.... to fight with the army he has been serving for 30 years or to resign and go to Virginia to defend his home. Life in the army had ruined his life, “He had missed a father’s great joy of watching his children grow and learn... [and] try not to think about what his career had done to his family.” (Pg. 11) Throughout Part 1, Lee feels something missing from inside him: the feeling of action, of war. While in Texas, General Winfield Scott asks Lee to serve as second in command of the Union Army, but due to the possibility that Virginia could also secede, he declines. Still yearning for action, he accepts the command of the Provisional Army, the defense forces for the state o ....

.... Roland refuses to blow the horn. Genealogy in a hierarchical society is of great importance, and to fall into shame reflects not only on oneself, but on one's family and nation. The field on which the epic hero performs is grounded in socio-political and historical 'reality'. Charles Moorman writes that "the world in which Roland lives and fights is ... a very simple world, rigidly, and comfortingly, described by the laws of the Church and Emperor". Although elements of 'the miraculous' appear in the epic, they result in no more than a heightening or aggrandizement of reality. The epic heroes of Beowulf … [and] of Roland go down to defeat and in some sense are r ....

.... disrespected. Most of them were illiterate as well which did not help one bit. In turn they could not make intelligent decisions, better yet pursue what they wanted. Even if they had that ability though, that option was not available because they were "black". The details of the setting that influenced the actions of the characters were, again, the time period and where it took place. However this was not the only thing that persuaded the characters because they influenced each other. The citizens followed the crowd and did not have their own opinions. If some person's idea differed from that of the majority, he/she would not dare speak up because they feared ....

.... to show that Gawain possesses the necessary attributes to make him worthy of being tested. He also uses symbols throughout the tests of each individual attribute, and in revealing where Gawain's fault lies. The effective use of these symbols enables the author to integrate the test of each individual attribute into a central theme, or rather one overall test, the test of chivalry. To establish the knight as worthy, the author first shows Gawain's loyalty to his king. The Green Knight challenges anyone in the hall to the beheading game and no one takes him up on it. Arthur, angered by the Green Knight's taunting, is about to accept the challenge himself when Gawain ste ....

.... party, Stevens remains calm and goes on with his duties. After Stevens’ father passes away he says to Miss Kenton, “please don’t think me unduly improper in not ascending to see my father in his deceased condition just at this moment. You see, I know my father would have wished me to carry on just now” (106). Stevens is capable of going about his work after his father has died, which takes much emotional restraint. Although the reader may see this action as heartless, it is clear that Stevens respected and looked up to his father, therefore was upset by his death. Stevens believes his “father was indeed the embodiment of dignity” (34), which is what Stevens ....

.... talent and works hard at it 2. Pip finds himself and learns many lessons about life Many novels are based on the author’s life. Some of the novels were influenced by the author’s life. Often in cases like these, one author may write many novels with a similar theme, plot, setting, or characters. This is extremely true in Great Expectations. The main character in the novel, Pip, portrays a life that is similar to the life of Charles Dickens, his creator. It is evident that Charles Dickens drew on personal experiences in Great Expectations. Pip and Dickens have numerous similarities beginning in their childhood and ending in their adulthood. Both appear to ....

.... if she had made a different decision, her life would not have ended as tragically. When we first meet Emma, the future Madame Bovary, we perceive her as being a woman who is refined perhaps a bit more than the average peasant girl living on a farm. We conclude this because she attended a boarding school where she was taught “dancing, geography, needlework and piano.” (p.15) Charles, on the other hand, gives her more credit than she deserves. He regards her as well very educated, sophisticated, sensitive and loving, with the last characteristic being the one she lacks most. Soon after Emma marries Charles we see her unhappiness, and we are faced with a dilemma, why did ....

.... Scrooge's nephew, Fred. First, lets examine Ebenezer Scrooge, since he is the main character of the story, All 3 ghosts visit him. Through him, the lesson of the story is to be learned. In the book, he is made out to be Anti-Christmas and he is constantly commented about by characters in the book, some feeling pity, others feeling hostility. "External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he…Nobody ever stopped in the street to say, with gladsome looks, ‘My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?'. No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children ....