Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

This well written five-page-paper on 'The Worn Path,' by Eudora Welty details the theme of life for former slaves after the 13th amendment was instilled. The symbolism and the hidden meanings to the author's words are discussed and brought to light using quotes from the story. Bibliography lists five sources.

A 3 page paper which examines the costumes/clothing in House of Mirth as it involves wealth and social class. The paper examines the novel, written by Edith Wharton, and the film, directed by Terence Davies. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page essay/research paper that includes a 1 page outline and focuses on the influence of Hemingway's Paris years in the development of his writing craft. The writer uses his story "Soldier's Home" as an example of this influence. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

A 5 page essay on the short story by John Steinbeck that deals specifically with how Steinbeck developed the character of the story's protagonist, Elisa. The write demonstrates how Steinbeck's story shows the unfulfilled longings of this country housewife, who compensates for the disappointments in her life through her garden. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper is a critical analysis focusing on the setting in the story Cathedral by Raymond Carver. The general approach and context of the story and the way they are presented by an unnamed narrator are examined in order to demonstrate their importance in the way that the story is written. The bibliography ...

A short 2 page comparison of the play 'Trifles' to the very similar short story 'A Jury of Her Peers'- -both by Glaspell. It is argued that Glaspell wrote a second version to provide readers with a more empathetic view of characters and the thematic message of the story. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper discussing romanticism in the writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne - specifically The Scarlet Letter. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that examines Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892). The writer argues that for this story to be fully understood, it has to be considered within the context of the era in which it was written. The writer explains how the Victorian restriction of women drives the narrator to ...

In 5 pages the author discusses the novel 'Farenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury. 'In 'Farenheit 451', which was written in 1953, Ray Bradbury predicted the evils of a world in which books are illegal. The book is about censorship, and what must be done to overcome it. He was very astute at ...

8 pages in length. An analytical look at Melville's depiction of the character Pip in his classic story 'Moby Dick.' The discussion of this particular character is most important in the sense that Pip, a Black man, was shown very much for his human qualities even though the story was written at a time when ...

An 8 page exploration of Thoreau’s philosophies as they relate to contemporary events in the twenty-first century. Written from the perspective of an observer at a policy retreat sponsored by Thoreau at Walden Pond this paper contrasts Thoreau’s ideologies with those of his workshop attendants, attendants composed of a veteran a student from the ...

Literature can be a dull experience required as a part of a curriculum or it can be an exciting journey into the world of the unknown. This 5 page paper asserts that American prose has traditionally reflected the issues and concerns of the times in which it was written. It then provides an overview of American prose ...

An 8 page overview of the man and his life. Noted for his strange literary tilt, Thompson lived the life he wrote about. Two of his most popular books, "Hells Angels" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas : A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream" reveal many of the ...

This 3 page paper discusses some of the influences that led Ray Bradbury to write “Fahrenheit 451,” including the Nazi book burnings, the McCarthy witch hunts, and the Cold War. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 3 page paper which compares and contrasts the writing styles of Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

(5 pp)According to critic Michael Palmer: "Fanny Howe employs a sometimes fierce,always passionate, spareness in her lifelong parsing of the exchange between matter and spirit. Her work displays as well a political urgency, that is to say, a profound concern forsocial justice and for the soundness and fate ofthe polis, the 'city on ...

This 7 page paper discusses the works of O Henry and his writing style. Literary criticisms are utilized to expound upon the voice, themes, and characterization of O. Henry. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

7 pages in length. As difficult as it has been for Americans to accept the fact that Huckleberry Finn's character mirrors the harsh reality of southern values, the implications of such social atrocities as racism are painfully clear in both written representation and real life, as well. The writer offers a critical analysis of ...

This 9 page paper examines Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn and its relevance to the day. How accurate was the writing? There is a focus on racism and the portrayal of Jim. Secondary sources provide insight into the realism of the work. Character development is discussed in depth as it relate to ...

This 5 page paper look at the novel by Joseph Heller, written in 1961 regarding the Second World War. The paper looks at the themes of the book such as racism and alimentation and their application to war in general. The bibliography cites 1 source.

This 5 page report discusses the concept of genius as part of the thinking and writing of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Examining and comparing Thoreau’s “Walden” and Emerson’s “Self Reliance,” this report examines both works in the context of their application to the ideal of “genius” and the ways in which both writers conveyed their concepts. No secondary ...

6 pages in length. Sprouting from a most unexpected source, The Maltese Falcon represented great change within the genre of detective novels. Writings prior to the groundbreaking book were boring at best, with the same Sherlock Holmes-esque characterizations over and over again. The writer describes how The Maltese Falcon breathed new life into ...

5 pages. In this historical narrative of Medieval Europe, the author writes of French nobleman Enguerrand de Coucy who ruthlessly made himself wealthy by preying on the unfortunate peasants of the time period. The 14th century was a time of great horrors such as the plague and the Hundred Years war, and the fact that ...

5 pages. The book review on Alice Hoffman's "Here on Earth" gives a concise synopsis of the book itself, the overall theme and the way in which the book is organized in terms of content, discussion and arguments. The structure is described which consists of the characters, plot setting, conflict and resolution. ...

(5 pp). Thoreau was revived to popular icon status in the sixties, as his messages were brought back into popularity by Martin Luther King. For King , the writings of Thoreau provided an example of the path of nonviolent resistance. In this discussion we will use a cognitive approach to see how ...