Dream Children: A Reverie by Charles Lamb Essay, Dream Children: A Reverie by Charles Lamb Summary, Dream Children: A Reverie by Charles Lamb, Dream Children: A Reverie Summary, Dream Children: A Reverie Essay, Dream Children: A Reverie

Dream Children: A Reverie by Charles Lamb

Short Essay 

Introduction:

          Dream Children: A Reverie is a touching and imaginative essay by Charles Lamb, written under his pen name Elia. In this piece, he tells a story to his dream children, John and Alice, about his childhood memories, his beloved grandmother Mrs. Field, and the joys and sorrows of his early life.

Mrs. Field and Her Mansion:

          Elia tells the children that their great-grandmother, Mrs. Field, lived in a large old mansion in Norfolk. The house belonged to a rich nobleman who stayed elsewhere. Mrs. Field cared for the mansion with great love and pride. A sad story about two children and their cruel uncle was carved on the wooden chimney piece. Later, a rich man foolishly replaced it with a marble one that had no story. Little Alice felt angry and disappointed at this. After Mrs. Field’s death, the nobleman took away the ornaments to his new house, where they looked out of place.

Mrs. Field’s Qualities:

          Mrs. Field was a kind, honest, and religious woman. She knew much of the Bible and was respected by everyone. Though people said ghosts haunted the house, she was never afraid and slept alone at night. When she died, many from the neighbourhood and the gentry attended her funeral. In her youth, she was tall, graceful, and a good dancer.

Elia’s Childhood Memories:

          Elia recalls spending his holidays in the mansion. He admired the busts of the twelve Caesars and walked around the gardens full of fruits like oranges, peaches, and nectarines. Yet, he never plucked them, showing his self-control. 

Conclusion:

          In the end, Elia wakes up from his reverie and realises that John and Alice were not real children but creations of his imagination and his lost love, Alice.

The Things That Haven't Been Done Before by Edgar Guest Summary, The Things That Haven't Been Done Before by Edgar Guest essay, The Things That Haven't Been Done Before by Edgar Guest, The Things That Haven't Been Done Before Summary, The Things That Haven't Been Done Before essay,

The Things That Haven't Been Done Before 

Edgar Guest

Short Essay 

Introduction:

          The Things That Haven’t Been Done Before by Edgar Guest is a motivational poem that encourages people to be brave, creative, and different. The poet praises those who take risks and try new things instead of just following others.

Courage to Try New Things:

          The poem begins by talking about people like Columbus, who dared to explore the unknown. Even when others laughed or doubted him, he stayed strong and followed his dream. The poet says that such courage leads to great discoveries.

The Followers and the Leaders:

          Most people prefer to walk on safe and known paths. They live by what others have already done. They are afraid of failure or change. But a few brave people choose to take new paths without fear. They create new ways for others to follow.

Message to the Reader:

          In the last part, the poet asks the reader to decide whether they will follow others or lead the way. He encourages everyone to be bold, try new ideas, and not to fear failure.

Conclusion:

          The poem inspires us to be leaders, dreamers, and innovators. True success comes from daring to do the things that haven’t been done before.

Barn Burning by William Faulkner Summary, Barn Burning by William Faulkner essay, Barn Burning by William Faulkner, Barn Burning Summary, Barn Burning Essay

Barn Burning by William Faulkner

Short Essay 

Introduction:

          William Faulkner’s short story Barn Burning tells about a young boy named Colonel Sartoris Snopes (Sarty) and his struggle between family loyalty and doing what is right. Sarty’s father, Abner Snopes, keeps getting into trouble because of his anger and desire for revenge.

Trouble at the Courthouse:

          The story begins in a small store used as a courtroom. Mr. Harris accuses Abner of burning his barn after their argument about a hog. Sarty knows his father is guilty but is afraid to tell the truth. The judge cannot find proof, so Abner is set free but told to leave town. That night, Abner hits Sarty and tells him to always stay loyal to his family.

The Dirty Rug and Another Trial:

          The Snopes family moves again to work for Major de Spain. When Abner visits the rich man’s house, he steps in dirt and wipes his boot on a fancy rug. The rug is ruined. Abner’s family cleans it with lye. De Spain demands twenty bushels of corn as payment. Angry, Abner sues De Spain but loses. The judge lowers the amount to ten bushels, but Abner still feels insulted.

The Burning and Sarty’s Escape:

          That night, Sarty realizes his father plans to burn De Spain’s barn. His mother tries to stop him, but Sarty runs to warn De Spain. As he escapes, he hears gunshots and knows his father is likely dead.

Conclusion:

          Sarty walks away into the dark, crying but free. He has finally chosen truth and justice over his father’s cruelty. The story shows his painful growth from a frightened boy into a brave young man.

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde Summary, The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde essay, The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde, The Selfish Giant Summary, The Selfish Giant Essay

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde

Simple Essay

Introduction:

          Oscar Wilde’s story “The Selfish Giant” teaches a beautiful lesson about love, kindness, and sharing. It shows how caring for others can change a selfish heart.

The Giant’s Selfishness:

          Every day, children play happily in a lovely garden full of flowers and birds. When the Giant comes back after seven years, he becomes very angry to see them there. He drives the children away and builds a high wall with a sign that says “TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.”

The Garden Without Spring:

          After that, no seasons come to his garden. It stays cold and snowy all the time because of his selfishness. One morning, the Giant hears a bird singing and sees that the children have come back through a hole in the wall. Wherever they play, the garden blooms again.

The Giant’s Change of Heart:

         He helps a small boy who cannot climb a tree, and the boy kisses him. The Giant’s heart fills with love, and he breaks the wall, allowing all children to play freely.

The Giant’s Reward:

          When the Giant grows old, he meets the same boy again. The boy reveals himself as the Christ Child, blesses the Giant, and takes him to Heaven as a reward for his kindness.

Conclusion:

          The story teaches that love and kindness bring joy and peace, while selfishness leads only to sadness and loneliness.

Mending Wall by Robert Frost Summary, Mending Wall by Robert Frost essay, Mending Wall by Robert Frost, Mending Wall Summary, Mending Wall Essay

Mending Wall by Robert Frost

Short Essay 

Introduction:

          The poem Mending Wall by Robert Frost was published in 1914 in his book North of Boston. It is about two neighbors who meet every spring to repair the stone wall between their farms. The poem talks about old habits, tradition, and the idea of keeping boundaries.

The Broken Wall:

          The poet says that nature does not like walls. The stones fall when the frozen ground swells and leaves big holes. Hunters also break the wall while chasing rabbits. Every spring, the poet and his neighbor come together to fix it. They lift the heavy stones and put them back, each staying on his own side.

Different Ideas:

           The poet thinks the wall is not needed. His land has apple trees, and his neighbor has pine trees. The trees cannot harm each other, so there is no reason for a wall. But the neighbor believes in the old saying, “Good fences make good neighbors.”

Questioning the Need for Walls:

         The poet feels his neighbor does not question old ideas and follows what his father said. The poet says that before he builds any wall, he would like to think carefully. He wants to know what he is trying to keep inside and what he is trying to keep outside. He also wants to consider who might get hurt or offended by putting up the wall.

Conclusion:

          The poem shows that walls can separate people. Frost asks us to think before we build barriers that keep us apart.

Worth Four Crores (Give, Eat & Live) by Avvaiyar, Worth Four Crores Summary, Worth Four Crores Essay, Worth Four Crores by Avvaiyar

Worth Four Crores (Give, Eat & Live)

 Avvaiyar 

Worth Four Crores Essay 

Introduction:

           Give, Eat, and Live: Poems of Avvaiyar is a book of translations of the 12th-century Tamil poet Avvaiyar's work, translated by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma. Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma is an author, poet, performer, and teacher.

           There have been at least three Avvaiyars at various periods of Tamil history. Avvai refers to a wise old woman/respectable good woman. Avvaiyar, the wise Tamil poetess, was once asked if she could compose four crores poems in one go. She accepted the challenge. 

Worth Four Crores:

1. Your self-respect is worth a crore.

2. Your dignity is worth a crore.

3. Noble friendship is worth a crore.

4. Your honesty is worth a crore.

Self-respect is worth a crore:

          Don't go to the houses of people who look down on you, insult you, or don't treat you with dignity. Even if they are rich or powerful, it is not worth losing your self-respect. Your self-respect is worth a crore.

Dignity is worth a crore:

           Don't eat at someone's house if they invite you half-heartedly, without sincerity. Value dignity over filling your stomach. Your dignity is worth a crore.

Noble friendship is worth a crore:

          True noble people (not just by birth, but by good character, wisdom, and values) are rare. Building friendship or learning from them is so valuable that even if it costs crores, it is still worth a crore.

Honesty is worth a crore:

          Truthfulness is the highest virtue. Even if someone tempts you with crores and crores of wealth, never betray the truth, because honesty is worth a crore.

Conclusion:

          Avvaiyar’s “Worth Four Crores” reminds us that true wealth lies not in money or power, but in our self-respect, dignity, noble friendships, and honesty. Avvaiyar’s timeless wisdom continues to inspire us to live with integrity and self-worth above all else.

Themes: 

💫Self-Respect

💫Dignity

💫Value of Noble Association

💫Honesty / Truthfulness

💫Integrity

💫Moral Wisdom

💫Personal Values over Material Wealth

💫Ethical Conduct

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley Essay, Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley Summary, Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, Firekeeper’s Daughter Essay, Firekeeper’s Daughter Summary

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Short Essay 

Introduction:

          Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley is a young adult thriller about Daunis Fontaine, an 18-year-old Ojibwe girl who becomes involved in an FBI drug investigation. When a dangerous new drug called meth-X spreads through her community, Daunis risks her safety to uncover the truth behind it.

The Start of the Investigation:

          After her best friend Lily’s tragic death, Daunis learns that Jamie, the boy she likes, is actually an undercover FBI agent. He tells her that her Uncle David had secretly been helping the FBI before he died from a meth overdose. They were studying a new form of meth causing strange hallucinations. The FBI suspects someone from the Ojibwe community is making this new drug.

Going Undercover:

          Daunis agrees to work with the FBI and pretends to be Jamie’s girlfriend to gather information. She learns about meth production and returns home to attend local hockey events, where she starts to suspect that players and their families may be involved. As the investigation deepens, Daunis finds Heather’s dead body, and more young people die from meth use. She realizes the drug problem is much larger than anyone thought.

Discoveries and Truths:

          Daunis finds her uncle’s missing notebook and realizes the strange effects from meth were not caused by mushrooms. Travis had added love medicine, and the Little People from Ojibwe tradition were truly warning those who used the drug, not just appearing as hallucinations.

         She also notices large sums of money in her and her brother Levi’s account, raising suspicion that he may be tied to the meth ring. Later, she uncovers proof that money is being moved through Panama, confirming a major meth operation.

The Meth Cell Revealed:

          Daunis is eventually kidnapped by Levi’s mom Dana and discovers that Mike, a hockey teammate’s son, is the real leader of the meth cell. Dana and Coach Bobby are also involved. They want Daunis to help make meth, but with help from Ojibwe Elders, she escapes and alerts the police. Many people are arrested, but Mike and Grant, two key criminals, escape justice.

Conclusion:

          In the end, Daunis nearly dies from her injuries but survives. Though the FBI closes the case, she realizes that justice is incomplete. She decides to move forward by learning traditional medicine to help her community heal. Through the investigation, Daunis exposes the truth behind the meth cell and finds strength in her Ojibwe identity and resilience.

The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China retold by Aaron Shepard, The Magic Brocade A Tale of China Essay, The Magic Brocade A Tale of China Summary, The Magic Brocade Summary, The Magic Brocade Essay

The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China

retold by Aaron Shepard

The Magic Brocade – A Tale of China

Short Essay 

Introduction

          The story “The Magic Brocade” retold by Aaron Shepard, is a Chinese folktale about love, art, and devotion. It tells how a widow and her son, Chen, face many struggles for a magical brocade that brings them happiness in the end.

The Widow’s Dream

         An old widow was famous for weaving beautiful brocades. One day, she saw a painting of Sun Palace and wished to visit it. Her son Chen advised her to weave it instead. She worked day and night until the brocade was finished. But suddenly, a strong wind carried it away, leaving her heartbroken. She asked Chen to bring it back.

Chen’s Brave Journey

         Chen travelled east, met an old woman, and rode her horse through Fiery Mountain and Icy Sea without complaint. He reached Sun Palace, where fairy ladies were copying his mother’s brocade. One fairy, Li-en, promised to return it after finishing their work.

The Magic Reward

         When Chen returned home, the brocade rose into the air and became a real palace. The widow and Chen stepped inside, where the fairies welcomed them. The widow became their teacher, and Chen married Li-en.

Conclusion

          The story teaches that love, courage, and patience can overcome every challenge, and true beauty comes from dedication and kindness.