“Don Quixote” is set during the late 15th to early 17th century, a significant period in Spanish history marked by the Reconquest, the discovery of the New World, the Golden Age of Spanish Literature and Art, and Spain’s decline as a global power. This era sees political, social, and cultural shifts that deeply impact the narrative of the novel.
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“Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes is a classic tale of a middle-aged man, obsessed with chivalric romances, who embarks upon a knight-errant life full of adventure, accompanied by his squire, Sancho Panza. The novel embodies themes of reality and illusion, idealism and pragmatism, and showcases the power of imagination. Continue reading Don Quixote a Novel by Cervantes
Daniel Defoe, an English writer and satirist, is renowned for his novel, ‘Robinson Crusoe’. Published in 1719, the novel exploring themes of survival, civilization, religion, and human nature, is based on the experiences of Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk, who survived shipwreck and marooning. Despite a poor upbringing and several encounters with the law due to his nonconformist beliefs, Defoe’s profound influence on English literature is celebrated with a feast day on August 30.
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Sense and sensibility novel by Jane Austen The novel begins with the death of Mr Henry Dashwood, who leaves his state to his son, John from his first marriage according to the law of entailment. His second wife and their three daughters, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret are left with little income and no permanent home. John’s wife Fanny persuade him to give them only a small allowance, and they move into Norland Park, the Dashwood estate. At Norland, Elinor forms an attachment with Fanny’s brother, Edward Ferrara, who is shy, sensible, and kind. However, Fanny disapprove of their relationship, and … Continue reading Sense and Sensibility, a novel by Jane Austen
“Gulliver’s Travels,” a satirical novel by Jonathan Swift, follows the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, through four fantastical lands. It parodies travel narratives and criticizes the societal customs and human nature of Swift’s era. Gulliver encounters different cultures and perspectives, revealing the pettiness, weakness, and depravity of humanity. The novel invites readers to question their own societal assumptions, using irony and humor to critique humanity and propose a more rational world. Swift’s satirical works have significantly influenced writers and artists.
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Palamon and Arcite are both cousins and knights. They were captured and imprisoned by the duke after being found unconscious by Theseus, the duke of Athens, after his battle against Creon of Thebes. They were shut up in a cell in the tower of Theseus’ castle of which a small window overlooking the palace garden is the only contact for them to the outer world. Through this window Palamon encounters Theseus’ sister-in-law Emelye for the first time. It happened on an early morning in the month of May, Palamon awakens and catches sight of the beautiful Emiliye picking flowers in … Continue reading The Knight’s Tale (The Canterbury Tales)
“The Canterbury Tales” includes stories like the “Knight’s Tale” covering a love rivalry between two royal cousins, the “Miller’s Tale,” involving Nicola’s deceptive love affair, the “Wife of Bath’s Tale,” with a knight learning women’s desires from an ancient lady; the “Pardoner’s Tale,” reflecting three men’s fatal greed, and the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale,” tracking a rooster’s tricky escape from a fox. Continue reading What are some of the stories in The Canterbury Tales?
“The Canterbury Tales”, a collection by 14th-century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, follows pilgrims journeying to Saint Thomas Becket’s shrine, agreeing to tell stories along the way. The tales, spanning various genres and subjects, reflect both the human condition and medieval England’s societal conditions, offering diverse, unfinished tales that embody the storytellers’ different voices and perspectives. They highlight Chaucer’s literary mastery and creativity. Continue reading Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
“Paradise Lost,” an epic poem by John Milton, expounds upon themes of free will, sin, and redemption through the biblical story of Adam and Eve’s fall. The narrative traverses from the rebellion of Satan and his cohorts in hell, their corruption of Earth, the temptation of Adam and Eve leading to their fall from grace, to ultimately, their expulsion from Paradise. Despite the grim events, the promise of salvation provides a glimmer of hope.
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John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Regained”, published in 1671, is a sequel to “Paradise Lost”, recounting Christ’s temptation by Satan in the wilderness and his restoration of the paradise that was lost by Adam and Eve. The narrative includes Satan’s failed attempts to entice Jesus with worldly temptations and Jesus’ eventual victory over Satan through faith, reason, and divine purpose. The poem comprises four books of unrhymed iambic pentameter and concludes with Jesus’ return to his disciples and beginning his public ministry.
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