In this blog post, we’ll take a step-by-step look at Jules Renard’s life, the background behind his masterpiece ‘The Beetroot’, the work’s content and the historical context of its time, and the process of adapting it for the stage. The Life of Jules Renard (Jules Renard, 1864–1910) French novelist and playwright Jules Renard was born on February 22, 1864, in Salon-du-Mén...
Why Do the Chinese Still Refer to Lu Xun as the “Soul of the Nation”?
In this blog post, we’ll explore why Lu Xun, a master of modern Chinese literature, is still referred to as the “Soul of the Nation” today. Focusing on ‘The Diary of a Madman’ and ‘The True Story of Ah Q’, we’ll examine his literary world, his critique of the nation, and his timeless influence. In the history of modern Chinese literature, just as Hu Shi is regarded...
In Search of the Chinese Classic ‘Records of the Warring States’: How to Read the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the Qin Unification
In this blog post, we’ll focus on ‘In Search of the Chinese Classic ‘Records of the Warring States’: How to Read the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the Qin Unification’ to naturally summarize and examine—in a single sentence—the background, main content, and the core meanings and impressions revealed throughout the text. The Contemporaneity...
What Can We Discover Through ‘Crime and Punishment’?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the questions we can ask ourselves as we read Fyodor Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’ and reflect on them together. As we turn to Fyodor Dostoevsky’s (1821–1881) ‘Crime and Punishment’, let’s imagine ourselves for a moment as earnest young people swept up in passion and pose some profound questions. Though these are weighty...
How Did George Orwell’s Literary World Change as a Result of His Experiences in Burma and His Sense of Guilt?
In this blog post, we examine how his real name, class consciousness, and the sense of guilt he felt during his time as a police officer in Burma simultaneously revealed both George Orwell’s political and critical insights and the limitations of his fiction through ‘The Elephant Hunt’ and ‘Burmese Days’. Name, Background, and Early Disposition George Orwell, widely...
Why does George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ still serve as a warning to us today?
In this blog post, we’ll explore, one by one, how George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ illustrates how ignorance and power combine to give rise to dictatorship, through key scenes and the symbolism of its characters. Prologue: A Warning Revealed in a Single Sentence “All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.” This single sentence encapsulates the core warning...
How Did George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ Become a Paradigm of Political Writing?
In this blog post, we’ll examine how Orwell’s experiences in Burma and Spain led to ‘Animal Farm’ and his political writing, focusing on allegory and the publication process. George Orwell and His Literary Standing British novelist George Orwell is widely known for ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘1984’, both of which have long been regarded as classics. ‘Animal...
What is the appeal of Geoffrey Chaucer and ‘Troilus and Criseyde’?
In this blog post, we will examine Geoffrey Chaucer’s life and major works, with a particular focus on the plot and analysis of ‘Troilus and Criseyde’. The Life of Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) Known as the “Father of English Literature,” Geoffrey Chaucer was a leading poet of medieval England, and his reputation remains highly regarded in the history of world literature to this...
The Controversy Over Jane Austen’s Face and the Twists and Turns of ‘Northanger Abbey’: What Do They Tell Us?
In this blog post, taking the Bank of England’s controversy over the selection of a portrait for the pound note as a starting point, I will explore how Jane Austen’s real life, the debate over the authenticity of her portrait, and the curious publication history of ‘Northanger Abbey’ intersect with her literary works and public image. The Debate Over British Faces and Portraits...
In Search of ‘The Red and the Black’: Why Should We Read It?
In this blog post, we’ll focus on Stendhal’s ‘The Red and the Black’ to explore the function of the novel, as well as the characters, historical context, and the author’s life as depicted in the work. Stendhal and the Mirror of the Novel “The novel is a mirror that one carries along the road.” This is a quote that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of Stendhal. It is...