College

Atonement

Though Robbie Turner knows he is innocent of his purported crime, this knowledge hardly relieves his inner turmoil. Much of his time spent fighting in the war is also spent fighting with himself; he is unable to escape the constant fantasies of...

11th Grade

The Secret River

The concept of how a person’s view of themselves can be comprised up of many influences and experiences is effectively explored throughout Kate Grenville’s The Secret River. The broad range of experiences and influences that impact upon William...

11th Grade

Seamus Heaney Poems

The Digging Skeleton and Bone Dreams are poems written by Seamus Heaney during a time of conflict between England and Ireland. He writes poems in hope to bring peace and to stop the fighting and bloodshed. He reflects this mindset in his poems...

10th Grade

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Modern renditions of classics are notorious for misrepresenting the cherished old works they try to depict, but when they are successful they add modern twists and embellishments while still maintaining the timeless message. In O Brother, Where...

9th Grade

To Kill a Mockingbird

Every society has unwritten rules that everyone respects, and it is momentous when these boundaries are crossed. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee develops the argument that love creates a loyalty that can overcome any standards. The author...

10th Grade

The Catcher in the Rye

The most fundamental human beliefs are often expressed in unconventional ways, and Holden Caulfield is the embodiment of this aspect of human nature. In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is an easy character to relate to...

College

Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno and Phaedo

In Plato’s Apology, Socrates’ views on death (in that he does not fear it) result in his defense being more about being righteous and showing the truth rather than actually defending himself. This legitimizes his defense because he is not simply...

College

The Federalist Papers

The federalist theory behind an increase in the size and power of the federal government is backed by three main ideas: the power to actually enforce the laws equally. the protection and safety of the states from physical conflict as well as...

College

The Bible

God’s lesson for Abraham through his destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is simple; a nation without God that falls entirely into sin will be punished, but one that is good and loyal to Him will be saved. In other words God will be harsh, but...

College

Henry IV Part 1

In Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V, Shakespeare appears on a micro level not to support divine right as characters throughout the plays consistently disrespect God and try to act above Him, yet when viewed more holistically it is clear that...

12th Grade

Dubliners

Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is power. Plato created “Allegory of the Cave” to define the structure of society and illustrate the pursuit of knowledge—or lack thereof. On the other hand, James Joyce’s “Eveline” portrays a more...