Essays and Research Papers on African-American Literature

A 4 page paper which examines the structure of Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” as it keeps presenting the reader with the reoccurring theme of slavery. Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 9 page research paper that examines Zora Neale Hurston's highly psychological novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. The writer discusses the elements of myth that Hurston incorporated into the journey of self discovery taken by Janie Crawford and also compares this narrative to her short story "Sweat." The writer discusses Hurston's use of archetypes ...

A 3 page essay that analyzes the web of social attitudes and interactions that served to rationalize both racial and sexual discrimination in the antebellum era. The writer argues that black and white womanhood had an interdependent relationship that served to define the role of each in society. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 7 page paper which examines the character of Margaret Street in Toni Morrison’s novel “Tar Baby.” Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

A 4 page paper which examines the relationships of women in Toni Morrison’s “Sula” and Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.” No additional sources cited.

A 2 1/2 page paper which examines Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page review of the Pulitzer Prize Winning play by August Wilson. The author of this paper presents the contention that although the emotional fences in the play are constructed as defense mechanisms against racism and prejudice, in reality their construction facilitates the continuation of that same racism and prejudice as major elements ...

A 10 page paper which examines the condition of acculturation through multiculturalism as presented in Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which examines from a literacy perspective what can be learned about slavery and how the narrative functioned as abolitionist propaganda. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page essay that analyzes the structure of Morrison's novel. The writer emphasizes the psychological aspect of the narrative. In this manner, Morrison conveys not only what happened to Sethe, but also how events impacted the psychological perspective of this woman, who is tortured by memory and past experience. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 7 page paper which examines the life and career of the groundbreaking African-American author, and considers what, if any, personal experiences contributed to the composition of the classic novel, “Invisible Man.” Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 10 page paper which examines how Toni Morrison uses trauma in her novels in order to assist the reader in understanding the suffering of the African American. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

An 8 page paper which compares and contrasts “Devil in a Blue Dress” and “Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned” by Walter Mosley. Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

An 8 page research paper/essay that analyzes Baldwin's short story "Sonny's Blues." Baldwin dramatizes how the older brother comes to understand this through his expert use of language. Using metaphor and simile, Baldwin's language becomes analogous to the jazz that Sonny plays, informing the reader, as well as the older brother, about the whole ...

A 3 page paper which examines the symbolic and obvious presence of enslavement in Toni Morrison’s novel “Beloved.” No additional sources cited.

A 6 page overview of the life and work of this early twentieth century literary figure. Contending that Hughes gained his inspiration from his African American culture and refused to depart from that culture to produce “white” poetry, the author suggests that Hughes has won his place in today’s literary canon. Bibliography lists ...

An 11 page paper which presents and outline, a rough draft, and final example paper which examines the theme of flying in Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon.” No additional sources cited.

An 13 page paper which presents and outline, a rough draft, and final example paper which examines the theme of flying in Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon.” No additional sources cited.

A 4 page paper which examines how Nancy and the children interact in William Faulkner’s “That Evening Sun.” Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 6 page overview of these two classic works of literature. Each story provides an insight to family life that leaves the reader feeling as though they were a part of that family. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 4 page paper which considers the progress of the protagonist’s struggle for self-assertion, how it is portrayed and what makes it credible, and also compares it with the struggles of others to examine how the inequalities and injustices of class, race and gender impede both men and women from discovering who they are and ...

A 3 page paper which presents an examination of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 7 page paper which examines the theme of death in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Toni Morrison’s “Beloved.” Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the developmental identity of the teenage individual as it involves parents first and then identity as a self sufficient adult. No other sources cited.

A 3 page paper which examines how Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” offers the readers a look at slavery that seems to work off of Harriet Jacobs’ non-fictional work “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.” No additional sources cited.