Marie Mitchell Olesen Urbanski reflects on the parallels between a literary work and biblical suggestions in her essay "Existential Allegory: Joyce Carol Oates "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?" (Studies in Short Fiction, 1978.) In her criticism, she compares the story of Con...

Perhaps one of the great hallmarks of a great work of fiction is its ability to appear to have been written for the age during which it is being read, regardless of how far back in time it was written. In other words, Joyce Carol Oates' story might strike a contemporary adolescent or young...

It is no secret that Joyce Carol Oates' short story "Accursed Inhabitants of the House of Bly" is a re-working of Henry James' literary work "The Turn of the Screw". However a ever burning question that becomes evident when reading Joyce's short story is what exact...

Joyce Carol Oates short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" takes up many troubling issues. Connie, the main charcter, who is fifteen exhibits the confusing, often superficial behavior typical of a teenage girl facing the difficult transition from girlhood to womanhood. She is...

"The Lady with the Pet Dog" A story of lost and born again love: both Anton Chekhov's 1899 original as well as Joyce Carol Oates' version of "The Lady with the Pet Dog" deal with the love lives and the unhappiness of two individuals. Anton Chekhov tells the story of Gurov – a well-to- do m...

The suspense thriller Camp Fear by Carol Ellis is a compelling story who's intricate plot, theme, characters, language and style make it an excellent read which you won't be able to put down. Therefore because of these reasons this novel should definitely be included in the reading list fo...

Similar Meanings When looking at two stories, "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor and "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates, many similarities are seen. A possible reason for many of the similarities between the two stories is du...

The Transition to Adulthood Most people in society hold a stereotypical conception of most teenagers. Many individuals have the notion that all teenagers act before they really think of the consequences of what they are exactly getting themselves into. They think teenagers are self-centered and...

We have read or heard many stories throughout our lives. We know that stories can vary in purpose: They can either teach a moral lesson or entertain. Some stories interest us; others do not. In order for a story to be interesting, it must be told in a way that does not bore or confuse the reader....

Joyce Carol Oates presents a description of an adolescent girl's disaffection with her family and rape by Arnold Friend in the short story "Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Throughout the story the reader watches Connie, the central character, reject her family, friends and self in an a...

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the short story "Murder-Two" by Joyce Carol Oates. Specifically, it will analyze the character of "Booger" in the story. "Murder-Two" is a chilling tale of a young, upscale man who kills his mother, under his alter ego, "Boogerman." ...

Chris Roberts 12-7-99 College Writing Ms. Dillon Comparisons of Real and Fiction While reading the book Theft by Joyce Carol Oates I found that often enough or for the whole time I did not think that the story was fiction at all. It drew me into its reality and then gave it an endin...

An Unforgettable Night After reading Joyce Carol Oates story, “ The Night Nurse,” revenge is what is found. This story starts off by a woman by the name of Grace Burkhardt, collapsing at a shopping mall because of a reason that was unknown at the time. She is taken in an ambulance...

Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is a short story that amplifies the importance of knowing where you are and what you are doing, especially your children. In this story the main character, Connie, is a 15-year-old girl who falls victim to a rape and murder by Arnold ...

In the short story "Life after High School" by Joyce Carol Oates, Zachary, one of the main characters, struggles with his love for Barbara Burhman. This struggle ultimately leads to his death. Throughout the story the three characters, Barbara, Zachary, and Tobias mask themselves by hidin...

Human beings are naturally burdened with character imperfections that, to a great extent, define who they are as people. The idiosyncrasies, character flaws, actions, and turns of phrase characteristic of every individual are personifications of the "not so perfect" world. In literature,...

Upon reading Welty's stories you realize they are not what they appear, but are merely allusions used to portray a deeper meaning. There are many factors that can be contributed to the effective portraying of Welty's allusions. A good example would be how her characters become almost lif...

Love Conquers All In "A Worn Path" Eudora Welty's plot is not all that clear in the beginning of her short story, but progresses as her character carries on against all of the overwhelming forces against her. In this short story a black elderly woman, Phoenix Jackson, must ov...

The religious symbolism and undertones of Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People" The short story "Good Country People," by Flannery O'Connor, is a work that uses both irony and symbolism to convey to the reader a religious message. The heroine, Hulga Hopew...