Main Literary Articles on English Literature

Background to English Literature

• What is literature?
• History of English literature
• Different types of literature
• What is literary English?
• How to answer a literary question?
• Shakespearean tragedy
• Greek tragedy versus Shakespearean tragedy

Poetry and its Different Types

• What is a sonnet?
• What is metaphysical poetry?
• What is iambic pentameter?
• What is heroic couplet?
• Characteristics of heroic couplet

Figures of Speech and Literary Terms

• Figurative language in English literature
• Definition and examples of simile
• Definition and types of irony
• Literary terms used in English drama

Sophocles: Oedipus The King

• Summary of Oedipus the King
• Introduction to characters in Oedipus the King
• Characters analysis of Oedipus: A tragic hero
• Role of fate in Oedipus the King
• Difference between Greek tragedies and Shakespearian tragedy

Sir Geoffrey Chaucer: Prologue to Canterbury Tales

• Introduction to the life of Geoffrey Chaucer
• Geoffrey Chaucer as realist
• Introduction to the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
• Summary of General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
• Short introduction to 29 pilgrims in Canterbury Tales
• Chaucer’s attitude towards religion
• Religious characters in Canterbury Tales
• Female characters in Canterbury Tales

William Shakespeare: Othello

• Introduction to Othello
• Introduction to characters in Othello
• Act wise summary of Othello
• Character analysis of Desdemona
• Major themes in Othello
• Characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy
• Greek tragedy versus Shakespearean tragedy

Alexander Pope: The Rape of the lock

• Introduction to Rape of the Lock
• Major themes in Rape of the Lock
• Character analysis of Belinda
• Rape of the Lock as a social satire
• Rape of the Lock as a mock heroic epic
• Pope’s use of heroic couplet

Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice

• Introduction and background to Pride and Prejudice
• What does Pride and Prejudice mean?
• Introduction to main characters in Pride and Prejudice
• Summary of Pride and Prejudice
• Comparative analysis of five Bennet sisters
• Character analysis of Elizabeth Bennet
• Character analysis of Fitzwilliam Darcy
• Why Elizabeth Bennet rejects Mr. Collins’ proposal?
• Why Charlotte Lucas marries Mr. Collins?
• Famous quotes from Pride and Prejudice

Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities

• Introduction to “A Tale of Two Cities”
• Introduction to main characters in A Tale Of Two Cities
• Long summary of A Tale of Two Cities

Old Man and the Sea

• Introduction and summary of “The Old Man and the Sea”
• Main characters and their analysis in “The Old Man and the sea”
• Theme of the novel “The Old man and the sea”
• Symbolism in “The old man and the sea”
• Quotations used in the novel “The old man and the sea”

Arthur Miller: The Crucible

• Introduction and historical background to The Crucible
• Main characters in the play The Crucible
• Summary of the play The Crucible
• Character analysis of Abigail Williams
• Character analysis of John Proctor

William Golding: Lord of the Flies

• Introduction and brief story of Lord of the Flies
• Introduction to main characters in Lord of the Flies
• Summary of the Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• Character analysis of Ralph and Jack

John Donne: Metaphysical Poetry

• John Donne as a metaphysical poet
• What is metaphysical poetry?

William Wordsworth

• William Wordsworth as a romantic poet of nature
• Daffodils by William Wordsworth

William Blake

• William Blake as a visionary poet
• Summary and analysis of A Poison Tree
• Summary and Analysis of The Divine Image 
• Summary and analysis of Holy Thursday

William Davies

• The poem Leisure by William Davies