When I sat down to write this post, I knew I wanted to provide you with a handful of interesting choices for Death of a Salesman essay topics, but I admit that when it came time to get started, I was stumped. Sure, I had one or two excellent topic ideas, but after that, I …
People who read a book before watching the movie adaptation often claim that the book is better than the movie. When you ask them why, they simply shrug and say, “It just was.” This reply works fine if you’re talking about a movie with your friends, but if you have to write a comparison essay …
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “hero”? Do you think first responders rushing to the scene of a tragedy to help victims? Maybe you’re reading this before lunch, and the first thing you think of is a hero sandwich. While both of these are legitimate types of heroes, they …
You can have the most action-packed novel out there, but if the characters aren’t great, the story probably won’t feel complete. When it comes to The Hunger Games, the characters feel in-depth and relatable—even in a place and time readers can’t necessarily relate to. But because the characters in The Hunger Games do have depth, your …
Every once in a while, for better or worse, there’s a series of books that catches like wildfire. Think the Harry Potter series, the Twilight books, or—the subject of this post—The Hunger Games trilogy. Books like these not only gain massive popularity with readers but also make other writers pick up the genre and put out …
Ever wake up and say to yourself, “I need to make some changes in my life”? Maybe you want a new job, a new college major, a new significant other, or even a new haircut. Whatever it happens to be, you know that something has to change. If you’ve ever felt this way, you can …
You’ve just finished reading The Handmaid’s Tale. You know the plot backward and forward. You know all about chemical spills, the oppression of women, declining fertility rates, and the story of a Handmaid (Offred) and her life in a totalitarian society. The problem? You haven’t quite figured out what it all means. If you’re struggling …
Most of us can relate to film, television, or literary characters. Many of us are like Wonder Woman–professional, successful, and heroic all at once. Others are mild-mannered reporters (or other professionals) by day and like Superman by night, saving the planet from evil. If you’ve just finished reading Heart of Darkness, though, it might be pretty …
Poetry is often one of the more difficult forms of literature that students are asked to write about. It doesn’t have a consistent structure, sometimes doesn’t have a plot or characters, and is rife with symbolism. But one of the most frequently asked questions on writing about poetry is how to quote a poem in an …
CLSC LIT TV (8:00 – 10:00 p.m.) – Survivor: Salem Edition (Reality. First aired 1953) Abigail and friends are found dancing naked in the forest and are accused of witchcraft. They claim to be bewitched in an attempt to avoid a possible death sentence if convicted. In a vengeful move, Abigail accuses Elizabeth of practicing …
If you’ve watched the movies Divergent, The Hunger Games, or Maze Runner and thought, “Whoa, these are amazingly original stories! Why hasn’t someone thought of this before?” you might be surprised to learn that this type of story is nothing new. Stories with dystopian themes have been around for a long time. What you probably …
When you’re studying literature, just understanding the main point of certain books is difficult. But when you have to look for certain literary devices in the text, it can feel like a nearly impossible task—or at least not a very fun one. You’ve gotten the basics of theme, setting, and symbolism down, so now it’s …
Sometimes you read a book that—whether you love it or hate it—is unlike any other you’ve read before. Things Fall Apart is one of those types of books. Written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart shows readers a view of Africa that’s different from the white-authored colonial-type stories like Heart of Darkness. Instead …
Ever sign into Facebook only to see that your BFF posted a long rant about how much he hates Facebook? The fact that he’s using Facebook to complain about how much he hates Facebook is a clear example of irony. Locating examples of irony in literature, though, may not be so obvious. You might need to …
Literature doesn’t have to be long to pack a punch. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is only 6,000 words and takes you on quite the psychological journey. There are no changes of scenery and only a handful of characters, but you get to experience a thrilling narrative. But with so few words, how do you choose a …
“If I ruled the world, summer vacation would last all year long, kids could stay up as long as they wanted, and everyone could eat ice cream for every meal!” My 10-year-old self had a lot of excellent suggestions for a perfect world. I’m sure we’ve all had thoughts (both as kids and as …
Imagine a world where there are no books to read. If you’re a student, sometimes that might feel like a dream come true. Now imagine a world with nothing to read. That includes no internet (and certainly no social media). That dream can quickly turn into a nightmare. In Fahrenheit 451, a ban on books …
Fahrenheit 451 is a favorite book for teachers to assign—and a favorite for students to read. It’s a classic dystopian novel written in the ‘50s and set in the 24th century. Even though it’s not quite the 24th century yet, Ray Bradbury did get a few things scarily right about the future, technology-wise. What’s even …
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words,” right? But does it really take 1,000 words to create a vivid picture? Check out this short paragraph from Charlotte’s Web: Fern came slowly down the stairs. Her eyes were red from crying. As she approached her chair, the carton wobbled, and …
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.” —Mary Shelley If you’re a math major enrolled in a required literature course, the painful and sudden change you might be experiencing right now is the fact that you have to write a paper about Frankenstein. There’s no need to be …
When you’re reading for pleasure, you can take your time and enjoy it, much like watching a movie. You don’t have to think about deeper meanings, symbolism, or the characters unless you want to. But then there’s reading for school. When your teacher gives you an essay question before you start reading, the reading can …