Abstract
This paper provides a review of the life and works of William Styron. From numerous references to his novels, novellas and short stories, to quotes from interviews with Styron, the paper is replete with both concrete facts and analysis. The piece surveys all of his major works and delves into the fascinating saga of his life, from his childhood to his disturbing drug addiction. A major theme of the paper ties together his life and the themes of his literature.

Tags:american, modern, literature

Abstract
This paper examines the African-American experience as it is expressed in the work of several notable writers. The author states that the works of black writers reflect aspects of American life and the development of American society over time. Several works are discussed that highlight various themes in African-American life, such as slavery and discrimination. The paper concludes by stating that the black experience is as American as any other and complements the experience of the majority society in many respects even as it extends it to new areas.

From the Paper
"Ralph Ellison is a black man and approaches the world from that perspective, finding a way to express how society treats the black man through the character of the Invisible Man, a persona that enables him to hide even when in a crowd. For Ellison, blackness has been made by society into the defining characteristic of his existence. In a sense, he adopts the point of view of the white by making himself invisible. He is treated as if he were invisible, and he finds the benefit in that stat and uses it to his advantage in commenting on whit society. The main character in The Invisible Man is invisible only in a metaphorical sense, so that he seems invisible both to himself and to others. The hero of this novel is a black man who is invisible in white society because he is black. He is invisible in black society because of the way he takes on various roles expected of him by white society, though he recognizes how demeaning and false many of those roles are. He is invisible to himself because he has adopted certain roles and so cannot allow himself to exist as a real person with his own point of view. The existence of such a character is a devastating indictment of the dehumanization process in American society based on racial discrimination."

Tags:African-American, literature, Blacks, racism, discrimination

Abstract
In this article, the writer looks at what may be learned from historical literature. The writer maintains that historical literature can give a good view of life in past time periods. It can also show the reader that people in these time periods had similar thought, feelings and motivations.

From the Paper
"Historical literature such as Oroonoko(1688), Canterbury Tales(1343), Pride and Prejudice(1813) and Twelfth Night(1623) attempts to provide a window to previous eras to readers. However, the viability of historical literature as a tool for studying history is debatable. This is because historical literature is usually fiction based in a given time period. This means that it is difficult to determine when the history ends and the fiction begins. All of this would seem to indicate that historical fiction is a poor tool for studying history. This leads to the question, what can we possibly ..."

Tags:historical, literature, tool

Abstract
This paper explores the that meta-fictional or avant-garde formal experimentation in modern Chinese literature. It further shows what characterized the generation of the 1980s which were sandwiched between the total control of the political state and the radical commodification of the current world order of globalization. The impact of these factors on literature in China at this time is considered in light of the works of several authors. According to the paper, these formal experiments are expressive of the new urban life of China in the 1980s, with all of its contradictions and uncertainties.

From the Paper
"Zhang Xudong, in Chinese Modernism at the Turn of the Century, notes that meta-fictional or avant-garde formal experimentation in literature characterized the generation of the 1980s who were sandwiched between the total control of the political state and the radical commodification of the current world order of globalization (Xudong 150-151). These formal experiments are expressive of the new urban life of China in the 1980s, with all of its contradictions and uncertainties (Xudong 155). We can see these qualities evident in Yu Hua's short story "On the Road at..."

Tags:china, modern, literature

Abstract
The next few pages will discuss the life and triumphs of Charles Dickens, one of the modern age's most beloved novelists. The paper will detail the strengths of Dickens' work, his early life, the unusual wisdom and sagacity of his writing, his dramatic rise to prominence in the 1830s when he was not much older than most university students are today, and his lengthy series of critical and (especially) commercial successes. Finally, the paper highlights how (arguably) Dickens' greatest literary masterpieces came in the late 1850s and early 1860s when his characteristic vigor was coupled with tremendous insight and a certain sadness. In the end, anyone who wants to understand nineteenth century literature in Great Britain needs to read Charles Dickens.

From the Paper
Charles Dickens: A Life The next few pages will discuss the life and triumphs of Charles Dickens, one of the modern age's most beloved novelists. The paper will detail the strengths of Dickens' work, his early life, the unusual wisdom and sagacity of his writing, his dramatic rise to prominence in the 1830s when he was not much older than most university students are today, and his lengthy series of critical and (especially) commercial successes. Finally, the paper highlights how (arguably) Dickens' greatest literary masterpieces came in the late 1850s and early 1860s when his characteristic vigor was coupled with tremendous insight and a certain

Tags:charles, dickens, life

Abstract
This paper discusses how much of literature conveys the male-female relationship through the review of three different pieces of literature: John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums", Doris Lessing's "To Room Nineteen" and Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants". It shows how all three pieces of literature, attempt to prove that the basic truth in a male-female relationship is that men and women are different, in our habits, in the way we react to situations in life, environmental stimuli and in our attitudes regarding relationships. It examines how through the stories presented, it can be seen that communication undoubtedly plays a foundational role in the development of any healthy relationship and it often serves to bridge the gap between people with misunderstandings, or to solidify a mutual sense of commitment.

From the Paper
"Another story depicting a man and woman relationship is Doris Lessing's "To Room Nineteen". Susan, a married woman, feels a lose of freedom from being a wife and a mother whose days are spent taking care of her family and hardly had time for herself. Because of this feeling, which she was unable to communicate to her husband, she ended up killing herself. She rents a hotel room every afternoon where she spends time alone for herself, and just sits and thinks. Apparently, her husband assumes that she is having an affair. Knowing that her husband won't understand her feelings, she tells him that she is indeed having an affair. In the end, Susan returns to the hotel room and kills herself."

Tags:commitment, life, suicide

Abstract
This paper examines utopias in children's literature in the stories "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, and the cartoon "The Smurfs". It explains how utopias have been created by the authors, in these stories, in order to explore the benefits and negative aspects of utopian life. The writer describes each of these three utopias in the stories. The writer further suggests that what may appear to be a utopia on the surface can be quite ugly when all of the implications are pondered, and when it is realized what has to be given up in terms of individuality and freedom in order to establish a rigidly controlled society. The writer concludes that all of these fictional utopias present moral themes important for children to learn, but also present deeper implications for adults to reflect upon.

From the Paper
"Reading and analyzing Gulliver's Travels, The Giver, and The Smurfs indicates that the basic purpose of these children's story utopias is the same, for they are meant to provide an easy, trouble-free existence for the inhabitants. The basic needs of daily life are well taken care of by established authorities, everything is meticulously planned, and dangers never arise. For children, these utopian environments are emotionally comforting, while providing a way of teaching morality and the importance of cooperating with others."

Tags:fiction, individuality, freedom, environment, daily, life

Abstract
This paper uses scenes and quotes from two famous modern pieces of literature, "Black Boy" by Richard Wright and "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, to illustrate the tendency of modern-day writers to base their fictional stories on their own personal conflicts and tragedies. This, the paper points out, is in contrast to the writers of the past, such as Shakespeare and his contemporaries, whose writings did not reflect their personal experiences. The paper also investigates some of the reasons for this trend in modern literature, attributing it to modern social qualities like freedom, lack of restraint, and boldness.

From the Paper
"In 'Black boy' (1998), author Richard Wright gives a non fictional account of his life in the black neighborhoods of America. All elements of the Southern Black settlements like the ghettos, the squalid living conditions, the lack of an identity etc have been very clearly mentioned as part of the story of the central protagonist who is in fact the author himself. Wright actually emphasizes the identity crisis of young Richard who passionately feels about his isolation in a society that seems to be made only for the white man. Soon Richard rebels in his own small ways against authority, which is despised by him. It does not matter to him whether he rebels against his father or his white masters as long as his ego prompts him to fight against authority. Richard is a perfect example of how identity crisis encourages rebel ideas in a boy."

Tags:ideas, literary, content, gap, real, life, fantasy, over-dramatized, reflect, qualities

Abstract
This paper examines the ethical arguments of those who advocate the use of cloning technology, in light of Ronald Dworkin's ethical writings on "the sanctity of life" and John Rawls' "theory of justice." In the conclusion, this paper argues that because the present state cloning technology violates the intrinsic value of human life, researches involving cloning should be banned.

From the Paper
"In 1971, Nobel Prize winning-scientist James Watson wrote an article warning about the growing possibility of a "clonal man." Because of both the moral and social dangers cloning posed to humankind, Watson called for a worldwide ban on any research leading to cloning technology (Watson 8). Until then, cloning had been largely relegated to the realm of science fiction. Scientific research concerning cloning and in vitro fertilization was obtuse and technical, and hardly written about in the news."

Tags:john, rawls, justice, sanctity, life, ronald, dworkin, science, research, genetics

Abstract
This paper is comprised of six short summaries of examples of world literature form the 'Norton Anthology of World Literature', 2nd edition, Volumes A and B. The summaries include the 'Genesis Tree of Life', 'Gilgamesh', the 'Pardoner's Prologue and Tale', 'a Conference of Birds', and 'Ovid's Metamorphoses'. The final page comments on the historical timeline of these stories and their significance.

From the Paper
"The tree of life is a part of the creation myth in the Bible. It is an additional icon in the Garden of Eden, usually overlooked in favor of focus on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The fruit of this tree grants immortality. The can be ascertained from the name of the tree but also from a brief description of the tree that Good gives in Genesis 3:22. Of course, it is little wonder that the tree of life does not figure a larger place in the creation story: it is only mentioned twice in the entire book of Genesis. It is first mentioned in Genesis 2:9, which reads, "the tree of life also in the midst of the garden" (58). Of course, this doesn't tell us much about the tree of life. "

Tags:literature, summaries, world