alex

The play ‘Othello’ has derived from opposites and opposition, and many contradictions contained in the play are embodied in the tragic hero, this basic plot alone could have well been presented as a catastrophe and so it is almost certain that Othello could be seen as inevitable because this plot later on spirals out of […]

Tragedy is constantly evolving, with differing key aspects defining how tragedians have constructed their plays. Stoppard believed tragedy should be defined as: “Wheels [that] have been set in motion and they have their own pace, to which we are . . . condemned. Each move is dictated by the previous one – that is the […]

Othello is a character whom from the start, we do not see any flaws within, or within Desdemona’s and his marriage. However, the name ‘Iago’ is synonymous with villainy and evil. He is without much doubt on of Shakespeare’s most popular antagonists, but the question remains as to what actually motivates Iago to betray Othello […]

Jealousy is an overwhelming, intense and all consuming emotion which can sometimes be irrational. It can lead to the manipulation of the person, and take the form of an obsession and can be very powerful. In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy and manipulation can be presented in various forms which seem to be having devastating effects on […]

While the focus of Shakespeare’s Othello is often on the domestic conflict of Othello and Desdemona, these events are purposefully fixed in specific geographic locations: Venice and Cyprus. Shakespeare creates a comparison of Venice with Cyprus that permeates the play, and the influence that geography has on the play can be vital to understanding why […]

Act IV is a crucial scene in the play Othello. It is the first time that we see Othello himself physically and mentally damaged from the constant manipulation by Iago, as he first suffers a mental breakdown and then goes on to strike Desdemona. These actions could be considered not just surprising but also, in […]

Shakespeare uses the dramatic device of soliloquy to present his characters’ inner thoughts and feelings. It is through these speeches that the audience can see and perhaps relate to the sometimes dark or forbidden feelings of the characters. Iago’s soliloquies establish him as a tragic villain through the way in which they reveal his misanthropic […]

This soliloquy brings Act One of Othello to a rousing and ominous close. The whole first Act we have been made aware of Iago’s feelings of animosity towards “the Moor” (Shakespeare l. 368) but it is here where we finally see, unmasked, his utter disgust for Othello, and Iago’s need to gain revenge. Shakespeare’s language […]

Many of William Shakespeare’s tragedies portray characters that eventually experience misfortune by the end of the play. Othello is a prime example of depicting various characters that each come to their own downfall because of a critical weakness. In the play, Othello’s mislead insecurities in his wife’s love for him, Roderigo’s foolish trusting nature, and […]

As a tragic hero, Othello should be viewed within the context of Aristotle’s Poetics, within which contains the theories of tragedy and the traits a tragic hero must possess to ensure his downfall. These are seen as flaws which cause the hero’s own downfall regardless of external influences. It is undeniable that Othello bears some […]

In 1798 a new era began in English poetry called the Romantic age. This age provoked the thinking of new radical ideas and thoughts and the writing of these ideas in poems. The poets included Samuel T Coleridge, Alfred Lord Tennyson and William Wordsworth. Some of their ideas and thoughts include: 1) Rebellion against tyrannical […]

For this assignment I will be looking at three of Ambrose Bierce’s short stories, ‘An Arrest’, ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ and ‘The Affair at Coulters Notch’. In ‘An Arrest’ a man escapes from jail only to be captured and taken back to his cell by a ghost, In ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek […]

In this text, I will examine how Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, and Isaac Rosenberg address the theme of war. I have analyzed Rosenberg’s poem titled ‘Break of Day in the Trenches.’ The title itself implies a serene atmosphere, as the break of day signifies a peaceful and tranquil beginning of a new day. Throughout the […]

In this essay I will be analyzing the title question and find out what my view is on the opinion that all war poetry is violent and depressing. I will be studying two poems by William Shakespeare and two poems by Wilfred Owen; this will incorporate pre-1900 poetry and post-1900 poetry in my essay by […]

In regards to the departure of the soldiers, Owen and Tynan offer contrasting presentations and s ignificantly different moods can be observed in their respective poems. The poem ‘Joining the Colours’ sets the tone from its title, as Tynan’s use of the verb ‘joining’ suggests that the soldiers believed they were merely becoming part of […]

In this extended piece of writing I am going to compare and contrast ‘Exposure’, a poem written by Wilfred Owen, to a poem written by Ted Hughes, ‘Thistles’.’Exposure’ is a poem about the men who are fighting in the First World War and are suffering from the effects of the weather and the formidable conditions […]

James Kirkup’s poem pleads for “No More Hiroshimas”. Earlier in the 20th Century, Wilfred Owen confronted his readers with the pity of war (for example “Strange Meeting”). Compare these two texts. Which speaks more clearly to you? “No More Hiroshimas” by James Kirkup, and “Strange Meeting” by Wilfred Owen are both war poems and both […]

Whether a war is worth fighting for is a hard question to answer. There are many factors that make a person either believe that it is beneficial or not. In one person’s opinion, such as the victor, it may be worthwhile but for another it may be a pointless loss of life’s beauty. All Quiet […]

Although Louis demonstrated considerable skill during his reign, he also committed numerous mistakes. Perhaps the most egregious of these was the implementation of the Dragonades, a ruthless and unethical act that wreaked havoc on countless lives. In an effort to eliminate the presence of Huguenots in Britain, Louis pursued various methods to convert them to […]

The poem was written in honor of her son, Major Robert Gregory, who served in the air forces during the First World War. The poem is written as a narrative, from the ‘Irish Airman’s’ perspective, documenting his final thoughts. The title of the poem gives the reader an immediate idea of the subject and content; […]

In the following essay I will be comparing and analysing the poet’s attitudes to death. I intend to investigate the structures and the language utilised by the poets. I will analyse four poems, ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ (Wilfred Owen), ‘The Leveller’ (Robert Graves), ‘The Death-Bed’ (Siegfried Sassoon) and ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ (Wilfred Owen). Firstly […]

The poem Dulce et Decorum Est depicts the harrowing experiences of a soldier during World War One, both in battle and outside it. The soldier personally witnessed the death of a comrade due to a gas attack, leaving him with lasting mental trauma. Having gone through the agony and brutal truths of war, he questions […]