Although the genre of the Canterbury Tales as a whole is a “frame narrative,” the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales is an example of “Estates Satire,” a genre which satirizes the abuses that occur within the three traditional Estates into which medieval feudal society was traditionally divided. Referring to the hierarchal structure of the medieval society, theContinue Reading

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) was an English poet, author, and diplomat, often called the “Father of English Literature.” He is best known for The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury. Written in Middle English, it showcased Chaucer’s skill in character development,Continue Reading

The development of Jane Eyre’s character is central to Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre. The novel charts the growth of Jane, the first-person narrator, from her unhappy childhood with her nasty relatives, the Reeds, to her blissful marriage to Rochester at Ferndean. Reading, education, and creativity are all essential componentsContinue Reading

The Full Text of “Kubla Khan”                                 Or, a vision in a dream. A Fragment. 1   In Xanadu did Kubla Khan 2   A stately pleasure-dome decree: 3   Where Alph, the sacred river, ran 4   Through caverns measureless to man 5   Down to a sunless sea. 6   So twice fiveContinue Reading

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay is one of the greatest luminaries in the literary firmament of India and Bengal. He was a novelist, poet, Essayist and journalist. He was the author of Vande (or Bande) Mataram, which inspired the freedom fighters of India, and was later declared the National Song of India.Continue Reading

Robert Browning (1812–1889) was a renowned English poet and playwright, best known for his mastery of dramatic monologue and his deep psychological insight. He was one of the most significant poets of the Victorian era, celebrated for his intellectual rigor, character exploration, and innovative verse forms. Browning was born inContinue Reading

Although Jane Eyre contains a number of sharp criticisms of the treatment of women and the social roles assigned to them, it also demonstrates that women can live their lives on equal terms with – or independent of – men. Jane herself is the idealized version of Charlotte Bronte’s visionContinue Reading