Essays and Research Papers on African-American Literature

This is a 5 page paper discussing Briton Hammon’s narrative and elements which seem to go against the norms of the time. Briton Hammon’s narrative of his thirteen years at sea seems in many ways to go against the norms of society believed to have existed at that time. Hammon, a slave, was released by ...

A 4 page paper on this novel. The writer describes examples of the author's use of imagery and metaphor, as well as the rich quality of the text itself.

An 8 page paper examining three novels -- Huckleberry Finn, Love is Medicine, and Beloved -- and treating the issue of what constitutes a good place, a spiritual home, in all three works. Huckleberry Finn and Beloved are dealt with most extensively. No sources except books.

An 8 page paper on Toni Morrison's novel. The writer explores Sethe's sense of herself as a mother, and what motherhood meant to her, particularly in the context of her position as a slave. Bibliography lists five sources.

A 7 page paper on Toni Morrison's 1986 Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The paper analyzes Morrison's use of bland or 'vacant' facial expressions in the light of Sylvan Tomkins' theories that the movement of the facial muscles producing expression trigger both physiological reactions and the conscious feelings associated with emotion. Two sources cited.

A 6 page essay in which the writer discusses how Toni Morrison criticizes the manner in which white culture dictates the identity of black culture in her book entitled 'Beloved.'

A 5 page paper looking at Toni Morrison's Beloved from a feminist perspective. The paper looks at the nature of Beloved herself: is she a ghost, and if so, invoked by whom? It determines that she is a figment of the collective unconscious of the women of 124 Bluestone Road, and represents the only way ...

A 6 page essay that compares and contrasts these two novels in both theme and character. Abandonment, victimization and lack of self-identity are just three of the topics discussed. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 5 page paper comparing and contrasting the protagonists' ability to assume the responsibilities of motherhood. The paper argues that Because the slave does not have any autonomy of her own, she cannot function in a typical maternal relationship to a dependent child; therefore, she needs to either break out of her cycle of submission, ...

A 7 page paper looking at these two depictions of a woman under crisis: Toni Morrison's novel about the legacy of slavery, and Gerda Weissmann Klein's memoirs about her Holocaust experience. The paper asserts that the reason Klein was able to survive as a whole person while Morrison's Sethe was not is due to ...

A 6 page paper which discusses the relationship between the characters in the Toni Morrison novels, Jazz, Beloved and The Bluest Eye with their southern backgrounds. Specifically considered are whether the nature of these ties differ with each novel or if there are recurring themes, whether or not the south represents 'heaven' or 'hell,' ...

A 5 page essay on how memory is defined and dealt with in the character of Sethe. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay discussing the essentiality of memory, re-call memory, and disremembering. The writer compares and discusses the painful memories of several key characters including : Sethe, Baby Suggs, and Paul D. Elements of the comparison include the effects of memory on each character and how they deal with it.

A 4 page paper that discusses the theme of love, especially considering Paul D.'s comment to Sethe: "Your love is too thick." This paper contends that Paul was expressing the complexity of love and Sethe's ability to hide and protect her emotions. Bibliography with 1 source.

A 10 page comparative which explores the authors' use of physical and non-physical forms as a means of dealing with dichotomies, e.g., life and death or pleasure and hate or enslavement and the need to be freed from slavery. In Beloved, the main character will choose freedom at any cost. In Ceremony, the main ...

5 pages in length. Analytically examines three social issues explored in Toni Morrison's classic 'The Bluest Eye' from an Afro-centric perspective. Issues are social class & structure, stereotypes, and race. Uses three pertinent references (listed in bibliography) to support ideas.

This 5 page research paper examines the 1970 Toni Morrison novel, The Bluest Eye. Specifically considered is Morrison's handling of the racism issue as the definition of beauty, self-worth and belonging. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 5 page essay on Toni Morrison's novel as it relates to the standards of beauty set by society and its affect on girls and women. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper that looks at the interactions between Junior and Pecola and evaluates a passage describing Junior's nurturing as a precursor to their violent interaction. No additional sources cited.

A 6 page paper discussing the way author Toni Morrison deals with women's self-image and self-esteem. The focus is on two characters, Pilate, an independent old woman, and her granddaughter Hagar, a vain young girl. Bibliography lists three sources.

An 8 page paper on Toni Morrison's novel. The paper argues that Milkman's disassociation from his black heritage produces a disassociation from himself. No additional sources cited.

In 6 pages, the writer describes Milkman as a classic hero in 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison. Bibliography lists 5 secondary sources.

A 6 page paper on Toni Morrison's novel. The paper analyzes the way Morrison's novel functions as a modern-day myth of a man finding his own place within the ancient story of his people. Bibliography lists five sources.

A 4 page paper discussing the contrasting characters of Milkman Dead and his father, Macon. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 6 page paper on evidence of separation between self and other. In dealing with this subject the main focus is on the main character, Sula, and her relationship to the small town in which she grew up.