1,089 Answered Questions for the topic literature

Literature Writing Style

07/17/19

Is there a term for fiction authors whose writing style is technically the most important feature of their books?
I'm re-reading "Lolita" by **Vladimir Nabokov** right now, and I must say, the author is very consistent in never allowing himself merely to narrate: each paragraph, if not each sentence, is loaded... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/16/19

Analysing a quote from Much Ado About Nothing?
I have analyzed a quote from the play *Much Ado About Nothing* with the question, "How is reputation shown in the play?" Leonato is a king and does not want his reputation to be ruined due to the... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature Poetry Robert Burns

07/16/19

When and why did the practice of reading "Address to a Haggis" at Burns Night dinner originate?
Many people and institutions around the world hold [Burns suppers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper) on or close to Burns Night, 25 January. Part of these events is the traditional... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/16/19

Why does Shakespeare's Julius Caesar switch to Latin for the "Et tu, Brute" line?
Like all of Shakespeare's plays, his *Julius Caesar* is of course written and performed almost entirely in English. But there is one line of this particular play - perhaps the most famous - which... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature

07/16/19

An Epithet of the River Styx?
I have a question that falls under literature, but I remember that Dante, Greek mythology, and Milton were required reading in my English courses in high school and university. It's about an... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/15/19

Why doesn't Hamlet like improvisation?
In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Hamlet has a famous monologue about how to properly perform a play. During one portion of the monologue, he has some harsh words for people who improvise: > O,... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1
Literature Poetry R S Thomas

07/15/19

Why was Welsh nationalist poet RS Thomas so critical of the Welsh people?
Welsh poet R.S. Thomas was an ardent Welsh nationalist and advocate for independence. Although a native English speaker he learned and conversed in Welsh, although he never felt fluent enough to... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature

07/15/19

Who is "Reported Missing" by Anna Keown addressed to?
Anna Keown's poem "Reported Missing" is addressed to a World War One soldier by a first-person narrator who is desperately hopeful that he isn't dead. Here's the poem in full: > My thought... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/15/19

Who does the cat represent in Animal Farm?
It's well known that various characters represent real Soviet figures. Who does the cat, who is fond of shirking physical work but enjoys reaping the rewards, represent? Does the cat even have any... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature

07/14/19

Why did the Seed-Merchant thank God in "The Seed-Merchant's Son" by Agnes Grozier Herbertson?
"The Seed-Merchant's Son" is a poem by Agnes Grozier Herbertson, often included in collections of WWI poetry. It doesn't go into the details of the war, like some other WWI poems; in fact, the war... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/12/19

what type of propaganda in nonfiction only gives one side of the story and eliminates important information?
A. FramingB. BandwagonC. TestimonialD. Glittering Generalities
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/11/19

Where do you find the transition from studying to learning most approachable?
Reviewing lessons takes time but the implementation of those lessons will result in the learning of new skills. To rephrase the question: what makes learning more feasible, depending on your... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/11/19

Why didn't Hamlet's modifications to the theater troupe's play "tip off" anyone else?
When a theater troupe visits Hamlet's castle, he makes some... rather pointed changes to their show, which now includes a murder much like the one his uncle performed. Why didn't anyone else... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1

07/10/19

How is 'flash fiction' a distinctive genre?
***Flash Fiction*** is an umbrella term used to describe any fictional work of extreme brevity, including the *Six-Word Story*, *140-character stories* (also known as 'twitterature'), *the dribble*... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1
Literature William Shakespeare

07/10/19

How does Shakespeare's iambic pentameter work with Original Pronunciation?
In school, students are often taught about iambic pentameter via [Shakespearian examples](http://shakespeare.about.com/od/shakespeareslanguage/a/Iambic-Pentameter-Examples.htm). These, however,... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature Symbolism Tropes

07/09/19

Why is black evil and white good?
This trope appears everywhere in literature - _especially_ in fantasy. Everywhere you turn, _black_ means bad and _white_ means good. This is particularly true when applied to people, or the... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •2
Literature

07/09/19

How does a story change depending on the person who tells it

Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature Poetry Title Paul Auster

07/08/19

Why is this poem by Paul Auster entitled "Spokes"?
The poem "Spokes" by Paul Auster (of which you can read the first few verses [here](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=32184), or the whole poem... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/08/19

Symbolism of Marx and Lenina's names in Huxley's Brave New World?
Reading Brave New World it seemed obvious to me that Bernard Marx and Lenina Crowne are in some way referring to Marx and Lenin, but I couldn't figure out any clue to support this claim. Is it... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature Meaning

07/08/19

Had fasting anything to do with golden trout in Middle Ages?
When I read a short story by Ambrose Bierce, 'Monk and the Hangman's daughter', I found a strange expression as below: >At length we reached the bank of a stream whose silvery waters presented... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Literature Word Usage Word Choice

07/07/19

Usage of 'comprise' in a linguistic manner?
> The small man did not hesitate. "I'm stealing.", he declared in a soft, simple voice, that did not **comprise** even the faintest tremble. Is this a good, nice-sounding way of describing a... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2
Literature William Shakespeare

07/07/19

Shakespeare making fun of Shakespeare: listing all of the self-deprecating meta-references in Shakespeare's plays?
One of the things I've noticed through reading Shakespeare is that a lot of his plays include a meta-reference making fun of the play. For example, in *Twelfth Night* Fabian says "If this were... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •2

07/07/19

What is the metrical style of Hungarian poetry?
While [reading about](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40142205?seq=2#metadata_info_tab_contents) Hungarian poetry, I [came... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •2

07/07/19

Meaning of President "Coin" in the Hunger Games books?
My impression was that the name Coin is meaningful as opposed to arbitrary. My thoughts on the meaning so far are: - "Other side of the same coin" in that Coin represents the good guys, but is... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/06/19

Is the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill based on real life events?
>Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after. >Up Jack got, and home did trot, As fast as he could caper, ... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

Still looking for help? Get the right answer, fast.

Ask a question for free

Get a free answer to a quick problem.
Most questions answered within 4 hours.

OR

Find an Online Tutor Now

Choose an expert and meet online. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need.