To prepare myself for the Marian Scholars research, I watched TED Talks that were given to me by children my age. The kids spent time and energy researching and presenting a passion topic. The first TED Talk I watched was “A promising test for pancreatic cancer…from a teenager,” where a boy of 15 explains his …
Stephen King and Gillian Flynn share one commonality. Their readers’ emotions were controlled by the rises and drops of suspense. Liam O’Flaherty’s Sniper definitely kept his readers’ attention up until the final page. The story is about a sniper who sits on a roof, in the dark of night, waiting to kill his enemy. The …
The Kite Runner was written by Khaled Hasseini in 2003. The book’s author is an Afghani-American. He tells Amir’s story, a young boy from Kabul. The novel contains many themes which are based upon the cultural and customs of Afghanistan. Hassan, the best friend of Hassan and the protagonist of this book, are exposed to …
The Cinderella Waltz of Ann Beattie examines a divorce in a relationship between two people, one of whom has moved on with his homosexual partner and Louise. Louise is nine years old but seems older than most other children. The Cinderella Waltz takes on a new meaning when psychoanalytical criticism is applied to it. The …
The feeling of suspense can engulf people. It will grab the reader by the throat. John Green does not just keep the reader on edge, but the characters as well. The mystery is based on Quentin and his journey through a difficult time in life. Quentin is three weeks away from graduation when Margo, his …
The “Emperor of Ice-Cream,” by Wallace Stevens, depicts a bizarre wake that is marked with sex and partying. A discussion about death would normally be characterized by an air that is sober, serious, or even reflective. However, the poem has a pompous, almost nonsensical, tone. Unnamed speakers encourage mourners to behave in ways more suited …
James Joyce’s short story Eveline portrays a grim image of the lives of women who lived in Dublin at the turn of last century. Eveline, a part of the Dubliners collection, tells the story a young girl torn between duty and escape. Eveline is not able to choose. Her life reflects an unchanging, cyclical perspective …
Jennifer Price discusses the popularity of lawn flamingo decorations in America. Price’s essay isn’t just about analyzing how popular this lawn decoration has become. She’s also mocking American culture’s materialistic values. She mocks the fact that Americans do weird and flashy things in order to keep up with the latest trends or to show off …
To His Coy virgins The popular poetic creed “seize each day” or carpe diam is the concept. Andrew Marvell’s and Robert Herrick’s carpe-diem admonish young virgins to avoid coyness, procrastination and other negative traits. Marvell’s “To his Coy Mistress” (to his coy mistress) and Herrick’s (“To the Virgins” or “To Make Much of Time”) are …
Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) explores London at the turn of the century. Dorian Gray’s duality is a reflection of the division between east and west, as portrayed in poetry and novels. Wilde uses London’s decadence, hedonism sexual promiscuity to portray the duality in Dorian Gray. Dorian’s East End allows him to …