Literature is the collection of fictional and non-fictional works that illustrate various themes and tones, allowing the reader to feel and react in a certain way. Literature is a form of written art that is representative of various words and meanings. Literary works entertain the reader by presenting various intellectual, ethical, and social problems. A reader's beliefs are tested when individuals are presented with feelings related to various "thoughts, past, future, and ultimate values ​​of stories" (Jewell 1). Absurd stories illustrate manipulation by presenting the reader with a distorted perception of reality; in contrast, realistic stories strive to present the reader with a legitimate representation of realistic elements by demonstrating that people are indeed products of their environments. Manipulation and domination are two common themes pertinent to numerous real-life circumstances. In absurdist forms of literature, manipulation is depicted through the dominance of one character with greater power over another. Similarly, according to the British Journal of Developmental Psychology, bullying has been documented as a form of manipulation in modern society. Bullying is “the systematic abuse of power” over others. Bullying can be compared to the absurd theme of dominance since “dominance is often associated with social skills and manipulation of beliefs” (Sutton 444). Additionally, the Applied Cognitive Psychological Journal describes how manipulative power can influence memory compliance. A recent study tracked the effects of past events and the various means through which people receive information relevant to these events. In one case, a co-witness provided information about a past event… in the middle of the paper… through the influence of the media. New York, NY USA: Oxford University Press, 2009. PsycINFO. Network. March 29, 2012.Jewell, Richard. "Literature: the art of language". tc.umn.edu. University of Minnesota, September 7, 2011. Web. March 29, 2012. Saunders, George. Pastoral: stories. New York: Riverhead, 2000. Print.Skagerberg, E.M., & Wright, DB (2008), Manipulating power can affect memory conformity. Appl. Cognition. Psychol., 22: 207–216. DOI: 10.1002/acp.1353.Snell, Joel C., and Mitchell Marsh. "Review of 'The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature'." Psychology and Education: An Interdisciplinary Journal 42.3-4 (2005): 52-53. PsycINFO. Network. 29 March 2012. Sutton, J., Smith, P.K., & Swettenham, J. (1999), Social cognition and bullying: social inadequacy or skilled manipulation? British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 17: 435–450. DOI: 10.1348/026151099165384.