EDUCATIONIST LITERATURE

Introduction: Stephen Leacock's short story "My Lost Dollar" is a witty and entertaining tale that follows the narrator, a businessman, on his quest to get his friend Todd to pay back a one dollar loan. Along the way, he encounters a series of comical misadventures, including being swindled by a fraudulent money lender and getting lost in a strange city. The story is not just a lighthearted tale, however, as Leacock also uses it as a means of offering a satirical critique of the greed and corruption that can be found in modern society. Through the narrator's experiences, Leacock cleverly combines humor with social commentary, making "My Lost Dollar" a delightful and thought-provoking read. Theme: The theme of "My Lost Dollar" by Stephen Leacock is the idea of honesty and the moral guilt that comes with defaulting on debts, even small ones. The story follows the narrator's struggle to get his friend Todd to pay back a one dollar loan, and how th...

Introduction: "The Verger" is a short story written by British author W. Somerset Maugham. Maugham was a prolific writer who is known for his novels, plays, and short stories that explore themes of love, loss, and human nature. "The Verger" is a poignant tale about a man named Albert Edward Foreman, who works as the verger of a fashionable church in London. Despite his lack of formal education, Albert is a skilled and diligent worker who takes pride in his job. However, when a new vicar is appointed to the church, Albert is forced to confront the limitations of his illiteracy and the harsh realities of a society that values education above all else. Through the character of Albert, Maugham examines the theme of the power of determination and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Summary: In "The Verger," William Somerset Maugham tells the story of a man named Albert Edward Foreman, a verger at St Peter's Church in Neville Square....

Introduction William Shakespeare's sonnets are a collection of 154 poems that were likely written over a period of several years in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Sonnet 116 is one of the most famous and well-known of these sonnets, and is often cited as a celebration of true love. The sonnet is structured in the traditional form of a Shakespearean sonnet, with 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. Overview of Sonnet 116 Sonnet 116 begins with the speaker declaring that "love's not Time's fool," meaning that love is not subject to the passage of time or the changes and hardships that life brings. The speaker asserts that love is eternal and unchanging, and that it stands the test of time. The speaker also compares love to a "fixed mark" that "looks on tempests" and is not "shake[n]" by them, suggesting that love is steadfast and unyielding, even in the face of adversity. Themes in Sonnet 116 Love: Love is the cen...

Introduction "Astrophil and Stella" is a sonnet sequence written by Sir Philip Sidney in the late 16th century. The sequence consists of 108 sonnets and 11 songs, and is considered one of the greatest examples of Elizabethan love poetry. Sonnet 1 of "Astrophil and Stella" is titled "Loving in Truth, and Fain in Verse My Love to Show," and is a powerful and beautifully crafted poem that explores the theme of love. Overview of Sonnet 1 In the sonnet, the speaker (Astrophil) expresses his love for Stella and his desire to convey his feelings through poetry. The sonnet is structured in the traditional form of a Shakespearean sonnet, with 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. The poem opens with the speaker declaring his love for Stella and his intention to express this love through verse. The speaker acknowledges that his love for Stella is not the typical "fancy" or infatuation that is often depicted in poetry, but rather a deep and sinc...

  Introduction: Sonnet 65 by William Shakespeare is a poem that delves into the theme of time and its impact on youth and beauty. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic structure that consists of ten syllables per line with a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is abab cdcd efef gg. Quatrain 1: In the first quatrain of the sonnet, the speaker reflects on how time has the power to etch the "frosty signs of approaching age" and "death's second self" onto the face of a beautiful young man. The speaker compares time to a "death-bed" on which the young man lies, suggesting that time is an inexorable force that ultimately leads to the end of life. Quatrain 2: The second quatrain shifts to the theme of the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. The speaker compares the young man's beauty to a "gilded monument" that will eventually "waste" and be forgotten. The speaker also compares...

  Introduction: "Of Studies" is an essay written by Francis Bacon, a prominent English philosopher and statesman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. In this essay, Bacon explores the value and importance of studies in a person's life, offering insights and observations on the benefits and potential drawbacks of dedicating oneself to learning and intellectual pursuits. The Benefits of Studies: One of the main benefits of studies, as Bacon notes, is that they broaden the mind and enrich the intellect. By engaging in intellectual pursuits and exposing oneself to new ideas and perspectives, a person can expand their understanding of the world and their own capabilities. Studies can also help a person develop their critical thinking skills, which can be useful in evaluating information and making informed decisions in various areas of life. Additionally, studies can improve a person's writing and communication skills, which can be valuable assets in both p...