater degree than their civilization. The novel closes with the indication that barbarism waits just beneath the surface of even the highest civilization. In this, Conrad makes his point regarding the true nature of humanity."
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Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", 2006.
This paper explores the concepts of good and evil in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness".
1,250 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the darkness in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" represents an illusion in which certain people are not able to grasp the understanding of life and other human beings. The author points out that it is this inability that makes civilization and the development of society evil. The paper relates that, from this novel, the evil atrocities committed during the white European businessmen's enslavement of native Africans in their search for ivory , are results of being smothered in "the darkness". The author uses the thoughts in Friedrich Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil", to understand the experiences of the character Kurtz to create nothing more and nothing less. The paper concludes that the darkness can be seen as the ultimate origin of evil.
From the Paper
"Kurtz is a man that started as the best trading post manager the Europeans had. He was determined and took control to get the job done better than anyone else, which led him to bring in as much ivory as all the others combined. When Marlow reaches him, Kurtz is no longer affiliated with not only the conquest, but European thought and values altogether. He takes control of a local tribe and in the eyes of the Europeans turns into a savage. Kurtz abandons the values and ideals of European colonial conduct because he is starting to figuratively see the light in the darkness."
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Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", 2000.
An examination of the concepts of colonization and interracial relations in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness".
1,600 words (approx. 6.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 52.95
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Abstract
In Joseph Conrad's novella, "Heart of Darkness", Conrad displays the power and colonizing effect that the white people have over the racial 'others'. It explains how, in the so-called 'heart of darkness', which is not only the jungle, but a concept that forces one to examine one's own, dark sense of self, Kurtz feels the need to colonize the primitive natives. It shows how, in doing so, Kurtz realizes he is unable to change this uncivilized culture and ends up becoming part of it, realizing his worst nightmare.
From the Paper
"Historically, the natives of Africa have been mistreated by the whites which is part of the reason for their violent and uncivilized ways. When Conrad is speaking of the Europeans he refers to them as "hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they had gone out on that stream bearing the sword."(Conrad, 137). In this passage Conrad is establishing his definition of the white people in Africa as pilgrims. Conrad refers to the whites as pilgrims because it seems as though they have had their way in colonizing and ruling over the natives much like the first time the pilgrims came to America. A pilgrim can be defined as one who travels to a very sacred or religious place. These pilgrims may indeed have travelled to a very religious place but the main object of their pilgrimage was to colonize the natives and gain wealth through the quest for ivory. These examples basically show the readers that the natives had restraint while the whites did not."
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Homeric Uses of Light and Dark, 2005.
A discussion on the uses of light and dark in Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey".
6,570 words (approx. 26.3 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 151.95
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Abstract
This paper attempts to explore the Homeric uses of simple light and dark terms to develop possible symbolic meanings in the Lattimore translations of the epics "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". It first explores references to light then dark uses in both epics and then explores individual uses in each epic. The order of explanation develops the point that in "The Iliad" light and dark references mostly describe war, while in "The Odyssey" the terms develop a wide array of objects and situations because there is no major war.
From the Paper
"First, light seems to appear in both epics when referencing gods, weapons, and other general descriptions. Through reading both epics, one can discover that Homer has utilized light to develop the love and admiration for gods and goddesses, much like other ancient Greek writers. Such descriptions can be seen in The Iliad. In the text Apollo is referred to as: "lord of the silver bow" (Book I, 37) . Throughout the text Homer's descriptions also portray Hera as the goddess with the white arms. Also, when in Olympos the gods and goddesses are said to drink in golden cups. In The Odyssey goddesses are especially referenced through bright terms."
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