… too often that we simply skim through a piece to learn the plot and the basis of the story. Most people will be able to tell you the plot of the story, but will eliminate the characters or the setting not realizing the impact these elements have on…

… several objectives in his play, Oedipus the King. Sophocles brilliantly retells a classic Greek tale while also describing the characters and their motives in great detail. Of the characters Sophocles naturally spends the most time characterizing…

… on the hilltops to the poor and unhealthy bums living on the streets -- have one goal: to reach their fullest ability, or achieve their American Dream. The above examples are the extremes of an American system in which wealth and status decide your…

… In his own eyes Mersault is a martyr for the truth. His passion for the exact truth was the reason for his execution. Initially it appeared that he was just accepting of whatever life brought his way, but by the final chapter he experiences…

… in Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, the use of soma is encouraged and is distributed by the government as a tool for control. Drug abuse causes social and psychological dilemmas for the user and those in contact with the user. Huxley's world…

… Finn. It spans approximately 240 pages and was chosen because it is part of the eleventh grade curriculum. The book begins and takes place in St. Petersburg, Missouri, along the Mississippi River; the setting later changes depending on how far down…

… greatest American teller of mystery and suspense tales in the 19th century was a tormented artist. He struggled to become the accomplished author he is known as today. Poe is now acclaimed as one of America's greatest writers, but in his own unhappy…

… Is Hard To Find," a family of six, including the grandmother, go on a trip to Florida; this trip leads to their deaths. The author of this story, Flannery O'Connor, uses foreshadowing to give the reader certain information that leads up to the horrific…

… journey. For some it comes naturally. For Janie, it might take years to find, or it might never be found at all. "There are years that ask questions and years that answer (p.25)." As a child, Janie discovers her blueprint, the map of her life,…

… theme we are presented by John Steinbeck in both "The Pearl" and "Of Mice and Men". Never does the reader behold a wealthy character in either novel that possesses virtuous qualities; we are bombarded with greed, envy, hate and all things evil regarding…