Genre Essays

Emily Dickinson’s poem, “I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed”, is a joyful and lighthearted poem. In the poem, Dickinson continuously compares the effect nature has on her to the effect alcohol has on her. Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses being “drunk” as a metaphor for how exciting and intoxicating nature is to her. This poem […]

Imaginative writing is an art that expresses ideas and thoughts in an imaginative way. This art involves universal laws of human nature, and both time and place. Without connecting the reader through these principles, the author’s work is somewhat meaningless. In order for the author to gain something through his/her work, the author must be […]

The short story I chose is “The Blue Bowl” by Jane Kenyon. In this story the author’s pet has died. The theme to me would be the death of a pet, or more specific death of a cat. This poem tells the tale of a family that has lost their pet. The poem demonstrates the […]

As the speaker labors in his farm field on a quiet, hot day, he can’t help but notice that his scythe seems to be whispering as it works. He can’t exactly hear what the scythe is saying, and he admits that there is a chance that the whispering sound is simply in his own mind […]

In Robert Herrick’s “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” there is a recurring theme of Carpe diem throughout the piece. Carpe diem means to “seize the day” or live life to the fullest. Herrick’s clever use of metaphors and personification sets the tone of the story. Life is cruel in that it gives […]

In this essay, we will analyze the use of the pastoral technique in English homoerotic literature, focusing on Alan Hollinghurst’s novel The Swimming-pool Library. We will investigate the main components of the traditional pastoral style found in English landscape culture and also highlight the contrasting characteristics of anti-pastoral literature. This essay explores the utilization of […]

Our Vanishing Night Most city skies have become virtually empty of stars. By Verlyn Klinkenborg If humans were truly at home under the light of the moon and stars, we would go in darkness happily, the midnight world as visible to us as it is to the vast number of nocturnal species on this planet. […]

“Deliberate” by Amy Uyematsu is a satire of American teenagers who adopt African-American youth culture in a bid to deny their own backgrounds. The form of “Deliberate” is extremely naturalistic. The poet uses enjambement throughout the poem which effectively makes the poem one sentence. In addition to this, the poet uses no end rhyme and […]

The poem “The Centaur”, written by May Swenson allows readers the opportunity to see through the eyes of a young girl as her imagination brings a hand crafted piece of wood to life; transforming it into a majestic stallion. As she lets her imagination flourish throughout her experience the reader sees how the girl and […]

Greater Love is a realistic poem written by Wilfred Owen in which he explores the subject of love. In particular, Owen shows an admiration of brotherly love – or rather soldiers love – that he exemplifies with the use of horrendous terms like “pure”, “fierce”, “exquisite” in his emphasis of the suffering experienced and sacrifices […]

A human life has always been one of the main subjects of heated discussions, movies, stories, poems, and so on. The phenomenon of life is so interesting and enigmatic because it reminds of a complex, sometimes insoluble, puzzle that consists of many events, emotions, people that take part in it. Robert Frost, a great American […]

In W. B. Yeats’s “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” the poet describes Innisfree as a sanctuary. It is a place where the speaker will find peace. The poet paints a picture of this safe haven where one can escape the mundane world. It is a utopic island where one can find solace away from the […]

In the poem, “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the poem “Thanatopsis” written by William Cullen Bryant, two different ways in which one may view may view death is established. In “The Tide Rises the Tide Falls” Longfellow’s diction, imagery and figurative language help to create a tone of […]

For EACH of your texts, analyse techniques that made you feel strongly about a main theme or issue. The two poems, Dulce et Decorum Est, and Anthem for Doomed Youth are both written by Wilfred Owen. Owen’s main idea was to expose the true horrors of war and to challenge the romanticised view of war […]

“Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott, is a hilarious must read for junior high school students and any other aspiring writers. Her essay inspires comfort and confidence in writing a first draft. It concretes that all writers experience the “shitty” first draft. Anne Lamott wrote this instructional information in 1995, but it is timeless information. […]

Poetry is one of the hardest things to define because it has different meanings to different people. However, there is poetry where it is easy to decipher if people can figure out what type of poetry the author intended it to be such as denotative poetry or connotative poetry. “To the Mercy Killers” written by […]

Despite my initial frustration with being given an essay to write after the midterm, I saw it as an opportunity to prove myself. I did extensive research on famous writers like Maya Angelo and also explored the works of lesser-known poets who often named their poems “Untitled”. In the end, I decided on a small […]

In Randall Jarrell’s poem; “Hope”, the poem reads, “The spirit killeth, but the letter giveth life” (1). A letter maybe only words and thoughts on a piece of paper to some but to others: like the soldiers in “Mail Call, a letter is a sense of hope but only if the letter contains something good. […]

The dilemma of embracing the idea of a divine entity has been posed by humanity since its inception. Some people choose to believe in an ultimate power, while others reject this idea completely. These questions are encapsulated in Mark Jarman’s “Unholy Sonnets”, nudging the reader to ponder over such matters. The well-known line from Billy […]

Keats uses many methods to tell the story in his poem ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci. The story is first hinted at in the title, which translates as ‘The beautiful woman without mercy. For those who know of Keats’ background, it is easy to associate this poem with his instinctive distrust of women. Keats’ mother […]

Everyone possesses ethical principles which they acquire from various sources such as nature, family, or past experiences. The esteemed poet, Robert Frost, is renowned for imparting lessons of morality through his poetry. He employs the use of imagery, emotional cues, diverse perspectives, symbolism, and even nature to craft mental images. These varying themes drive readers […]

Langston Hughes’ Poetic Works and their Connection to African-American Music. Poetry and music are intrinsically linked, with the power to transform a beautiful melody into an unforgettable song. This synergy is also evident in poetry’s relationship with music. Like music, poetry can create strong visuals and capture the core of its subject in a way […]