English Literature & Theology

  Jesse Owens: My Greatest Olympic Prize   It was the summer of 1936. The Olympic Games were being held in Berlin. Because Adolf Hitler childishly insisted that his performers were members of a “master race,” nationalistic feelings were at an all-time high. I wasn’t too worried about all this. I’d trained, sweated and disciplined myself for six years, with the Games in mind.  While I was going over on the boat, all I could think about was taking home one or two of those gold medals. I had my eye especially on the running broad jump. A year before, as a sophomore at Ohio State University, I’d set the world’s record of 26 feet 8-1/4 inches. Everyone kind of expected me to win that Olympic event hands down. I was in for a surprise. When the time came for the broad-jump trials, I was startled to see a tall boy hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps! He turned out to be a German named Luz Long. I was told that Hitler had kept him under wraps, evidently hoping ...

"Three Days to See" by Helen Keller   Text of the Essay   I  have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.  Now and then, I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I asked a friend, who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, what she had observed. “Nothing in particular,” she replied.   How was it possible , I asked myself,   to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note?   I, who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch.  I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring, I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakeni...

"The Weed" by  Amrita Pritam   "The Weed" is a short story by Amrita Pritam that explores themes of gender inequality, patriarchal oppression, and social conditioning in rural Indian society. The story is narrated from the perspective of a woman who observes the life and thoughts of another woman, Angoori, a newly married bride. The story The Weed revolves around Angoori, the young second wife of Prabhati, who is a servant of the narrator’s neighbor’s neighbor. After the death of his first wife, Prabhati returned to his village for the funeral, where Angoori’s father offered her hand in marriage. However, their marriage was only consummated after six years due to Angoori’s young age and her mother’s paralytic attack. When Prabhati finally took Angoori to the city, his employers objected, but he assured them that she would manage on her own. In the city, Angoori initially observed strict purdah but gradually became more comfortable. She loved wearing jewelry and en...

  "The Golden Touch" by  Nathaniel Hawthorne Summary, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story  "The Golden Touch"  is a retelling of the Greek myth of King Midas, who is granted the ability to turn everything he touches into gold. The story introduces King Midas, a wealthy and powerful ruler obsessed with gold. Although he has vast riches, he is never satisfied and constantly desires more. His greatest wish is that everything he touches would turn to gold, believing that this would make him the happiest man on earth. One day, while contemplating his fortune, a mysterious stranger appears before Midas. The stranger, who seems to have magical powers, offers to grant Midas a wish. Without hesitation, Midas wishes that everything he touches should turn to gold. The stranger warns him to consider the consequences, but Midas, blinded by greed, eagerly accepts the offer. The stranger grants his wish and disappears. At first, Midas is overjoyed with his new ability. He touches ob...