Fiction Essay Examples

In his story “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck utilizes symbolism to convey deeper meanings. Each symbol employed sheds light on the characters and their circumstances, particularly Elisa, the protagonist. Elisa’s garden goes beyond being a typical one; it holds significant meaning. The chrysanthemums she nurtures are more than mere flowers. Moreover, her actions in the story […]

Gimpel the Fool is a story written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Saul Bellow translated the story I read because the story was written in Yiddish. Gimpel The Fool is a story about a simple man named Gimpel. He is considered by many to be a fool because he is a very gullible man. He is […]

“The Great Gatsby is a novel that revolves around the wealthy individuals of the 1920s, specifically focusing on Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of the American dream. The story begins when Nick Carraway moves from Chicago to West Egg, a suburb of New York. Nick’s ambition is to become a successful bond salesman and he resides near […]

In the book, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the character Gatsby is presented to you as an example of the American dream. The dream of the time was to become wealthy and to marry the woman of your dreams, and this is exactly what Gatsby dreamed of. Fitzgerald showed you throughout the book […]

In Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the use of color symbolism is prevalent, particularly with the colors green and white. These colors have a significant impact on the story, representing various thoughts, ideas, attitudes, and choices that Gatsby encounters throughout the narrative. The inspiration for the green element in the story comes from a green […]

In Albert Camus’ “The Stranger” the “story of an ordinary man who gets drawn into a senseless murder” is told. Taking place in Algeria this man, Meursault, is constantly in a climate of extreme warmth, as are all the inhabitants therein. The sun, the source of light and the cause of this warmth, is thus […]

In literature, a character often changes from the beginning to middle and to the end of a novel. In the novel The Outsiders, Ponyboy and Johnny undergo many changes. Ponyboy is an honor roll student and a good athlete in track. Pony also thought that his older brother Darry hated him because he was too […]

Thoroughly Modern Millie Thoroughly Modern Millie takes place in the year 1922 in New York. At this point in history all the women wanted equal rites and wanted to have fun. The main characters in this film are Millie Dillmount, Miss Dorothy Brown, Trevor Graydon, Jimmy Smith, and Muzzy. Millie Dillmount is a totally modern […]

Old Goriot Success: Love, Money, Power Isnt it a fine game to play, after all, to be alone against mankind and to have luck on your side (p. 125) states Vautrin. Honore de Balzac, in his novel Old Goriot, places us, the readers in Eugene de Rastignacs mind. The position in which Balzac prepares the […]

Myrtle is an incredibly important part of the story The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In this book, Myrtle paints the portrait of an era with a tainted brush. Because she is a flapper, she is looked down upon somewhat. She is rebellious and does things that were not approved of by the “lost […]

For my movie book comparison, I chose The Time Machine, a novel penned by H. G. Wells in 1895. Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux were the main characters in the movie released in 1960, directed by George Pal. Both the book and the movie featured two main characters: Rod Taylor portrayed George, a time traveler, […]

Kurt Vonnegut, a renowned author with a unique writing style, incorporates autobiographical elements in many of his influential books, such as Slaughterhouse Five. This captivating yet disheartening novel connects certain aspects of the story to moments in Vonnegut’s own life. Through his characters, Vonnegut skillfully explores complex themes and delves into the intricacies of the […]

‘Down at the Dump’ Patrick White, most noted for his longer works of fiction,exemplifies his craft of storytelling in his short story ‘Down at the Dump’. White has dramatized an event in life, such as a funeral, and given us a verybelievable insight into our own culture. Some readers will take offence to sucha raw […]

This essay focuses on my summer reading books and the striking similarities among the numerous characters within them. The initial book, Lord of the Flies, penned by William Golding, particularly emphasized the importance of character names. Ralph and Jack were the two primary characters, both bearing resemblance to Jekyll and Hyde. Ralph epitomizes the good-natured […]

Although initially appearing insignificant, the final four pages of Franz Kafka’s novel, The Metamorphosis, hold great importance as they unveil the transformation of the Samsa family after Gregor Samsa’s demise. These pages distinctly depict the family’s change through two specific instances: the kitchen table scene and the trolley scene. During the kitchen table scene, the […]

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald delves into the deceptive nature of characters. One character in particular, James Gatsby, piques my interest. While others perceive him as wealthy, self-assured, and popular, my perception of him contradicts this image. In my mind, Gatsby is a person lacking confidence, constantly striving to fit in. Various instances […]

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, written circa 1385, is a collection of twenty-four stories told by individuals on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral from London, England. Prior to the tales, Chaucer presents a General Prologue, providing a glimpse into fourteenth century life. In this prologue, Chaucer introduces all the characters participating in the journey and […]

In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour,” the protagonist character Louise Mallard portrays an unexpected response to her husband’s death. The narrator discreetly implies that Mrs. Mallard has discovered a newfound sense of freedom, although brief. However, this freedom is short-lived due to Mrs. Mallard’s heart disease. Initially depicted as an average wife who […]

Canterbury Tales presents a wide range of comedic tales from medieval literature, injecting humor into the novel. Geoffrey Chaucer incorporates numerous lighthearted stories to provide comic relief amidst the serious ones. The author cleverly infuses humor into various tales, offering the reader a refreshing and unique genre of comedy. In Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer showcases […]

The book I read was Stargirl written by Jerry Spinelli. The main character of this book is Susan Caraway, but everyone knows her as Stargirl. Stargirl is about 16 years old. She is in 10th grade. Her hair is the color of sand and falls to her shoulders. A “sprinkle” of freckles crosses her nose. […]

“For the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it . . . Yet, mad am I not – and very surely do I not dream. But tomorrow I die, and to-day I would unburthen my soul.” […]

Leo Tolstoy’s “How Much Land Does A Man Need?” explores the theme of greed, taking place in Russia but reflecting the prevalent greed during America’s westward expansion. The story depicts rich Europeans taking advantage of poor Americans, represented by a younger sister. Despite their hard work, the Americans yearn for more land to satisfy their […]