Daniel Defoe

In "The Education of Women," Daniel Defoe employs various rhetorical devices to advocate for women's education. He uses similes, comparing the soul to a "rough diamond" needing polishing, and...

Daniel Defoe wrote "On the Education of Women" to advocate for women's education. He argued it was barbarous for a civilized, Christian country to deny women education, especially when their...

Daniel Defoe's satirical poem "The True-Born Englishman" critiques xenophobia and the notion of a "pure" English identity by highlighting the mixed heritage resulting from foreign invasions. It...

In the preceding paragraphs from Roxana, the narrator was describing her actions and emotions, and in the last paragraph of the extract, the diction becomes more formal and serious, because she is...

Daniel Defoe's personal life significantly influenced his writings. He experienced numerous hardships, including surviving a plague and the Great Fire of London, losing his mother at thirteen, and...

Defoe argues that educated women would not seek to usurp men's roles, just as sensible men would not oppress women. He believes women are as intelligent as men and should be educated to become...

Defoe differentiates between "well-bred" and "ill-bred" women based on education rather than lineage. A "well-bred" woman, according to Defoe, is cultured and educated, making her more pleasant and...

A modern feminist response to Defoe's "An Academy for Women" might be mixed. While Defoe's view that women are primarily companions to men is seen as outdated and perpetuating gender inequality, some...

Defoe counters the prevailing view of his time that women are intellectually inferior by arguing that if God gave women the capacity to learn, it is intended for them to be educated. He suggests that...

In Daniel Defoe's A Journal of the Plague Year, symbolism and allegory are prominent literary devices. Symbolism is evident through the use of rats as representations of human fate; their health...

Robinson Crusoe is an adventurous man, who sets sail to explore despite his father's request that he pursue a career in law. He is also fearless almost to a fault, undertaking a sea voyage that...

The main themes in Robinson Crusoe include spiritual redemption and the importance of listening to a higher power, as Crusoe undergoes significant trials before surrendering to God's will....

Crusoe was unhappy as a slave because he found the experience degrading and undignified, especially for a white European who considered slavery as something meant for "lesser races." Despite being...