Alice in Wonderland is the story of a young girl called Alice and her adventures in a logic-defying fantasy world. Populated by anthropomorphic animals and other oddities, Wonderland is a world of non-sequitors, logic games, and wordplay. Alice's journey begins when she chases a timepiece-wielding white rabbit down his hole and takes her through a succession of bizarre conversations and encounters with caterpillars, queens, and hatters. Alice's attempts to escape Wonderland serve to illustrate the quintessential nonsense narrative.
The Federalist Papers is a series of 85 essays written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Originally published anonymously from 1787-1788, the papers made the case for states' ratification of the United States' constitution. The essays examine a number of political issues, claiming the Articles of Confederation an ineffective governing body and declaring the need for a stronger Federalist government. The papers argue for a president, republicanism and explain checks on power through judicial review of legislation and through Congress.
Everyman is a morality play written in the 15th-century that presents an allegory for Christian morality and salvation. The author is unknown. The play follows the story of Everyman, who attempts to convince others to come with him on a path of righteousness so that they might be seen favorably in the eyes of God, who will weigh their sins against their good deeds after death. Everyman attempts to convince characters who symbolize ideals like knowledge and material possessions, but is ultimately left alone on his spiritual journey.
Mankind is a 15th-century English morality play by an unknown author. The play is an allegory for Christian morality and redemption. Mercy coaches Mankind on how to live a good life but soon Mischief and his cronies, New Guise, Nowadays and Nought, try to tempt and coerce him to the dark side. Only after the devil Titivillus tells him that Mercy is dead does he give up and join the gang. When Mercy returns, Mankind asks for forgiveness and is redeemed of his sin.
Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali is the story of the title character, a heroic figure in the mythology of the Malinke or Mandinka people of West Africa. It tells of the journeys of Sundiata, Prince of Mali, and his growth to manhood and defeat of the evil sorcerer-king Soumaoro. Sundiata unites many of the kingdoms of West Africa under the banner of Mali, creating an empire and forging an era of peace.
Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality is a monograph by Sigmund Freud which codified one of his personal theories. The three essays deal with aberrant sexual desire, sexual desire in childhood and its shaping of adult sexual life, and the maturation of sexuality into a genital-focused force in adolescence. The three essays comprise a comprehensive approach to mapping and tracking the blooming of human sexuality in Freud's outdated clinical model.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass follow Alice, a young Victorian girl, as she falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a magical and confounding new world. She meets a talking rabbit, grows to an enormous size, and later steps through a mirror into another world where she finds herself in a life-size chess game. All of Alice's strange adventures examine the themes of childhood imagination and innocence, as well as logic and wordplay.
Coraline is the story of the title character, a young girl who had just moved with her preoccupied parents to a new house in the country. Once there, the bored Coraline discovers a door leading to another world where a copy of her mother, called the Other Mother, longs to have her as a daughter. The Other Mother, though, is not so generous as she first appears and soon Coraline must struggle to escape her clutches.