Essays and Research Papers on African-American Literature

A 7 page paper which examines the significance of the title, and the role of God, in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines the fact that Alice Walker’s novel “The Color Purple” was banned. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 3 page essay that discusses Wilson's use of irony in this play. August Wilson's play Fences is set in 1957, a time when things were just beginning to change in American society on issues of entrenched racial bigotry. The prevailing irony in Fences is that it is the protagonist himself, Troy Maxson, and ...

A 6 page essay in which the writer argues that finding and defining a feminine voice is the most crucial and central thematic factor in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. This novel, which is written as letters, that is, in epistolary form, demonstrates how the voice of the protagonist, Celie, changes from that of ...

A 6 page essay/research paper that reports on how African American writers commemorate each other. African American culture has a long tradition of applauding and praising the accomplishments of distinguished black Americans, as their achievements have given both solace and hope to generations who still endured the sting of overt racism in the U.S. A ...

This 3 page paper focuses on the scene where Celie and Shug kiss. It is argued that Spielberg introduces a watered down version, thus altering the whole point of the movie. The book author's view is also included. A quote from the original Alice Walker work is also presented. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page paper which examines the significance of the pear tree in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” No additional sources cited.

A 4 page discussion of Tayeb Salih's "Season of Migration to the North". The narrator and Mustafa experienced many of the same things in life but came out of those experiences much different men. No additional sources are listed.

This 4 page paper summarized two chapters of Beverly Tatum’s book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page essay that argues that Toni Morrison’s Sula displays this African American author’s prodigious skill as a literary stylist. Through highly stylized situations and contrasts, Morrison presents a narrative that is a study in ambiguity, which causes the reader to question the standard cultural evaluations of right and wrong, love and hate, as ...

A 3 pagfe paper which examines the relationship between Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved and the plantation mistress. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 8 page paper uses modern psychological methods to examine the character of Sethe from Toni Morrison’s novel “Beloved.” Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines the literary device of paradox and irony in Tim O’Brien’s “On the Rainy River” and Ralph Ellison’s “Battle Royal.” No additional sources cited.

This 6 page paper is a critical examination of Daniel Walker's book "No More, No More." Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines the relationship between status and fashion in the characters in Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use.” Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

An 8 page analysis of Gloria Naylor’s novel “Mama Day.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines the death penalty verdict of Bigger Thomas as it relates to race in Richard Wright’s “Native Son.” Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

This 4 page paper discusses the literary works "Sonny's Blues," "The Glass Menagerie" and "Salvation." Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page research paper/essay that discusses Zora Neale Hurston’s classic African American novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, which depicts life in the deep South in the early decades of the twentieth century and is written to reflect the dialect that the people spoke at that time. The writer explores the purposes that dialect ...

A 3 page paper which examines the life and works of Toni Morrison. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 4 page paper which examines arranged marriages v love marriages based on Sora Neale Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. The paper argues that in reference to the novel arranged marriages fail in comparison to love marriages. No additional sources cited.

A 7 page paper which discusses the novel and film The Color Purple. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 6 page research paper/essay that discusses Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which is a brutally honest autobiography of a woman who was born into slavery. The writer discusses how Jacobs addresses the ramifications that slavery had on women, particularly those of a sexual nature. This topic is related to ...

This 7 page paper discusses Zora Neale Hurston's use of animals and animal imagery in her classic novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 10 page paper which examines the theme of blindness in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. No additional sources cited.