Abstract
The paper explains how Milton uses the imagery of light and darkness as symbols for good and evil. The paper describes how Adam and Eve, even after their sin, still retain some hope and faith in God and they therefore retain their connection to light. The paper shows, however, how Satan loses both the actual light of God and heaven and his name of light with his refusal to repent.

From the Paper
"Although Satan clearly bears the blame for his fall, in his discussion of Satan's loss of position, name, and the light of God, Milton underscores the fragility of light, which will later be enacted in the loss of paradise on the part of Adam and Eve. When Lucifer dwelled in the "happy Realms of Light/Cloth'd with transcendent brightness" he "didst out-shine/ Myriads though bright" (1.85-87). But after the fall, he is the darkest, rather than the most light-infused of all angels and even his physical appearance is changed, as well as his spiritual status. The other fallen angels marvel at his changed, hideous appearance. Later, one of the attractions God's adversary feels for earth, and one of the reasons it repels him as well is he says that it is "Warm'd by the Sun" and light (9.721)."

Tags:sin, repentance, faith, hope, God, heaven, Lucifer, Adam, Eve

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."

Tags:twilight, civilization, ignorance, perception

Abstract
This paper elaborates on the importance of the motif of darkness and light in "Romeo and Juliet". There are several scenes which incorporate this theme throughout the play and a complete discussion is offered as to the importance of this imagery.

From the Paper
"William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, encapsulates several different themes and motifs. The most obvious theme of the play is romantic love and the relationship it shares with death and violence. Fate, and the role it plays in the characters tragic deaths, is another theme that clearly permeates throughout Romeo and Juliet. However, I believe a complete explication of the play would not be possible without the inclusion of a less apparent motif, the imagery of darkness and light. Several of the important scenes in Romeo and Juliet, are set either late at night or early in the morning, and Shakespeare often uses the contrast between day and night to explore opposing alternatives within the context of the scene."

Tags:motif, day, evil, knowledge

Abstract
This paper analyzes how various representations of light and dark in Aeschylus's "Agamemnon", part of the "Oresteia", seem to mirror masculinity and femininity, respectively. It explains how these images also show how the play is mostly about how the female attempts to usurp male power, ultimately achieving it. Nevertheless, because there can never be absolute darkness or absolute light, the overthrow of the male can only be temporary.

From the Paper
"In Aeschylus's Agamemnon, the use of light and dark revolves around their relation to the masculine and the feminine, respectively. Throughout the play, brilliant metaphors and images are used to express this idea, most obviously when related to Agamemnon and Clytaemestra. These images also show how the play is mostly about how the female attempts to usurp male power, ultimately achieving it. Nevertheless, because there can never be absolute darkness or absolute light, the overthrow of the male can only be temporary."

Tags:clytaemestra, clytemnestra, greek, mythology, orestia, symbolism, tragedy

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."

Tags:achaean, achilles, achilleus, athena, odysseus, odyssey, patroklus, telemachus, trojan

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."

Tags:babylon, Conrad, darkness, David, heart, Joseph, Malouf, migrations, north, remembering, Salih, seasons, Tayeb

Abstract
This paper analyzes Lord Byron's poem "She Walk's in Beauty", which combines images of darkness and light to create a unique internal and external aura. The paper maintains that this aura surrounds the beautiful woman who he describes in his poem. Each one of Byron's three stanzas describes a natural, a physical and a spiritual aura which surround the woman. Byron uses images from the natural, physical and spiritual world to describe the emotions he has towards this particular woman, represented in images of both light and darkness. The paper concludes that, through his poem, Byron has combined the beauty of the natural world, the physical body and the spiritual being to create a timeless expression of love and admiration.

From the Paper
"Byron's first stanza concentrates on the natural beauty of the woman who he encounters. "She walks in beauty, like the night/ Of cloudless climes and starry skies" (Ln.1-2) .Byron has immediately introduced us to a woman whose beauty is that equal to the beauty of nature. Her beauty is represented by the darkness of night. The image of night creates an aura that surrounds her. Byron is describing how beautiful he feels the night is and that this woman represents that beauty of night within her own aura. Nature is both day and night, both dark and light. In the first stanza the images of day light and dark night both represent the woman. The lines "All that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes," (Ln. 3-4) represent the combination of day and night within the woman. She is a combination of the best of the day and the best of the night. Her combination of dark and bright creates, "that tender night Which heaven to gaudy day denies" (Ln.5-6). She is not the overpowering "gaudy," brightness of day. She's the perfect combination of light and dark. Not even heaven bestows this beautiful light on the day. She is a pure, natural and heavenly creature on earth."

Tags:love, admiration, poetry, ideal, image, metaphor

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 ... "

Abstract
This essay explains metaphoric and literal blindness in the play "Oedipus Rex". Additionally, light and dark imagery in the play are discussed. The focus is on the evolution of Oedipus' own self-realization and transformation from metaphorically blind to literally blind. His biological parents and those who tried to warn him of upcoming danger are also discussed.

From the Paper
"Sophocles uses the images of darkness and light as well as symbolic (and literal) blindness throughout the play "Oedipus Rex". Light is a representation that refers to the truth in this work where dark refers to the absence of knowledge or purposely avoiding the truth. Also in the play, blindness means not only the absence of sight, but mostly the refusal to accept the truth. Oedipus himself characterizes the implied blindness by rejecting common sense and not listening to anyone's advice throughout the play. His self-absorbed failure to recognize reason comes to a climax when he realizes just how wrong he has been and how his..."

Tags:oedipus, light, blind

Abstract
This paper provides a comparative analysis of James Joyce's short story "Araby" and Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness." The paper explains that these are two radically distinct works that deal with very different characters, situations and themes. One element that they have in common, however, is the important role of light and dark imagery in each text. As this essay argues, 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
"James Joyce's short story "Araby" and Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness are two radically distinct works that deal with very different characters, situations and themes. One element that they have in common, however, is the important role of light and dark imagery in each text. As this essay will argue, 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. As the title of Conrad's novel would suggest, imagery of light and ..."

Tags:literature, American, historical, essay