James Jackson

At the very end of Chapter Three of “The Great Gatsby,” Nick Carraway finally discovers what it is about Jordan Baker that has been haunting him ever since he met her at The Buchanan’s that first...

One would have to go beyond the actual words of the novel, “The Swiss Family Robinson,” to see any weaknesses in the father, the main character of the book. The way he is depicted by the author he...

The book, “Swiss Family Robinson,” probably takes place around the turn of the 19th century.  There has been several versions of the novel that depict it taking place at many different times...

One of the key figures in the 1950’s, Samuel Beckett opened the doors for writers and audiences that had never been entered before.  His play, “Waiting for Godot,” came to be called by Martin...

Sammy, the narrator and protagonist of “A & P,” is a stereotypical nineteen-year-old working in a supermarket in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s in suburban America. He is bored with his job...

“The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Oscar Wilde’s only novel, is almost written in the style of a dramatic play rather than the conventions of the novel at the time. He does not seem to be concerned with...

“The Last Leaf,” by O. Henry, is the story of two women who live together in an apartment in Greenwich Village in New York around the turn of the twentieth century.  It is a typical O. Henry...

Emily Dickinson’s poetry has always been rife with metaphors and imagery, and “Where ships of purple gently toss” is a great example.  The “ships” have been interpreted as flowers in a garden...

The story is about giving the ultimate gift, a perfect act of love that cannot be expressed any other way. The young couple in the story is very poor, but they both sacrifice the things they love...

Why “Catch-22,” not “Catch-19”? The only people who know the answer to that question would be the author, Joseph Heller and one of his publishers, Candida Donadio.  There are no regulations or...

According to the Free Dictionary.com, “occurrence” simply means “something that takes place.” However, in a list of synonyms for the word,  it says, “a happening of no great importance.” When...

When a narrative starts with a scene that takes place not at the beginning of the action but somewhere else in the story, that’s called “in media res.” The Latin phrase literally means “in the...

“The Conspirator” is a movie that is relevant to the events that are happening in our country today.  The themes or patriotism and retribution for domestic terrorism brought out by the movie...

According to Daniel Snyder, among the most common themes in literature are “The Big Trick,” where someone or some group of people intentionally trick someone else, and “The Capriciousness of Fate,”...

“Dusk” is a short story about a con game.  Even in the civilized world of London, the theme of survival of the fittest, or better yet, how Fate can step in and bring down the arrogant, is...

Great question!  I believe the one who is the most responsible for the death of the family is the grandmother, and for two reasons. One, it is literally her that gets the family in harm's way...

In the opening scene of “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell’s use of violent imagery foreshadows the upcoming conflict by his description of the island and its evil reputation. Rainsford...

The Divine Comedy remains one of the world’s most popular literary classics because at the time it was written is was the epitome of knowledge and experience. It was also remarkable because Dante...

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is one of the author’s most famous works of prose fiction. It was first published in 1899 and it is considered a fictional autobiography since he based it on his...

At the end of WWII, the United States and the rest of the free world had a new threat to worry about---the spread of Communism. The U.S.S.R. was taking over many of the countries of central Europe,...

George Wilson worked at a garage on the outskirts of the “Valley of Ashes,” so one could make the obvious connection that he was covered in ashes because he worked there. However, the symbolism and...

Atticus needs the extension cord so he can take the lamp to the front of the jail and read while he’s sitting in the chair. It’s not just because he needs the light to see to read, but he wants...

In The Road we see a post-apocalyptic world where nothing will ever be the way it was before whatever cataclysmic occurrence caused all the destruction. By not giving any names to the characters,...

Odysseus’ bow was a gift that only he would be able to bend and string for shooting. It symbolizes Odysseus’ right to be kind of Ithaca by using it to reclaim his kingdom by defeating the suitors...