LitAide

The poem "Evelyn Hope" written by Robert Browning narrates a story of a hyper-optimistic narrator who choose not to grieve for her just dead beloved but plans his meeting with her in their next life. The poem is a testimony to Browning's lofty optimism. Equally unusual is the narrator who is aged three times his unrequited love. She didn't know him while she was alive. His excessive hopeful nature somewhat feels unrealistic. Browning's portrayal of the narrator resembles his other poems such as "My Last Duchess" and "Porphyria's Lover" where the narrator is mentally unstable and paranoid. Death is again there too of beloved's. Although here, in this poem the narrator talks philosophically about life and gives her dead beloved a leaf as a memento to remember him and his love for him in the next life. Stanza 1 The narrator begins the poem by informing the readers that the eponymous Evelyn Hope, a young girl is dead and he visits her. H

Recently, I read a play by  George Bernard Shaw as part of my syllabus. Before this play, I have read only his Saint Joan. That was about a heroic figure of Joan, based on historical figure of Joan of Arc. It was a serious play based on heresy charged upon Joan and how she was burned in cold blood. It was depressing to see the hero figure found guilty unfairly by a corrupt jury. Long arguments ensue throughout the play. This tendency to use argument is also used by Shaw in Arms and the man but it doesn't hold serious topics. Contrary to its title, it is not a serious play but a humourous one that ends with a happy note, resolving all tangles and secrets. The play is about Raina, a young Bulgarian maiden waiting for her lover who has gone to fight for Russian forces against Serbians. The theme is about the war but it describes not the seriousness, bloodshed but another side of soldiers, their human side. Raina, as she is young girl, never witnessed a war didn't not know the su