Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A 10 page paper which examines how the novels of John Steinbeck portrayed man's ongoing struggle with society, and how the companionship of family and friends assisted in the strife of humanity, and how he would forever pursue the ever-elusive 'American Dream.' Specifically considered are the novels 'Tortilla Flat,' 'In Dubious Battle,' 'Of Mice ...

A six-page paper looking at these two twentieth-century authors in terms of the contribution their female characters make toward the idea of a non-colonial future in Africa. Specific works discussed include Bessie Head's When Rain Clouds Gather and Ngugi wa Thiong'o's A Grain of Wheat. Bibliography lists four sources.

An eight page paper looking at three of Jane Austen's novels -- Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion -- in terms of their insights about the value of social conservatism in the early nineteenth century. The paper concludes that over the course of these three novels, Austen makes a tentative movement away from a rigid social conservatism toward the embrace ...

This 5 page paper compares and contrasts the styles of two poets John Keats 'La Belle Da Mesans Merci' and Deborah Garrison's 'She Was Waiting To Be Told'. The ways in which the poems are similar and contrast is discussed using phrases from each to demonstrate the observations made. The bibliography cites 2 sources.

In a child's mind, it must seem that adults are a little bit social-blind. There's so much that goes on that adults just seem either totally unaware of or feel isn't important but children know is important. This 5 page paper asserts that The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and My Antonia by Willa Cather show ...

A 5 page research paper that examines the characters of 'Sula' and 'Nel' as representations of 'good' and 'evil' in this work by Toni Morrison. Sula and her friend Nel, form the focal point for this narrative and it is around this duo that other relationships revolve. Sula comes to represent evil and ...

This five-page-paper presents a discussion on the Ernets Hemmingway book Sunshine on the Rise. The charcaters Brett and Jake are used to outline how a perosn with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder might react to life and the curves that it throws us . Bibliography lists five sources.

This 5 page paper considers the way in which Carol Shields creates effects in her story, and the use of symbolism, point of view, tense, diction and descriptive text to support the central messages she conveys. This paper specifically looks at some of the central formal elements that determine the impact of her work. No additional sources cited. ...

This 5 page paper examines Larry Watson's novel 'Montana 1948' which is a story of a small town from the perspective of a twelve year old boy. The author uses the tool of differences between childhood and adult perception to communicate effective the message which underlies this story. This is one of conflict between loyalty ...

This five-page-paper presents a comarison and contrast two books that speak to the heart about tradition and individualism. The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey, and Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko each address the movement of progress and the affect it has on groups of people as well as the individuals. Bibliography lists two sources.

This five-page-paper presents a discussion on the underlying and common feature that runs through James Baldwin's "Go Tell It On The Mountain." The features of what a dysfunctional family does in the upbringing of a child and the struggles the young man encounters when looking for his place in the world are nicely addressed. In ...

A five page paper looking at Henry James' novel in terms of its depiction of the main character, Isabel Archer. The paper traces Isabel's self-assured naiveté at the beginning to her resolute moral decision at the end. Bibliography lists four sources.

This five page-paper discusses and explores the effect of modernism on urban areas through the eyes of Marshall Berman in All That is Solid Melts Into Air. His beliefs of the forces behind modernism and the direction mankind seems to be going are all included. Bibliography lists one source.

A three page paper looking at these two ancient tales in terms of their common story lines but very different tones. The paper concludes that the Greek story shows how the sins of one person could taint an entire country; the Norse tale argues that anything producing a positive benefit for the heroic dynasty would naturally produce a positive ...

A six page paper analyzing the inability of Holden Caulfield's sister Phoebe, and by extension Holden himself, to deal with their brother's death in J.D. Salinger's classic coming-of-age novel. The paper suggests that if their parents had secured counseling for them early on, many of the problems that both children experienced later could have been prevented. Bibliography ...

What is freedom? One of the interesting elements of literature is the diverse and myriad definitions and connotations that one comes across in the writings of different authors and genres. This 6 page paper argues that Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich, Beloved by Toni Morrison, Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner and the film, Birth Of A Nation, all ...

This 5 page paper provides an overview of the perspectives on the theater of the absurd, with a focus on Beckett and Pinter. This paper defines the concept of the theater of the absurd and demonstrates how both authors utilized this in their plays. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines how the dominant theme of man against society is employed in Thomas Hardy's scathing attack on Victorian social convention, his 1894 novel, "Jude the Obscure."

A 5 page paper which analyzes how the characters struggle to bring order to their lives through language in Raymond Carver's short stories, "The Bath" and "After the Denim," and evaluate whether or not they are successful. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

5 pages in length. Vastly different in their pursuits, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Daniel Defoe and Harriet Beecher Stowe all contributed something unique to the worlds of art and literature. The writer notes that to discuss each individual's influences in both his or her own era as well as in contemporary society ...

A five page paper reviewing Lois Lowry's dystopian novel for young adults. The paper explains the significance of the story's theme, the relationship of love, suffering, and responsibility. A one-page sentence outline of the paper is appended. Bibliography lists two sources.

A ten page paper looking at the issue of whether Emily Bronte's protagonist Heathcliff was mad or just madly in love. The paper concludes that this was not love, it was a pathological sexual addiction coupled with revenge, from which Heathcliff was never to recover. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A five page paper on this detective novel by contemporary author Walter Mosley. The paper looks at whether it is possible for a Black author to write on his community without exploring the issue of racism, and concludes, in this case at least, it is not. Bibliography lists five sources.

Relationships are funny: ergo; romantic comedies. Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice is a romantic comedy of the Victorian era which adds another dimension to the relationships within the story. This 5 page paper examines the process of romance and love between the characters, Elizabeth and Darcy. No additional sources are listed.

This five-page -paper provides an analysis of the story "Where Are You Going and Where Have You Been?", author Joyce Carol Oates' . It explains the symbolism the author used in the story to represent the protagonist's childhood and unavoidable adulthood. Bibliography lists four sources.