Machiavelli: A Teacher of Evil?
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A 7 page consideration of the question of whether Machiavelli and his teachings were evil. Writing during the sixteenth century, Machiavelli concentrates on the tactics which he sees important in a ruler advancing the interest of their states and themselves in the future in a unified Italian state. The author reviews Machiavelli’s writings to contend that while it is quite obvious that he was neither virtuous or moral in the true sense of either of the terms, neither was he evil. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PPmachi3.rtf

Medieval Cities in Dante's Inferno
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A 3 page essay that discusses the role of cities as settings in Dante's Inferno. In the notes that accompany the Hollander and Hollander translation of Dante's Inferno, these translators comment that the medieval city provides the "centering image of political life" for Dante's vision of Hell (Hollander and Hollander 56). As this indicates, Dante pictures Hell in terms that are synonymous with those of an earthly city, such as his native Florence. As this indicates, an examination of Dante's references to cities in the Inferno demonstrates how this setting aided Dante in accomplishing his literary goals. No additional sources cited.
Filename: khholinf.rtf

Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince"
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An 8 page overview of the views of Niccolo Machiavelli in "Il Principe" ("The Prince") written in the sixteenth century. Machiavelli outlines the tactics which he sees important in a ruler advancing the interest of their states and themselves in the future in a unified Italian state. Emphasizes that while these writings could be defended as indicative of Machiavelli's virtuosity and high morals, however, they are really more indicative of a man for whom the end justified the means regardless of how immoral and condemnable those means may have been. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: PPmachia.wps

Petrarch / The Frontiers of Two Peoples
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A 9 page paper positioning Petrarch as a transition figure between medieval and Renaissance, but ultimately one whose conclusions about existence are firmly grounded in medieval thought. The paper focuses on Petrarch's literary criticism and letters, particularly the 'Letter to Posterity' and 'The Ascent of Mt. Ventoux', and is both historical and literary in orientation. Bibliography lists five sources.
Filename: Petrarch.wps

Puzo and Marshall
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This 6 page paper compares and contrasts the novels “The Fortunate Pilgrim” by Mario Puzo and Paule Marshall’s book “Brown Girl, Brownstones.” Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: HVPuzMar.rtf

Realism and Symbolism in Moravia's "Il Conformista"
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A 5 page paper which discusses whether Alberto Moravia's "Il Conformista" possesses, as he claims, aspects of realism and symbolism. No additional sources cited.
Filename: RAmoravia.wps

Revenge in Homer’s “The Odyssey,” Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” and “Antigone,” Dante’s “The Inferno” and William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”
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A 10 page paper which examines how this popular theme is presented in these great works of Western literature. No additional sources are used.
Filename: TGrvenge.rtf

Robert A. Orsi's "The Madonna Of 115th Street"
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5 pages in length. Robert A. Orsi's The Madonna Of 115th Street : Faith and Community in Italian Harlem, 1880-1950 eloquently illustrates how the psychological characteristics of the Italian/American population – which include their value systems and religion – are wide and varied. No bibliography.
Filename: TLCorsi.rtf

Selected Writings on Italian Medieval History & Literature
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A 15 page research paper that offers brief (generally 1 page) synopses of essays that deal with Italian medieval society. Then the writer offers a more extended analysis of parts of Patricia Skinner's 2001 text Women in Medieval Italian Society; a brief essay on Dante's Inferno and Otto of Freising's Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa. The underlying theme to the entire paper is how these sources contribute to the study of history. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: khmedit.rtf

Strong Women in Giovanni Boccaccio’s “The Decameron” (5.10 and 7.4)
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A 6 page paper which examines how the theme of the strong and assertive female connects the two stories. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TGgblust.rtf

Symbolism in Dante's Inferno
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This 7 page paper consider the first part of Dante's 'Divine Comedy'. It looks to the symbolism in the first two cantos of inferno, interrupting and explaining their presentations and meanings. These include the aspects of the landscape, of light and dark, personalities, the appearance of Virgil and the first appearance of Beatrice. The MLA bibliography cites 4 sources.
Filename: TEdantei.wps

The Aeneid: An Analysis
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A 9 page discussion of this classic work of literature. The author explores “The Aeneid” as an a portrayal of man’s place in the universe, asserting that Aeneas' journey into and from the underworld is similar to the epic of mankind's path of salvation, the redemption of souls, and rebirth, a central focus in life’s journey for all cultures and time periods. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: PPaenei2.rtf