: Dream Children

Introduction
Fullscreen
Written about a dream world, the essay Dream Children by Charles Lamb belongs
to his famous work Essays of Elia (1823) published in London magazines. Referring
to himself by the pseudonym Elia, Lamb has penned down the essays as personal
accounts of his life devoid of any didactic or moral lessons.Enriched with humour,
pathos and regret for the time long gone, Lamb’s essays leave an everlasting
impression on the minds and hearts of the readers.
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Fullscreen
Written about a dream world, the essay Dream Children by Charles Lamb belongs
to his famous work Essays of Elia (1823) published in London magazines. Referring
to himself by the pseudonym Elia, Lamb has penned down the essays as personal
accounts of his life devoid of any didactic or moral lessons.
Enriched with humour, pathos and regret for the time long gone, Lamb’s essays
leave an everlasting impression on the minds and hearts of the readers.
Summary
Charles Lamb begins his essay Dream Children by describing to his young children
Alice and John the tales of his childhood when he used to live with his great-
grandmother, Mrs Field. In a nostalgic tone, Lamb narrates to the children the
humorous details of his time spent in his great grandmother’s house; the love
between the two brothers, Charles and John, their frequent wanderings and
mischiefs in the grand house and their memories of the Orchid trees and the fish
pond.
The tone of the essay shifts from humorous to tragic when Lamb describes the
death of his beloved brother and great-grandmother whom he loses at an early
age of his life. The essayist’s unfulfilled longings and desires are also evident in his
work when he narrates to the children the events and incidents from his past life.
The essay highlights the themes of loss and regret in Lamb’s life. The essayist
reflects nostalgically on his childhood and regrets the loss of his dear ones.He also
feels depressed on the loss of his unrequited love Alice and regrets not marrying
her. Moreover, Lamb regrets that the happy and joyous days of his childhood are
gone in a blink of an eye.
During his adulthood, Lamb takes his loneliness to the heart desperately yearning
for the return of the old happier days of his life. The essay reaches its climax when
the readers become aware of the reality that the children listening to Lamb’s
stories are nothing but a figment of his imagination and a dream of a sleeping
man.Fullscreen
Written about a dream world, the essay Dream Children by Charles Lamb belongs
to his famous work Essays of Elia (1823) published in London magazines. Referring
to himself by the pseudonym Elia, Lamb has penned down the essays as personal
accounts of his life devoid of any didactic or moral lessons.
Enriched with humour, pathos and regret for the time long gone, Lamb’s essays
leave an everlasting impression on the minds and hearts of the readers.
Summary
Charles Lamb begins his essay Dream Children by describing to his young children
Alice and John the tales of his childhood when he used to live with his great-
grandmother, Mrs Field. In a nostalgic tone, Lamb narrates to the children the
humorous details of his time spent in his great grandmother’s house; the love
between the two brothers, Charles and John, their frequent wanderings and
mischiefs in the grand house and their memories of the Orchid trees and the fish
pond.
The tone of the essay shifts from humorous to tragic when Lamb describes the
death of his beloved brother and great-grandmother whom he loses at an early
age of his life. The essayist’s unfulfilled longings and desires are also evident in his
work when he narrates to the children the events and incidents from his past life.
The essay highlights the themes of loss and regret in Lamb’s life. The essayist
reflects nostalgically on his childhood and regrets the loss of his dear ones.
He also feels depressed on the loss of his unrequited love Alice and regrets not
marrying her. Moreover, Lamb regrets that the happy and joyous days of his
childhood are gone in a blink of an eye.
During his adulthood, Lamb takes his loneliness to the heart desperately yearning
for the return of the old happier days of his life. The essay reaches its climax when
the readers become aware of the reality that the children listening to Lamb’s
stories are nothing but a figment of his imagination and a dream of a sleeping
man.
This essay, revolving around the happy childhood days and the lonely adult age,
brings to mind the transient nature of life where nothing remains forever in an
individual’s life.
Conclusion
Dream Children by Charles Lamb highlights the pain and regret of losing loved
ones in life persuading the essayist to indulge in a dream world fantasy in order to
reflect upon the sweet memories of the days gone by.Enriched with pathos, the
essay describes the importance of childhood and the dear ones in the life of an
individual without whom the world appears to be a dark alley suffocating the
individual at every turn.“We are not of Alice, nor of thee, nor are we children at
all. The children of Alice call Bartrum father. We are nothing; less than nothing,
and dreams. We are only what might have been, and must wait upon the tedious
shores of Lethe millions of ages before we have existence, and a name.” A Funeral
by E.V. Lucas
DERMOT CITE POST
In A Funeral by E.V. Lucas we have the theme of friendship, respect, generosity,
acceptance and loss. Taken from his A Little of Everything collection the reader
realises after reading the essay that Lucas may be exploring the theme of
friendship. Lucas speaks highly of his friend (who is unnamed) and there is a sense
that there will be a gap in Lucas’ life now that his friend has died. There is also a
degree of respect among those who have attended the funeral. Though the
numbers are limited all have fond memories of the deceased. Something that is
noticeable at the end of the essay when the procession attends a hostelry. Perhaps
to talk about the topic of their friend or having a more general discussion on the
subject of death. The fact that the boys continue to play football may also be
important as they might be showing the ultimate respect for the deceased who
would have wished for them to continue playing football. If anything this is a sign
of the deceased nobility. Putting others before himself. Something that he has
done on previous occasions in his life. Not only when defending Lucas but also on
the bus when defending the old woman. Who the deceased felt was being treated
badly by the conductor.
What is also interesting about the essay is the fact that no one is able to decipher
the deceased’s writing. The years he toiled over his work may have come to
nothing. Which may be the point that Lucas is attempting to make. He may be
suggesting that regardless of what a person does in life the reality is they may
leave nothing behind and they certainly can’t take anything with them. All that
remains for those left behind is memories and Lucas’ memories of his friend are
full of fondness. He liked the deceased and he liked his company. Even if at times
he may not have been as well read or educated as the deceased. This did not stop
Lucas from enjoying his company or his whisky punch. If anything Lucas may have
felt enlightened when in the deceased’s company as too were others who
attended the funeral. Regardless of how small the attendance might have been.
On the subject of attendance Lucas could also be suggesting that in life you will
have few true friends though your life may be full of acquaintances. Something
that seems to be very much the case for the deceased funeral.
It might also be important that Lucas does not have any bad memories about the
deceased as this would highlight the esteem that the deceased was held in by
Lucas. Also Lucas feels it is better that his friend died rather than have to live the
remainder of his life as an invalid and dependent on others. Which may leave
some readers to suggest that the quality of an individual’s life is important to
Lucas. It is better to be able than to live and be unable. Which was the only option
available to the deceased. It is for this reason that there is no real sadness
attached to the deceased funeral. All concerned are able to celebrate his life with
fondness even if he may have had a temper. Though it is noticeable that the
deceased used his temper in order to help others who may not necessarily be able
to help themselves. If anything the deceased was there for people when he saw an
injustice or when he perceived that an injustice may have occurred.
In general Lucas appears to accept what has happened and rather than grieve with
tears of sadness prefers instead to remember all the good points that his friend
had. He knows that his academic skills will be missed as they are not matched by
anyone else and that may be the true loss in the essay. When a person dies they
leave everything behind without being able to give a full explanation to others of
their affairs. Many people who die have work left undone that is like the
deceased’s work, undecipherable. Leaving others at a loss as to what the work
could mean. The work like some people’s memory of the deceased will be long
forgotten with the passing of time but for others. They will continue to try and
honour their friend and decipher his intentions. As to whether they will succeed is
another thing as thy have no real template to work off and cannot ask the
deceased what he may have written. Probably the best thing that Lucas can do for
the deceased is to continue to talk respectfully of him and to hold onto each
particular memory he has of him. By doing so the deceased will have lived on in
some way.
The Selfish Giant Summary
The Selfish Giant opens with children enjoying the garden of the Giant while he is
away for a long time. The children's presence in the garden causes it to be spring
in the garden, irrespective of the time of year outside the garden. When the Giant
returns from his visit to a friend (the Cornish Ogre), he hears the children playing
in the garden and is irritated that they are in his place. He scares the children
away, builds a wall, and displays a 'no trespassing sign'. The Giant did not know
that without the children, his garden would always be in a state of winter and
loneliness. One day, the Giant hears a bird chirping from his bed. Thinking that it is
finally spring, the Giant discovers that children are in his garden. He recognizes
that he has been selfish and sees a child crying because he cannot climb a tree and
that corner of the garden is still in winter. When the Giant assists the child into the
tree, the tree immediately bursts into bloom, and the child vanishes. The Giant
opens his garden to the children and is no longer selfish. Years later, the Giant sees
the small boy again. This time, the boy has wounds on his hands and feet and
offers to take the Giant to his garden in "Paradise". The children find the Giant has
died, but he is covered in blooms.

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde Analysis

The Selfish Giant is a rich story with deep meaning. The story is Christian in nature;
although Wilde's personal religious beliefs remain contested, there is some
evidence that he converted to Roman Catholicism while he was dying. For
instance, the small boy that the Giant helps to climb into the tree later takes the
Giant to "Paradise" (heaven). When Giant asks about the wounds in his hands and
feet, the boy calls them "wounds of love". This reflects the Christian tradition
regarding Jesus Christ and the wounds endured at the Crucifixion.
The children cause the seasons to change in the Giant's garden. Openness and
generosity to others, especially to those who cannot give anything material, can
reveal the greatest rewards. This story is empowering for the child audience, and it
celebrates childhood. Playfulness, childhood, and friendship are the things that
make the world enjoyable.
The Character of the Selfish Giant
The character of the Selfish Giant shows the conversion. At first, the character is
selfish, but, in the end, he is generous. The Selfish Giant is changed forever
through his interaction with the children. The virtue of generosity is explored as
the Giant recognizes his selfishness and changes. The Giant is representative of
human choices and how people can decide to be generous or selfish, open or
closed to others. The character experiences joy and the fullness of life only when
he is fully open to others and does not expect anything in return.
Themes of The Selfish Giant
There are several themes in the story of The Selfish Giant. These themes include
selfishness, salvation, friendship, and kindness.
: Lesson Summary
The Dream is O. Henry's final short story and was left incomplete because of his
death. He left behind notes, however, which indicate the direction that he had
planned for the story. The Dream is about Murray, who is on death row and whose
execution is scheduled for 8 o'clock on the evening that the story takes place.
When Murray reaches the execution room, however, he suddenly ''wakes up'' to
find himself back with his family. Sadly, he then ''wakes up'' again to find himself
being executed. This story makes the reader consider their own experiences with
dreams and reality.
: Analysis
O. Henry never explains exactly what the reader is to make of this; he did not even
complete the story before dying, so any analysis will be based on incomplete data.
However, it is clear that at least part of what O. Henry was trying to do was to call
into question how any of us understands our reality. The ending, where it is
unclear whether Murray is continuing to dream or dreaming within a dream,
leaves the reader wondering whether we can be absolutely sure which of Murray's
realities is ''real.'' It is likely that he really was executed since the most probable
scenario is that he panicked, fainted, dreamed of his family, and then woke up
when his execution began. But the fact that we cannot be certain of Murray's
reality makes us consider our own experiences with dreams as well as how we
understand our own reality
The Three Strangers by Thomas Hardy: Summary & Analysis
Instructor: Beth Hendricks
In Thomas Hardy's story ''The Three Strangers,'' the lives of three characters
converge into one comical story. Learn about the party, the arrivals of the
strangers, the revealing of the strangers, and an analysis of the story
Summary..... The story of "The Three Strangers" is told from a point of view fifty
years after the main events occur.
On a rainy evening at Higher Crowstairs, a remote house on a hill about five miles
from town, a shepherd's family is celebrating the christening of their second
daughter. The house is cozy and full of happy guests. There are nineteen people of
various ages and occupations attending the celebration, and they all greatly enjoy
one another's company.
Mrs. Fennel, the shepherd's wife, attempts to assert some control over the party
to align with her frugal ways. She figures equal amounts of talking and dancing to
the fiddle will prevent the guests from developing appetites for her food and drink.
Despite careful calculations, her plan does not come to fruition because Mr.
Fennel is prone to "exhibit the most reckless phases of hospitality."
As a cheerful dance comes to an end and brings silence to the interior of the
cottage, a stranger coming from the direction of the town knocks on the door of
the cottage. This man, about forty years of age, gaunt, and dignified, despite his
worn clothing, is immediately given a warm welcome. Mr. Fennel, with his
boundless generosity, wants nothing more than for this stranger to get out of the
rain and rest. The stranger is given mead to drink and tobacco to smoke, and he
settles himself in the chimney corner.
Themes and Meanings..... Identity
A prevailing theme of “The Three Strangers” is first alluded to in the title. Identity
plays a vital role in the story and means something different in the lives of the
three strangers: the first stranger hides his identity, the second stranger makes a
riddle of his, and the third has his identity mistaken.
First and foremost, the first stranger’s carefulness in not revealing his identity
saves him from hanging. The story ends with the first stranger being discovered as
the escaped prisoner. Thanks to the second stranger, the guests are aware that
Timothy Summers is the name of the man meant to be hanged for sheep stealing.
Still, the first stranger is not identified in this way until it is too late for him to be
apprehended.
While the first stranger must hide his identity, the second stranger makes a riddle
out of his, making up a song on the spot to reveal his occupation. As it turns out,
his identity preceded him, as the partygoers knew an executioner was coming to
town to hang the sheep stealer. The third stranger’s identity is mistaken, for he is
first thought to be the sheep stealer himself and is chased down.
There is an element of irony to the identities in this story. Some of the minor
characters, guests of the shepherds, are given full names—like Elijah New and
Oliver Giles—despite only being mentioned once or twice. Their names aren’t
meant to be remembered. Yet, they are given this formal title of identification to
emphasize the absence of the strangers’ names. The concept of identity and what
it entails is challenged because the titular characters remain nameless for the
whole story. The strangers are not named, yet they are remembered through their
story fifty years later, suggesting that an identity can exist apart from a name.
Justice
Because Thomas Hardy witnessed public hangings himself, it is no surprise that
this form of punishment influences his stories; the first stranger in this story is
sentenced to hang for the theft of a sheep. However, Hardy complicates the
sentence by inspiring sympathy for the thief: the first stranger stole a sheep so his
family would not starve.
Though a short piece of fiction, Hardy challenges readers to decide if there is a
point where the common people should play a part in punishing criminals. The
narrator relates,
The intended punishment was cruelly disproportionate to the transgression, and
the sympathy of a great many country folk in that district was strongly on the side
of the fugitive . . . So that it may be questioned if all those who ostensibly made
themselves so busy in exploring woods and fields and lanes were quite so
thorough when it came to the private examination of their own lofts and
outhouses.
In saying this, Hardy implies that justice dealt with by the common people should
sometimes trump justice dealt with by the authorities. In this case, the people
recognize that death is not a fair sentence for a man who stole a sheep for his
starving family, so they act accordingly, letting him escape.
Kindness
The kindness and hospitality shown by the Fennels are not one of the foremost
themes in the story. Still, it is prevalent enough to be worthy of noting.
Although Mrs. Fennel is frugal with her food and drink, the guests and strangers
are welcomed without any fuss. A sense of camaraderie is palpable within the
party of Higher Crowstairs, and there is a naturally flowing connection between all
the humans gathered together.
Even when the first two strangers arrive uninvited, they are accepted into the fun
and engaged in conversation. Whether the Fennels’ kindness and generosity result
from excitement for their daughter’s christening or innate characteristics
possessed by the family, this theme illustrates how treating others with decency
and respect is an important step in creating happy, connected relationships—even
among strangers.