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Danielle Proctor
ENG 290
Professor Laing
10/6/2015
Annotated Bibliography: The Three Legged Stool of Literature
The themes of literature of friendship is dependent on sacrifice, the importance of family,
and love is the worthiest of pursuits are all themes that come into play with all the literature that
has been read throughout this short semester.
In choosing the theme that friendship is dependent on sacrifice, it is very relevant to many pieces
of literature. This theme is found in just about each story one could read. The dependency on
how much one sacrifices proves whether one actually has friendship with another. Without this
theme many classics would not be considered the classic they are without this one theme.
Friendship is incorporated in each level of life, whether it is with a person, a place, an animal, or
even an idea in the idea of a character.
The next theme of the importance of family is a constant changing base to many types of
literature. This theme is a critical yet moving detail that can either make or break a piece of
literature. It can be the mystery or even the main focus of any story. Family has and always will
be important, without this theme what helps define one particular person. Every individual is a
product of some family unit, whether you are Mowgli who was raised by wolves. Or Princess
Diana raised and trained by Amazonians. You are a product of your environment and who is in
your environment.
The final theme of literature would be that love is the worthiest of pursuits. Without the love
being pursued or even the main focus of a story some stories would be less interesting. Some

readers simply look for some type of love pursuit to occur within a story. I know I am guilty of it.
From Romeo&Juilet by William Shakespeare, Persuasion by Jane Austen, or even the more
current Twilight by Stephanie Myers, love is a worthy pursuit for wealthy boy, a mature man, or
a normal girl. It will always be a hot theme.

Ali, Kazam. Lucille Clifton: brothers. The Poetry Foundation. 2015.

This religious and curious poem is a representation of sincere thought of creation as well as the
existence of God and wonder. Through the poets eyes God is seen as many things as well as the
one with answers. The theme selected for this piece of literature is the importance of family. The
title is brothers. A representation of a part of ones family. Anyone that has a brother knows
that they are a pivotal part of the family system. Though ideas are the narrator of the poem, even
ideas are a part of families. There will always be an importance for family no matter the type of
member it represents.

Baldwin, James. Another Country. Book Mate. 1962. Web.

This book is about the variety of love attached to the mindset of racism, sexuality, and even
gender. Rufus being a black man loving a white woman, and failing as a lover because of his
own personal battles of hatred towards those of the white race. Or how Ida and Vilvado loved for
one another was strained. While Vivaldo did not wish to express he was a homosexual when it
concerned Eric Jones. This book was a very interesting read and opens the mind for the things
that could have occurred during the Harlem Renaissance. The theme associated with this book
would be that love is the worthiest pursuit. All these characters pursued what they felt love was,

and thought it may have failed or brought about horrible circumstances, it was still a pursuit
worthy enough to pursue.
Clifton, Lucille. 1994" The Poetry Foundation. 2015.
This reflective and inquisitive poem about knowing what will happen after a certain moment in
time after one has experienced life in such a way that has been both difficult and trying is such a
wonderful read I could read it over and over. The theme selected to this piece of literature would
be the importance of family. A specific quote mentioning family would be the line of have we
not been good children(Clifton) Shows the inquisitiveness of the poet and how she ask this
omniscient being if we have been good children. Families experience moments like this and it
shows the importance of family is even more important in critical times of not knowing the
answers to questions asked.

Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. Bookmate. 2015. Web.

This book is an example of an influential moving piece of literature written to stir up the African
American community of old and even of new. It was a spectacular read, and it is something that I
recommend to any person of color to put on their books to read list. The theme of literature
selected to this piece of literature would be the importance of family. It applies to this piece of
literature because of the strong ties to unity within the black community after slavery and during
the time of the civil rights movement and even after that

Hurston, Zora Neale. Spunk in Alain Locke, ed., The New Negro. New York: A and C Boni,
1925. Print. 105111.
This short story shows a different side to the African American instability of family life as well
as the fact that nothing will ever be perfect. The theme associated with this piece of literature is
that friendship is dependent on sacrifice. Focusing on the character of Joe and how he tried and
endeavored to bring Lena, his wife, his best friend home where she belonged and in
endeavoring to bring her back, he found that his sacrifice was only as good as the sacrifice she
made as well. Lena unlike Joe sacrificed nothing to be with Spunk a man who not her husband
was therefore being the reason he lost his life. It shows that sacrifice comes from both friends in
order for the theme to be true. It was an amazing read and I greatly enjoyed it.