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Modernity and Imperialism
Author and independent scholar Pankaj Mishra talks about how modernity arrived in Asia, Latin America and Africa under the auspices of imperialism and exploitative capitalism while highlighting how it was also problematic for many people...
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Unity, Diversity, and Comradery in Moby Dick
Ishmael, the narrator of Moby Dick, forms a deep bond with Queequeg, another worker aboard the ship coming from the Pacific Islands. Through this friendship, Melville explores themes of friendship, marriage-like intimacy, and mutual...
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How Whaling Shaped Herman Melville, Moby Dick, and America
Herman Melville was born into a wealthy family in New York City in 1819, but following the Financial Panic of 1837 and his father's death, he faced significant hardships, leading him to work at sea. This period of Melville's life, marked...
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Style and Interpretations of Herman Melville's Moby Dick
Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" is celebrated for its archaic writing style and poetic intensity, transforming the narrative of a 19th-century whaling crew into a captivating drama that delves into the folly of mankind. The novel's...
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Symbolism and Interpretations of the Whale in Moby Dick
The interpretations of the whale in "Moby Dick" are diverse, ranging from representing the Judeo-Christian God to critiques of imperialism and atheism. Scholars have debated whether Moby Dick symbolizes an inscrutable, omnipotent force...
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Obsession and Identity: Understanding Ishmael and Ahab in Moby Dick
Herman Melville's novel, "Moby Dick" opens with the line, "Call me Ishmael". We do not know whether this is actually the narrator's name or simply a nod to the biblical figure. Ishmael's elusiveness is contrasted with Captain Ahab's...
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Biblical Themes and Shakespearean References in Moby Dick
At its core, "Moby Dick" is a story about the vengeful Captain Ahab's pursuit of the white whale that maimed him and is narrated by Ishmael, a man seeking knowledge through seafaring. Despite its simple premise, Herman Melville expands...
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Introduction to Moby Dick
Herman Melville's novel, "Moby Dick" explores themes of obsession, compulsion, and the human psyche. The tale takes place aboard a whaling ship, an environment that author was intimately familiar with. Melville combined his own...
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Solitude and Intensity: the Romantic Style of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson's poetry frequently incorporates the color white, not as a symbol of purity or innocence, but as an emblem of intense emotion and passion, exemplified by her use of "white heat" as a metaphor for the soul's fervor....
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Stylistic Techniques in James Joyce's Ulysses
James Joyce's "Ulysses" is celebrated for its stream of consciousness technique and innovative exploration of language and structure across its 18 episodes, each uniquely styled to mirror episodes from Homer's Odyssey. The novel...
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Impressions and Lasting Legacy of Emily Dickinson
Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Emily Dickinson's mentor, found her both fascinating and elusive, describing their interactions as filled with "fiery mist" and "rare sparkles of light." Despite the intimacy of their correspondence, Dickinson...
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The Innovative Style of Emily Dickinson's Poetry
Emily Dickinson describes the transformative power of poetry as something that can evoke profound physical sensations. She developed a distinctive style characterized by unique punctuation, particularly the use of dashes, and near...
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Intimate Verses: the Letters and Poetry of Emily Dickinson
In 1862, Emily Dickinson initiated a lifelong correspondence with essayist Thomas Wentworth Higginson, sending him four poems and seeking his opinion on her work. Through letters, she conducted most of her significant relationships,...
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Themes and Symbolism in Emily Dickinson's Poems
Emily Dickinson's late poetry often reflects themes of volcanic emotions and explosive psychological states, suggesting a deeply turbulent inner life. Some speculate that Dickinson's reclusiveness and intense emotional expressions in her...
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Introduction to Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is a well-known author these days, but her work was unknown during her lifetime. Dickinson, known as an eccentric and reclusive figure in her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts. After her death, nearly 2,000 poems she...
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Understanding James Joyce's Ulysses
After leaving Dublin at age 22, James Joyce's life became a continuous journey of physical and intellectual exploration, which is reflected in his masterwork "Ulysses," inspired by Homer's Odyssey. The novel, which Joyce spent seven...
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Miss Havisham: Betrayal, Revenge, and Reckoning
Miss Havisham is a wealthy and reclusive character in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. As a young woman, she was left at the altar, leading her to become bitter and manipulative. She raises her adoptive daughter, Estella, to be...
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Pip: Ambition, Identity, and Redemption
Pip is the main character of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. He is a young orphan who dreams of becoming a gentleman. While working as a blacksmith's apprentice, he learns that an anonymous benefactor has bestowed him with...
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Great Expectations Part III: Tragedy and Transformation
A video overview of part II of Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. Using excerpts from the 1946 version of the movie, this video summarizes the ending of the story. Pip discovers that Jaggers knows much more about Magwitch and...
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Great Expectations Part I: From Humble Beginning to High Society
A video overview of part I of Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. Using excerpts from the 1946 version of the movie, this video introduces the main characters and explores the key events in part I. We meet Pip and his family,...
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Abel Magwitch: From Convict to Compassionate Benefactor
Abel Magwitch is a captivating character in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. Initially a fearsome convict, he evolves into a compassionate and paternal figure for the protagonist, Pip. Through his journey of redemption, Magwitch...
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Great Expectations Part II: Becoming a Gentleman
A video overview of part II of Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. Using excerpts from the 1946 version of the movie, we review important events and interactions in part II of the book. Pip has moved to London and is adjusting...