Written by Sophocles around 425 BCE, "Oedipus Rex" is a classic Greek tragedy that depicts the struggle between man and fate. Oedipus' story forms the foundation for the symbolic conflict between sons and fathers, a theme that has lost none of its dramatic punch in the ensuing centuries. The meticulous scholarship presented in this new "Bloom's Guides" title offers its readers fresh insight into this time-honored classic.
This latest edition of the Bloom's Notes series focuses on John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Numerous critical essays examine various aspects of the piece, including the unrealistic characters, dramatic elements, the novel as a comedy, the unity of the novel, and more. The text includes a brief biography of Steinbeck, as well as structural and thematic analysis of the novel.
The second of the two great epic poems attributed to Homer, this poem takes place after its hero, Odysseus, "sacked the sacred citadel of Troy" and describes his perilous, 10-year voyage home.
"Night", a memoir by concentration camp survivor and Nobel Peace Prize - winner Elie Wiesel, is a key work of Holocaust literature. It bears witness to the horrors endured by a teenage boy whose freedom and family are forcibly wrested from him. This new study guide to Wiesel's moving story also features an annotated bibliography, a listing of other works by the author, and an introduction by literary scholar Harold Bloom.
Set in Chicago in the 1930s, Richard Wright's novel tells the unforgettable story of Bigger Thomas, a brutal murderer caught in a cycle of racism and poverty in inner-city America. Though critics often debate the effectiveness of Bigger's character, nearly all agree on the power of Wright's tale. This new guide presents a comprehensive critical look at this important work, delving into both its literary significance and social impact.