White Rose of Avalon

Literature

  • The Influence of the Mabinogion and Arthurian Legends

    For today’s post I would like to take a brief look at how the tales of the Mabinogion became influential to later tellings of Arthurian legends, inspired real monarchs (especially during the Wars of the Roses), and how those historical monarchs inspired more modern fantasy (namely Game of Thrones, or in book form A Song…

  • My Top 10 Favorite Dorothy Parker Quotes

    For today’s post I have decided to do a countdown of my favorite quotes by Dorothy Parker!    In the past I did a countdown of favorite Shakespeare quotes.   Remembering that, I chose another great wit for a literary quote countdown!    Dorothy Parker was a writer living in the Jazz Age, as part…

  • Living a Life Inspired by Your Passions

    For today’s post I would like to discuss how living a life that is inspired by things you love can make even difficult times easier.    I personally have never wanted to live a mundane life, and I am not temperamentally suited to living by any one set of societal norms.    My interests are…

  • Peter Pan

    For today’s post I would like to discuss the character of Peter Pan.    He is the titular character in J.M. Barrie’s play, and has become one of the most recognizable modern fairytale characters!   Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys are all remembered fondly.     They have also inspired many further works…

  • Pygmalion

    For today’s post I would like discuss the story of Pygmalion.    This tale began as a myth in ancient Greece, and later would be used to inspire George Bernard Shaw when he wrote a play of the same name.    That play, which was set in the nineteenth century, was adapted to become the…

  • The Taming of the Shrew

    Today I would like to discuss one of my favorite comedic plays by Shakespeare.    Now, I love Shakespeare in general, so it makes it difficult to choose favorites sometimes.    That being said, I have always ranked The Taming of the Shrew high on my list!    In particular with this post I will…

  • Faeries of Dark and Light

    Faeries, the Fair Folk, the Wee Ones, the Fae, there are literally thousands of ways to name these magical beings.     There are just as many, if not more, species of faerie beings.    Today they are most often thought of in terms of sweet flower faeries and pixies (like Tinkerbell).    This is…

  • My Top 5 Jazz Age Novels

    For today’s post I want to do a countdown of my top five Jazz Age novels!    I thought this post would go well in conjunction with yesterday’s Femme Fatale Friday featuring Zelda Fitzgerald.    I have always adored classic literature, as I am sure regular readers of this blog will likely have gathered.  …

  • Zelda Fitzgerald

    For this week’s Femme Fatale Friday, here at White Rose of Avalon, I have chosen to write about Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald.    Zelda was the wife of iconic novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, and she was a woman who flouted convention.    She inspired many of his most iconic characters, and in fact was called by…

  • Soulmates

    Soulmates, Twin Flames, Soulbound, all of these things conjure images of fated love.   The idea that your true love has been one that you have loved through many lifetimes is an ultimately romantic idea!   This theme has captured the imagination of many artists throughout time.    Some cynics and skeptics refuse to acknowledge…