Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

(February 28, 1533- September 13,

1592), Lord of Montaigne was one of
the most significant philosophers of the
French Renaissance, known for
popularizing the essay of a literary
genre. His work is noted for its merging
of casual anecdotes and autobiography
with intellectual insight.

Take a look at these 3 stages of life; Youth, you have all the time and energy, but not the
money. Adulthood, you have money and energy but no time. Old Age, you have all the money
and time, but no energy. This means the same as the essay “Of Age”, then upon reflecting I came
to realize that life is really short and we can never know when God take back the life he gave us.
Therefore, let us make use of every moment of our lives, enjoy what you have because you can
never have it all at the same time.

Blaise Pascal (June 19, 1623-August

19, 1662) was a French mathematician,
physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic
theologian. He was a child prodigy who
was educated by his father, a tax
collector in Rouen. He was born in
Clermont-Ferrand, France and died at
Paris France.

The author might entitled the essay as “Man and the Universe” because it is all about
man which not literally refers to a particular person but of all people, Pascal reflected his views
on what is our place in the world as human beings. This essay talked about how human beings
should see and value everything that God made including himself. And for us to learn to estimate
the value of the earth, kingdoms, cities and so with the universe which becomes our resting place.
 Albert Camus was a French
philosopher, author and journalist. He won
the Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44
in 1957, the second-youngest recipient in
history. Camus was born on November 7,
1913 in Drean, Algeria to French Pieds Noirs
parents. His citizenship was French and died
last January 4, 1960.

Albert Camus’ Nobel Prize acceptance speech was about his main muse was art. He talked
about how art affects his writing and he also shows how grateful he was for receiving such awards
among other artist who also dedicate their lives on arts. In his speech he addressed the relationship
of literature and truth and how writers must be servant of truth like how Solzhenitsyn encourage
others that they can be soldiers of war who can stop violence and misunderstandings through the
tip of their pen by telling only the truths.

Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English

writer, considered as one of the most
important modernist 20th-century authors
and also a pioneer in the use of stream of
consciousness as narrative device. Woolf
was born on January 25, 1882 into an
affluent household in South Kensington,
London, and the seventh child in a blended
family of eight. He died last March 28, 1941
at the age of 59.

Virginia Woolf was a woman who was home-schooled for all her education. She might
have entitled her work as Shakespeare’s sister because she was somehow envy of William
Shakespeare for having to attend to school while she can’t. This was the time when she wrote the
story of “Shakespeare’s Sister” wherein she imagine the life of William Shakespeare having a
sister named Judith, who must be less fortunate not to go to school and write plays unlike his
brother.
 Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350) was a
Japanese author and Buddhist monk.
His most famous work is
Tsurezuregusa, one of the most studied
works of medieval Japanese literature.
Kenko wrote during Muromachi and
Kamakura periods.

“It is great error to be superior to others” this line from the essay in idleness captures my
attention. I believe that there is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility
lies in being superior to your former self and the superiority often leads to misery.

Primo Michele Levi (July 31, 1919-

April 11, 1987) was an Italian Jewish
chemist, partisan, Holocaust survivor
and writer. He was the author of
several books, novels, collections of
short stories, essays, and poems. He
was born in Turin, Italy and died at
the same place.

If I rate this piece from 1-10, it will be 9. Since this piece is a reflection on humanity crisis
wherein the author himself experienced, his thoughts and everything he wrote down was all based
from his own experienced and which is proven true based on history. The author himself is a
witness of what happened and what this piece tells us is not just about his survival but above all
about the survival of humanity after enduring such grueling process of dehumanization.
 Aleksandr Isayevich
Solzhenitsyn was a Russian
novelist, philosopher, historian,
short story writer and political
prisoner.He was born on December
11, 1918 at Kislovodsk, Russia. He
got married to Natalia Solzhenitsyn
and had three children.
Solzhenitsyn was an outspoken
critic of the Soviet Union and
Communism and helped to raise
global awareness of its Gulag labor
camp system. He died last August
3, 2008 at the age of 89.

“The One Great Heart” essay of Alexander Solzhenitsyn explains the world
literature and how it’s our storybook for our past, present and future. This
means that our generation today is more likely the result of the past generation,
and that the future can be predicted as the result of today’s generation. After
reading the said essay, I came to realize that it is true that world literature is a
storybook for our past, present and future since it serves as a catalog of the
happenings of the world from generation to generation. In this essay, the author
also pointed out how a single lie can start violence and how one word of truth
outweigh the whole world. And with this piece of work we can be linked together
no matter where we came from or whatever faith we have, through piece of art,
will be able to share different experiences and those differences can be bridged
by understanding one another.
1. Your Essay Is Just A Short Story
Every story is just about conflict and change and the truth is that, essays are
about conflict and change too. The difference is that in an essay, the conflict is
between different ideas, the change is in the way we should perceive those ideas.
2. Ask Yourself, “How Can I Have The Most Fun Writing This?”
Here’s the secret trick: One of the interesting things about your subconscious is
that it will answer any question you ask yourself. So whenever you feel
unmotivated to write your essay, ask yourself the following question; “How much
fun can I have writing this?”
3. Ask Yourself, “What Surprises Me About This Subject?”
The temptation when you’re writing an essay, is to write what you think your
teacher or professor wants to read. Don’t do this, instead ask yourself, “What do
I find interesting about this subject? What surprises me?”
4. Overwhelmed? Just Write Five Original Sentences
The standard three-point essay is really made up of just five original sentences,
surrounded by supporting paragraphs that back up those five sentences. If
you’re feeling overwhelmed, just write five sentences.
5. Be Source Heavy
Instead of putting the main focus on writing well, it instead forces you to research
well, which some students find easier.
6. Write The Body First, The Introduction Second, And The Conclusion Last
Try writing your introduction last, giving yourself the body of the paper to figure
out the main point of your essay.
7. Most Essays Answer the Question, “WHAT?” Good Essays Answer The Question,
“WHY?” The Best Essays Answer The Question, “HOW?”
If you get stuck trying to make your argument, or you are struggling to reach the
required word count, try focusing on the question, “HOW?”
8. Don’t Be Afraid To Jump Around.
Give yourself the freedom to write as if you’re circling around your topic rather
than making a single straightforward argument. Then, when you edit, you can
make sure everything lines up carefully.
9. Some Words And Phrases You Don’t Want To Use.
- YOU
- Clichés
- Some
- That
- Things
- To Be verbs
10. It’s Okay To Use Wikipedia
Here are two ways you can use Wikipedia in your essay writing:
- Background research
- Finding sources