| "Henry
IV"(Part I) -- Shakespeare : This 10 page report discusses the characters of
Shakespeare’s "Henry IV, Part One" and illustrates how they provide
contrast to one another in their creation of the larger world of the play. Bibliography
lists 6 sources. Henry14.wps
Henry IV - Rite of Passage : A 5 page
analysis of Henry IV and his son Hal and their passage from tyrant and inconsiderate to
making amends with God, each other and Hal's subjects. One additional source cited. Henrrite.wps
Machiavelli’s Influence in
Shakespeare’s Henry VI : A 20 page paper looking at the way sixteenth-century
Florentine politician Niccolo Machiavelli influenced Shakespeare’s characterization
of the inept ruler in his three Henry VI plays (parts I, II, and III.) The paper
shows areas in which Shakespeare’s idea of "statesmanship" resembled
Machiavelli’s, as well as where it differed. Bibliography lists six sources. Henrymach.wps
"The Prodigal Hal" /
Re-Writing Henry IV for the 1960’s : An 8 page paper examining the
possibilities inherent in setting Henry IV, Part I in the 1960s instead of in the
Elizabethan era. The paper examines settings, costuming, lighting, and music, and whether
or not it would be advisable to update the dialogue at all. No additional sources cited. Henry.wps
Honor In Sir Gawain, Canterbury Tales, &
Henry IV : A 5 page paper comparing the views of honor and virtue in the three
works: Sir Gaiwan and the Green Knight, The Canterbury Tales, and Henry IV Part 1. No
additional sources cited. Greenhon.wps
Shakespeare’s "Henry V" / Treason
: An 8 page analysis of this theme as it is developed in the most patriotic of
Shakespeare’s histories. The paper concentrates on Henry’s condemnation of the
three traitors in the second act, and shows some of the reasons why this theme was so
important to Shakespeare himself. Bibliography lists 6 sources. Hentreas.wps
Henry V – The Character of the King :
A 5 page paper discussing Shakespeare’s "The Life of King Henry the Fifth"
and the character of King Henry himself. Bibliography lists three secondary sources used
with the text of the play. Henchar.wps
The Character of Falstaff : 4 pages
analyzing Shakespeare's use of the infamous character 'Falstaff'- specific emphasis on his
role in Henry V. No Bibliography. Falstaff.wps
Shakespeare’s
"Julius Caesar" / Characterization : A 5 page analytical examination of
characterization in this play. Julius Caesar is unique because the characterizations
Shakespeare produces are almost subjugated to the notion of politics, the state, and the
relationship between man and society. Bibliography cited approximately 5 additional
sources. Julius.wps
Marcus Brutus as the Quintessential
Shakespearean Tragic Hero in "Julius Caesar": This 5 page research paper
examines how Marcus Brutus represents William Shakespeare’s tragic hero, despite his
ultimate act of betrayal, the murder his friend and mentor, Julius Caesar. Specifically
considered are the elements of tragedy as defined by Shakespeare and how the character of
Brutus exemplifies these characteristics. Bibliography lists 5 sources. Brutus.rtf
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar / What Would
Cause a Person to Kill a Close Friend :
In 5 pages, the writer discusses "[The Tragedy of] Julius Caesar"
and examines the question of what would cause a person to kill a close friend. Ironically
the person in charge of the assassination was Marcus Brutus. Brutus was a servant and
close friend to Julius Caesar. What would cause a person to kill a close friend? To
determine this, a careful examination of Brutus' relationship to Caesar, his involvement
in the conspiracy, and his importance to the actual plot must be made." Bibliography
lists 4 sources. Jckill.wps
Sexuality in William Shakespeare’s
"Julius Caesar": This 6 page research paper examines how sexuality, both
overt and implied, are evident in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar
(1599). Bibliography lists 6 sources. Caesex.wps
Shakespeare’s
"King John" / The Character Of King John : A 10 page paper discussing
how the character of King John is a man of strength, flexibility, and power who uses these
attributes in a very positive manner until a time when he is faced with a serious choice.
He chooses wrongly and must give up his most prized possession only to have it returned.
King John is strong when it is needed and regal when faced with his duties. Like many
people during their lifetime, King John is faced with many different situations that call
for some sort of decision. The choices he makes in error, eventually lead him to a point
where he must relinquish that which he holds most dear, his crown. However, with the
relinquishing of that which he held so near to him, he is somehow saved and crowned once
again. He struggled long and hard to find he was king after all, having faced his error
and worked towards fixing it. Bibliography lists 6 sources. RAjohn.wps
Shakespeare’s "King John" / A
Failed Experiment : A 6 page paper on the difficulties presented by
Shakespeare’s play King John. The play argues that King John is simply not a good
play, and that its many deficiencies make it difficult to critique, stage, perform, and
enjoy. Bibliography lists three cited sources. Kingjohn.wps
The
Nature of Love in King Lear : A 10 page research paper concerning conditional and
unconditional love as shown by the characters in Shakespeare's play. The writer argues a
relevant thesis and details the nature of types of love and how each character exemplifies
it, with emphasis upon Lear and Cordelia. Bibliography lists 7 sources. Kinglea.2.wps
Earthly vs. Divine Justice In King Lear
: A 6 page paper contrasting the varying ways justice is defined in this epic work by
Shakespeare. The paper concludes that "earthly justice" is dispensed according
to subjective human affections and can thus be either merciful or cruel, while
"divine justice", or the forcible return of events to the way they were
originally ordained to be, is completely objective but not always what humans would call
"fair."Bibliography lists four sources. Kingdv.wps
The Protagonist’s Search for Identity in
King Lear : A 5 page analysis of the development of Lear’s own character. The
writer demonstrates how the play chronicles Lear’s growth until his suffering is made
complete by his realization of the part he played in his own downfall and the tragedy in
general. No additional sources cited. Lear4.wps
King Lear and Cordelia : A 5 page essay
exploring the irony of Cordelia's continued love and loyalty for and to her father, King
Lear, despite his mistreatment of her. The irony is seen in the fact that when Lear
finally realizes and can admit his mistake to Cordelia, it is too late. His curse of her
has been acted upon. This writer supports the opinion that the Fool is actually Cordelia
in disguise and cites text that suggest this is, in fact, true. No additional sources
cited. Cordel.wps
King Lear / Always A Positive Outcome :
A 5 page paper discussing the view that no matter how much adversity Lear faced, there was
always a way for him to rectify things, that he was always in control and each decision
would ultimately reap a positive end. Argument uses only Shakespeare's play. No additional
sources cited. Klear.wps
King Lear / Was He Truly Mad ? : A 7
page paper discussing whether the protagonist of Shakespeare’s play was really mad.
The paper concludes that at the beginning of the play he was only mildly senile, but was
gradually driven mad over the course of five acts from shock, humiliation, and grief. No
additional sources cited. Madlear.wps
King Lear / Appearance Vs. Reality : A
strong, 6 pages analysis of how King Lear is a study in duality. The
theme of appearance versus reality is a reoccurring one throughout the play and as the
writer demonstrates, nothing is as it seems. Bibliography lists 3 sources. Learapp.wps
King Lear & His Multi-faceted Personality
: A 7 page paper examining King Lear in terms of the statement "The power
of Shakespeare’s plays is that they present man simultaneously in all his
aspects." It argues that in Lear Shakespeare created a character who
encompasses good and evil, power and weakness, greed and generosity -- in short, all human
attributes -- within one personality, and does so convincingly. Bibliography lists 5
sources. King5per.wps
King Lear & The Question Of Man :
This 4 page paper examines the William Shakespeare play, King Lear in terms of how
it inherently attempts to answer the question, "What is man?" Learman.wps
King Lear’s Britain / A World Ruled by Evil
? : A 10 page paper analyzing the twin plots and three character groupings in
Shakespeare’s play. The paper shows that each of Lear’s characters has some
goodness (or at least a readily-understood motivation for his misdeeds), and that it takes
mitigating circumstances to bring out his or her wicked behavior. Thus, King Lear’s
Britain is not truly a world ruled by evil; it was Lear’s sin in the beginning that
sparks the later evil in the play. Bibliography lists 6 additional sources. Learbrit.wps
King Lear / Analysis Of Double Plot : A
5 page paper analyzing the twin plots of Shakespeare’s play -- that of the
dispossession of Lear by his two evil daughters, and the usurpation of Gloucester’s
lands and power by his illegitimate son. The paper shows that the moral of both stories is
the same: that we do not always judge our children according to their merits, but rather
by the show they put on -- and when we misjudge those closest to us in this way, disaster
cannot help but result. No additional sources cited. Lear2.wps
The Fool in King Lear : A 5 page
paper about the character of the Fool in King Lear. The writer describes why the Fool acts
as the only character with wisdom and insight, and the dramatic effect that this serves.
No additional sources cited. Kinglea.wps
Motif of Disguise in "King Lear"
: A 5 page paper on disguises and deception in Shakespeare's play. The writer
details the use of both physical and emotional disguises by the characters, and how this
works to advance the plot and also to describe characters. Bibliography lists 4 sources. Learmask.wps
King Lear / Goneril’s Soliloquy : A
4 page paper in which King Lear’s eldest daughter, Goneril, explains her wicked
behavior toward her father; her husband, Edmund; and her sisters, Regan and Cordelia from
her own, positive rationale. Bibliography lists 1 source. Goneril.wps
The Significance of Taking a Breath in King
Lear : 6 pages in length. An analytical look at the specific importance of taking
a breath in Shakespeare's "King Lear." Using several instances from the play --
as well as quotes from others -- the writer highlights Shakespeare's purposeful use of
this otherwise common human activity. Bibliography lists 4 supporting sources. Kinglear.wps
King Lear and Oedipus As Tragic Heroes :
A 5 page paper discussing Lear and Oedipus as tragic heroes, as defined by Aristotle.
Cites characteristics of each figure, discussing each man’s basic goodness and his
sense of right and wrong and how each deals with violations of his own conscience.
Bibliography lists 1 source. Learo.wps
Questioning Authority In Renaissance Drama :
A 6 page paper looking at Shakespeare’s King Lear, The Tempest, and
Spanish playwright Lope de Vega’s Fuente Ovejuna in terms of the degree to
which they permit characters to question and flout authority. The paper argues that this
has a great deal to do with the medieval view of government as a God-given hierarchy, and
only as humanism began to take hold could authority be questioned. Bibliography lists 5
sources. Devega.wps
Kingship And Downfall In Beowulf And Lear :
A 5 page paper comparing Beowulf and Shakespeare’s King Lear in terms of the
protagonists’ deaths at the end of their respective works of literature. The paper
observes that Beowulf’s overconfidence caused him to die precisely as he wanted -- a
hero -- while Lear’s vanity caused him to die a tragic and humbled death.
Bibliography lists 3 sources. Learbeo.wps
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