Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A five page paper looking at these three Norse sagas in terms of their attitude toward female characters. The paper argues that "Njal's Saga" and "Laxdaela's Sagas" show remarkably modern and equitable attitudes toward women, while "Hrafnkel's Saga" is extremely chauvinistic. No additional sources.

6 pages in length. The plots and ideas of Andrew Niccol's "Gattaca" and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" share a deep commitment to social progression; through these two works of fiction, the authors attempt to depict a seemingly Utopian society where everything in society is neatly compartmentalized to the point of being sterile. ...

A 7 page paper which compares and contrasts Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" with Michael Ende's fantasy tale, "The Neverending Story" as moral fables. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 6 page paper looks at James Joyce's story of Eveline in his book 'Dubliners'. Her story is typical of many of Joyce's women, dependant on men, unable to determine their own course in life and condemned to servitude by their own inability to act. This paper considers in what ways she was suffering from ...

This 8 page thesis paper supports the notion that literary quality has vanished in part due to the rise of postmodern techniques. The New Criticism and movements since are explored in depth. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 9 page paper which examines how the importance of doing one's duty was reflected in the choices made by the major characters in Henrik Ibsen's 1881 social play, "Ghosts." Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 6 page paper discussing how these two influences work together in the novel. Wilde is able to employ his devotion to aestheticism to weave the tale of Dorian Gray and its attached homoeroticism because he gives all involved a lifestyle in which things can be hidden or contorted, but always used for the main characters' benefit. ...

A 12 page research paper that uses Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes' story 'The Sign of the Four' and Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde' as a springboard to exploring the Victorian mindset as suggested by these two narratives. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A ten page paper showing how John Updike used the material of his own life to craft these two stories. Although "Pigeon Feathers" is more demonstrably autobiographical than "A & P", both stories reflect circumstances of Updike's life and concerns he had at the time of their writing. Bibliography lists fifteen sources.

A 5 page paper discussing portrayal of natural events relating to human nature as provided by Dante, Shakespeare, Sophocles and Homer. The images portrayed here all can be related to conditions of the human mind at various stages. Emotions can take the form of the churning sea that the master calms, they can result in murder in ...

A 5 page paper which analyzes J.R.R. Tolkien's book, "Tree and Leaf" to determine what the author means by such terms as "sub-creation," "myth," and "eucatastrophe." Also discussed are the symbolic and allegorical meaning of Niggle's painting in the story, "Leaf By Niggle," to determine what place this painting, as well as painting as an activity, ...

A 5 page paper that offers interpretations of The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The focus is on the governess. An overview of how the story would be perceived through a Freudian analysis is presented. The writer then discusses the primary issue of good versus evil, explaining the governess' role in the tale. ...

8 pages in length. James Joyce's "Dubliners" possesses many important components of restriction and repression that, if not taken in their direct context, will be overlooked by the average reader. It is essential to also look beyond the author's obvious intention with regard to the stories' overall meaning so as not to miss ...

4 pages in length. George Orwel's "Shooting An Elephant" addresses utilitarianism inasmuch as it speaks to the bigger picture; in other words, utilitarianism purports to maintain its existence for the benefit of all concerned. Utilitarianism can be viewed as a doctrine where the useful is good and the determining consideration of right conduct ...

Milton explains at the very beginning of Paradise Lost that the story is concerned with the fall of Adam and Eve. This 3 page paper explores the use of imagery and symbols that Milton uses to manipulate the reader's perception of Satan in Book One. No additional sources are listed.

A 6 page paper comparing the major themes of this story with the author's life. Louise and Kate both lived in male-dominated worlds, but both realized that male domination did not fully prevent them from enjoying their own lives. The heroine of The Awakening was made to insist on her freedom; Louise and Kate share the ...

This 5 page paper focuses on the Remarque novel and compares its descriptions with the reality of military conflicts today. Several quotes from All Quiet on the Western Front are included. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A six page paper examining the symbolism of mirrors in this nineteenth-century novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The paper argues that mirrors emphasize the degree to which our true essence is distorted when we are perceived only as reflections of external standards and beliefs. Bibliography lists six sources.

This three page paper looks at the way in which the personality and desires of this nineteenth century Scottish writer who was attracted to fantasy and fiction. The bibliography cites 1 source.

A six page paper looking at the way Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass perceive white people as evidenced by "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". The paper concludes that both Twain and Douglass show Southern white society -- not whites as individuals -- to be the most significant ...

The notion of 'identity' is often interwoven with both status and character. In literature, the 'identity' of a character is developed through a number of literary devices such as dialogue, observation or the opinions of others. This 2 page paper compares and contrasts the identity of Shakespare's Hamlet and Henry James' Daisy Miller. No additional sources are ...

A five page paper looking at this heroine in Gustav Flaubert's novel in terms of the degree to which she fits Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero. The paper concludes that she does, particularly when her situation is viewed against the social backdrop of nineteenth-century French society. Bibliography lists three sources.

This 5 page report discusses Aldous Huxley’s 1932 novel “Brave New World” and Sophocles’ ancient text of “Oedipus the King” in terms of the trials that take place in both. Greek drama was written and produced with a determination to present an insight or an awareness to the audience that either caused the members of the audience to examine their own ...

This 11 page paper considers the way in which Andrew Lang adopts the role of storyteller in his interpretation of the tales of the Arabian Nights. There were, and still are, many contemporary issues in these tales, and in presenting them in the descriptive and captivating manner that Lang accomplishes we can see not only ...

A four page paper contrasting the spiritual and physical changes experienced by two characters undergoing a profound life transformation: Kafka's protagonist turns into a giant insect, and Tolstoy's sickens and dies. The paper concludes that society is unprepared to rise above its complacency and tackle the real meaning of life. No additional sources.