BA Literature - Themes of Nature, Kindness, and Survival in Literature môn English Studies| Trường Đại học Thăng Long

15:24, 09/01/2026
BA Literature - Themes of Nature, Kindness, and Survival in Literature - Studocu
The theme of nature in the first poem of “Poem of Nature” by Emily Dickinson is
expressed through its apparent simplicity and its incomprehensibility to humans.
Nature is portrayed as simple because it is accessible through our senses; we can
“see” its presence in our surroundings and “hear” a variety of sounds from different
sources. The world’s diversity can be vividly experienced. When individuals open
their eyes, they observe elements like “the Hill, the Afternoon, Squirrel, Eclipse, and
the Bumblebee.” Sounds such as “the Bobolink, the Sea, Thunder, and Cricket”
further illustrate this experience. From the writer’s perspective, nature is not only
straightforward but also easily felt and understood.However, despite this simplicity,
Dickinson seems dissatisfied with the concept that nature consists solely of “what
we see” and “what we hear.” Given the vastness of the world, it is impossible to
claim that we can perceive everything within nature. This realization leads to the
characterization of nature as “Heaven” and “Harmony,” which are abstract
concepts, contrasting with the tangible elements like “hill, squirrel, thunder.” Thus,
nature reveals itself as both magnificent and intangible. Consequently, people can
only engage with it through imagination, as its essence eludes full understanding.
Dickinson poignantly notes that it possesses “no art to say”; we may know it in our
hearts, yet we struggle to articulate it with our minds. This highlights the idea that
even though nature is present in our lives, its full essence transcends what we can capture or articulate.
In the except of The adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom is depicted as a mischievous
and intelligent boy. Tom's mischievous nature is evident in his preference for play
over work. Initially, he feels the weight of his punishment, reflecting on the joy of a
“company at the pump”. This contrast highlights Tom's unwillingness to accept his
fate of painting the fence alone. Rather than resigning himself to the task, he
devises a clever plan to escape it. Only with that mischievous personality, did Tom not
easily accept the punishment but instead thought of a plan to escape his mission. Tom
is also intelligent for his age as He understands people's psychology. when trying to
persuade Jim to change jobs, offered various incentives beyond just "marvel," "white
alley." Recognizing human greed, he knew people often seek more than they give. Even
when the initial exchange faltered, he tapped into Jim's curiosity by promising to show
him "sore toe," which proved to be an immediate success. Moreover, his manipulation of
Ben into working for him highlighted his intelligence. Initially, he dismissed Ben, then
rejected his offer three times, ultimately claiming it was a privilege to be chosen for a
job meant for "one boy in a thousand." He also emphasized that "whitewashing a fence
every day" is no easy task, transforming his own job into something rare and difÏcult to
attain. All of this demonstrates Tom's deep psychological grasp.
In O. Henry's "The Last Leaf," the themes of kindness and hope are clearly depicted.
Kindness is evident through the selfless actions of the characters. Sue dedicates her
time and effort to care for Johnsy, even cries a lot when hearing Jonhsy’s condition. The
doctor, too, shows kindness by promising “all that science” to save Johnsy’s life. Most
notably, Behrman always considers as “especial mastiff-in-waiting” to protect the “2
young artists”, makes the ultimate sacrifice, giving his own life to paint the last leaf, 15:24, 09/01/2026
BA Literature - Themes of Nature, Kindness, and Survival in Literature - Studocu
which instills hope in Johnsy, eventhough he is not Johnsy’s friends. These acts of
kindness highlight the strength of friendship and the compassion that exists between
people, even among strangers. Hope is another central theme. Johnsy clings to the hope
of recovering and fulfilling her dream of painting a picture of “the Bay of Naples”.
Behrman is always “about to paint a masterpiece”. He The doctor remains optimistic
about Johnsy’s recovery, while Sue holds on to the hope that her friend will get better.
Together, these hopes illustrate how hope can sustain life and passion, motivating
individuals to persevere even in the face of despair. Through kindness and hope, O.
Henry conveys a powerful message about the resilience of the human spirit and the
importance of supporting one another in times of need.
The picture of the last leaf in “The Last leaf” by O.Henry is depicted as a representation
of hope and considered as a masterpiece. Mr. Behrman’s decision to create the artwork
reflects his desire to restore Johnsy’s will to live, believing that the sight of the last leaf
will rekindle her hope for recovery. he painting is not merely a piece of art; it symbolizes
the idea that creativity can be a powerful force for saving lives. Besides, the picture
brings a great value. the painting is made wholeheartedly and selflessly. Mr. Behrman
goes out on a “dreadful night” to create a painting that would inspire hope in Johnsy,
showing his deep commitment despite his own health issues. His artwork is so realistic
that even an artist like Johnsy, when laying "for a long time looking at it" does not
realize it is just an artificial work. In the end, the painting of the last leaf is made to
foster hope and save Johnsy during difÏcult times in a hash weather, which it
successfully achieved. This dedication helped the painting become a masterpiece.
Curly’s death in “Call of the Wild” by Jack London symbolizes the harshness of the
environment and the inevitable defeat of the unfit. Curly, characterized by her innocent
desire to "make advances" to a husky, attempts to flirt in her "friendly way." However,
she is swiftly defeated, as the husky, despite being “not half so large as she,” perceives
her friendliness as a potential threat. This interaction illustrates that in such a brutal
environment, the dogs are unable to trust one another, and genuine friendliness is
virtually nonexistent. The husky’s immediate attack on Curly underscores the harsh
reality that every dog must learn to defend itself against perceived enemies.
Additionally, the cruelty of this setting is vividly depicted through the scene of "thirty or
forty huskies" surrounding Curly in a "silent circle," licking “their chops” and revealing
their intentions to feast on her. Their struggle for survival exemplifies the extreme
challenges presented by their environment, where they must "scramble even for food."
Curly's defeat clearly highlights her unfitness for this world; as a new dog on the team,
she lacks the knowledge and experience necessary to navigate such brutality. Her
innocent friendliness ultimately leads to her demise, emphasizing that in this
unforgiving setting, elimination of the unfit is unavoidable.
Buck’s transformation in “Call of the Wild” by Jack London is vividly depicted through
both his physical and mental evolution. Physically, Buck begins to adapt to his harsh
environment, shedding his domesticated traits. He becomes stronger and more agile,
developing muscles that are “hard as iron.” His senses also sharpen; his sight and smell
become “remarkably keen,” allowing him to “bite the ice out” and break the “thick ice”
by “rearing and striking.” These changes reflect his new life in the wild, where survival 15:24, 09/01/2026
BA Literature - Themes of Nature, Kindness, and Survival in Literature - Studocu
demands not just resilience but also strength and adaptability.Mentally, Buck undergoes
a more complex transformation. While he develops physically, his mental evolution
seems to take a retrogressive turn as he learns to navigate the brutal realities of his
environment. He becomes adept at stealing food, doing so “secretly and cunningly,”
and allows other dogs to take the blame for his misdeeds. This shift indicates that his
moral nature is “going to pieces”; he is morphing into a more cunning and primal
version of himself, embracing the harsh lessons of survival.
1. What belief did the naturalist movement in america stress?
the limitations of social conditions and heredity on man’s capacity to change
2. Transcendentalism is a movement stressed the divinity of man
3. They belived that the clergy and government should act as intermediaries between the individual and god
4. Writers in the romantic time period were concerned with nature and emotion
5. What did the movement called realism attempt to do? Present lifee as it realy is
6. Which document served as the first constitutionof the united states? articles of confederation
7. During the colonial time period, which religious persuasion influenced literature the most? puritants 8. All the reasons 15:24, 09/01/2026
BA Literature - Themes of Nature, Kindness, and Survival in Literature - Studocu