Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

This 5 page report discusses Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) and his quote -- “He who cannot draw on three thousand years is living from hand to mouth.” “Sophie’s World,” the recent novel by Jostein Gaarder (which begins with the quotation from Goethe) demonstrates the ways in which modern humanity must be aware of its own history and the ways ...

A 5 page paper which examines Herodotus' conclusions, based on his research for his nine-volume work, "Histories" (also referred to as "The History of Herodotus"). No additional sources are used.

A 6 page essay that examines the second chapter ("Nestor") in James Joyce's Ulysses. The writer argues that the second chapter of Ulysses pictures Stephen Dedalus as a history instructor. Analysis of the beginning of this chapter is revealing concerning how Joyce saw the relationship between history and memory, as filtered through Stephen's perception. ...

A 6 page paper which discusses the struggles of women in society. The paper examines changes such as those seen in ancient history involving such stories as Sophocles’ “Antigone” and those in more recent history as suggested by Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House.” Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 3 page summary and article critique of Grace Tiffany's 1999 article "Shakespeare's Dionysian prince: Drama, politics and the 'Athenian' history play." In this article, the author presents a fascinating argument relative to the influences that aided Shakespeare in creating the character of Prince Hal/King Henry V in the various history plays that draw on ...

A 12 page research paper/essay on this novel and how its aesthetics and style contribute to an emotional appeal that appears to be equally strong for both adolescents and adults, regardless of whether they are Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal. This examination shows that the novel’s appeal lies in the author’s narrative style, but also in the ...

This 4 page paper discusses Anthony Walton's book "Mississippi: An American Journey" about his attempts to understand Mississippi and the way it shaped his family's history, and its place in the nation's history. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page look at the geopolitical beliefs expounded in Utopia and how such societies have traditionally failed throughout the course of history. The writer argues that rather than strive for the unattainable, we should learn to appreciate the value of imperfection. No other sources cited.

A 3 page essay that examines 2 views of WWI. History texts, such as Matthew Perry's Western Civilization: A Brief History, look at wars and major events from the broad perspective. Perry's analysis of the First World War, for example, focuses primarily upon the major decisions of the war and those who made them. This ...

An 8 page research paper/essay that discusses three works that highlight the subjugated role of women in history. It has only been within the last century and also only within the context of the Western industrialized countries that women have gained equal rights with men before the law. Throughout history, the norm has been ...

This is a 5 page book review of Sharon Kay Penman’s novel “When Christ and His Saints Slept”. Sharon Kay Penman’s novel “When Christ and His Saints Slept” (1995) tells the story of the struggle for the English crown upon the death of Henry I during the 12th century. The novel is considered excellent on ...

A 6 page piece which postulates that in 'The Feminine Mystique' and 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem,' Betty Friedan and Joan Didion write (separately) of a women's revolution, Friedan by tracing history toward a thesis, and Didion by adding apocolyptic commentary to the theme by living with the emerging culture, and by observing the unconscious shedding of ...

5 pages in length. In Gunther Peck's Reinventing Free Labor, the author makes his argument using labor and immigration historical accounts. Labor and immigration, he contends, can provide much of the very stuff of which this nation's history is built upon. By focusing on work, an endeavor that most people have to do as a means of survival, ...

A 5 page overview of the agricultural history of California. This author traces this history from the Spanish land grant to the early half of the twentieth century. Central to the tremendous development which occurred was the migrant worker, groups of which McWilliams describes as the “wake of a machine”. The industry ...

A 6 page paper which compares three African tribal novels -- Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Flora Nwapa's Efuru and Fa-Digi Sisoko's Epic of Son-Jara (Sunjata) -- to determine what they illuminate about pre-colonial African history. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page book review that summarizes and analyzes this historical novel. Arundel by Kenneth Roberts is a novel that part adventure story, part history, but also the coming of age story of the story's narrator and protagonist Steven Nason, of the town of Arundel, "in the county of York and the province of Maine" ...

A 3 page essay that discusses how Canadian authors Michael Ondaatje and Sky Lee in their novels In the Skin of a Lion and Disappearing Moon Café offer narratives that portray immigrant experience in Canadian history. Ondaatje tells the story of Macedonian and Greek workmen who built the bridges, buildings and other structures that transformed ...

This 10 page paper looks at four Chinese works dealing with different issues concerning Chinese history, culture, class struggle and inequality. The works; The Story of the Stone by Cao Xuegin (Tsao Hsueh-chin), The True Story of Ah Q by Lu Hsun, Diary of a Madman by Lu Xun and Raise the Red Lantern by ...

A 6 page paper analyzing Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel in terms of the oppression of Puritan society in the colonial period of American history. After providing a background on the Puritan faith in general, the paper looks at Hawthorne's novel to show how Hester refused to succumb to the oppression of her society. Bibliography lists six ...

A 5 page paper that compares Mary White Rowlandson's narrative 'A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mary Rowlandson' and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and considers the impact of the form of the travel narrative as well as attitude and themes. No additional sources cited.

An 11 page paper discussing South African dissident Athol Fugard's 1961 play The Blood Knot. The text of the play is carefully examined in light of South Africa's history and culture and their unique effect on the play. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 7 page paper aruging that in these two novels, Austen and Crane create different visions of war, its rebellions and heroes. In both stories, like most humans, the heroes are the anti-heroes as well, because of the prejudicial recriminations surrounding their courageousness. The writer pays strict attention to these themes throughought, but the ...

A 5 page report on the best-selling book by Dee Brown. It explains the history of the Wounded Knee massacre, and shows that Brown is attempting to raise our consciousness about Indian issues through the writing of this book. No additional sources cited.

A 7 page essay that examines the characteristics of the works of playwright Sam Shepard. Included is a brief history of Shepard's early life, the writers that influenced his work early in his career, and the life experiences that led him to develop his own unique, innovative writing style. Also included are brief ...

An 8 page research essay on the victimization of Dracula in Stoker's novel. Using the arguments of critics and quotations from the novel, the wrier traces a parallel history between Stoker and Dracula, giving credence to the exposition of this character in relationship to Stoker's life. Bibliography lists 5 sources.