In light of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would have a look at a love poem and draw on some of my thoughts from my own heartbreak through my love of literature. Here’s Love after Love by Derek Walcott: The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each …
Crime and Punishment is a widely known novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, a giant of Russian literature, published in 1866. The book is not a crime novel: instead it is a novel where crime has happened. It is not a fast-paced thriller, but rather a fascinating slow-burner. Almost immediately the identity of the criminal is revealed, …
Continue reading Book Review: Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky
Most of us at some point in our lives have probably kept a diary or journal of some sort, either from a young age detailing school days or later into adolescence and present day. I recently discovered my old diaries from when I was ages 10-13, whilst amusing reliving moments from my younger self, (mainly …
Continue reading ‘Dear Diary’: The Power of The Unique Literary Genre
“Philosophy is concerned with the meaning of human life, whether there is any such meaning and whether the human can be made an object of systematic study.” – Riet Turksma. This concern and insight into searching for answers to humanity and the world’s ‘big questions’ which are seemingly unanswerable, makes for interesting discussion which accounts for …
Continue reading Feminism and its importance for the future of philosophy
The Waves published in 1931 is Virginia Woolf’s “play-poem” as she called it; a colloquy of six voices, experimenting through the lives of Bernard, Jinny, Louis, Neville, Rhoda and Susan as they evolve, grow and debate with their identities, thoughts and attempts to say “I am this, I am that”. The Waves represents, in a career filled with …
Satire, “the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.” Satire has been used throughout history to express opinions and its significance is vast in providing context for many controversies and important moments in society. The Punch Magazine was one such …
“...when pain is over, the remembrance of it often becomes a pleasure.” Volume II, Chapter VIII Austen has often been the source of profound morals which have been weaved seamlessly into her characters and plot lines and Persuasion is no exception. Let’s begin by looking at the title, often overlooked when you start a novel – but a …
This is my recent essay comparing John Webster's, 'The Duchess of Malfi' and a selection of Samuel Coleridge's poetry, an interesting comparison nevertheless; but it was a part of my A level English course (OCR exam board, mark 30/30). Both Webster and Coleridge explore the conflict between order and chaos via the symbolism of religion, …
Continue reading ‘Literature explores the conflict between order and chaos’
“The book is better than the movie”. For decades, readers have reiterated the same phrase when new films are released, “the book is better than the film” the line became a critical reflex in reaction to one mediocre screen version after the other. Arguably movies such as the ‘The Hunger Games’ or the ‘Golden compass’ …
Continue reading How literature is vital for the Silver Screen
10 books to relax and fall in love with over the summer... Me Before You: the trilogy by JoJo Moyes The Trilogy follows the story of Louisa Clark through love, heartbreak, and life-changing decisions as she discovers who she really is. Louisa is an ordinary girl living a small village with her close family and …
SIMON NIXON; THE TIMES AND JOURNALISM IN THE 21STCENTURY On Tuesday afternoon a group of students and I met with Simon Nixon, Chief Leader Writer of The Times; where Simon discussed his career and the role/nature of journalism. Simon is also Chief European Commentator of the Wall Street Journal. He joined the WSJ in 2008 and was …
Saying “I don’t like poetry” is like saying “I don’t like books” – there are so many different types of poems, in so many different styles and forms, that it’s virtually impossible to group them into a single category. In an ode to the odes, poetry critic Stephen Burt demonstrates through lyrical explication that the practice of poetry …
