Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A 5 page overview of the novel by Thomas King. Outlines the novel’s theme and emphasizes that in reality it is characterized by a duality of theme. Suggests that the names of the towns themselves are suggestive of this duality as are the differences between the characters and even the differences between these ...

A five page paper which looks at Machiavelli’s perspective on the importance of good and bad fortune in politics, and the way in which a skilful statesman should have the ability to make use of, but not reply upon, the fortuitous events which might occur in his career. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 5 page paper looks at the classic work by Samuel Richardson and examines the role of the story towards the end of the happenings between Mr B and Sally, considering the value it adds to the story and whether or not this destabilises the story. The bibliography cites 1 source.

This 5 page paper considers this work, and looks at how Machiavelli see the role of ambition in the ancient civilisation of Rome. Unlike other works he see ambition as leading to harm for both the citizens and the state. This paper looks at how this is justified and the advice that he gives on ...

Two Chicago stories are the focus of this 5 page paper that looks at how city life is perceived by people from ordinary backgrounds. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser and You Know Me Al by Ring Lardner are discussed in depth. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A five page paper which looks at George Orwell’s satire, Animal Farm, and the way in which the narrative is treated in the modern film version, in comparison to the original text. Bibliography lists 4 sources

A 5 page paper which examines how appearances and reality manifest themselves in the setting contrasts of East and West, and how they have shaped the so-called American Dream. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the Buddhist view of compassion, as interpreted by Tibet’s fourteenth Dalai Lama, and how it is the essential component in helping others. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 13 page paper which discusses the use of humor in Don DeLillo's "White Noise" and Thomas Pynchon's "The Crying Lot of 49" as it involves criticizing the American dream and the American culture. The paper also discusses the use of humor in literature in general. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 5 page essay that examines the King's use of literary devices, such as setting, characterization, symbolism, etc, in his award-winning short story, "The Man in the Black Suit." The writer argues that the rural Maine setting plays an intrinsic role in the manner in which King builds suspense in this story, and the writer ...

A 5 page paper which examines some of the characters in "The Sky is Gray" by Ernest Gaines as they personify the conflicts within the story. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which provides a general book review of "House of Breath" by William Goyen. No additional sources cited.

11 pages in length. Edgar Allan Poe's writing is often seen as quiet and pastoral; there is, however, another side of his work: dealing with conflict between human beings and the overwhelming sadness that accompanies significant loss. Some examples in this regard include The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee and The Fall of ...

A 5 page paper which provides a report on James Hilton's "Goodbye Mr. Chips." The paper provides a quote and then discusses the quote as it relates to Mr. Chips and his ability to make sense of the negative experiences in his life as they pertain to people he has lost. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page report discusses Jane Austen’s last novel “Persuasion” and the 1995 movie adaptation of the book. The characters of “Persuasion” (or any other Jane Austen novel) are almost always constantly talking. They chatter, they gossip, and speculate on every aspect of the world around them. It is in this fact that the “Persuasion” is the most radically different. ...

This 5 page paper considers this unusual book. Written in the style of a novel the book considers the use of technology and the Theory of Constraints. The paper consider the background to the book and well as the contents and the lessons that the book teaches, such as it is the way that technology ...

A 5 page paper which discusses whether Alberto Moravia's "Il Conformista" possesses, as he claims, aspects of realism and symbolism. No additional sources cited.

5 pages in length. Oftentimes when we think we are in love, it is not so much the emotion of love in the truest sense of the word, but perhaps more an obsession. Especially when the one we perceive to love is not that easy to win, our thoughts turn to the pursuit of what we think we ...

A 6 page paper which examines how the five books of “My Antonia” is very loosely structured, only held together by cyclical themes of stages of human life, changing seasons, and cultural phases of civilization, incorporating analysis from five of the novel’s critics. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 7 page paper which discusses the novels "The Last Hurrah" by Edwin O'Connor and "Primary Colors" by Joe Klein and discusses their political statements and political approaches. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 5 page essay that examines Drew Hurley's eclectic play, Distraction. The writer argues that this play is rather like taking a spin course through the last several hundred years of Western literature and philosophy in a way that is both entertaining, thought provoking and comprehensible. Basically Hurley presents a brief history of the way ...

This 7 page paper explores the issue of ethics in terms of Edwin O'Connor's novel, The Last Hurrah and Primary Colors by Anonymous. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A seven page paper which looks at the philosophy of American Transcendentalism, and the way in which it is exemplified in John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, particularly in the character of Casey and the parallels between Casey’s development and the life and ideology of Emerson. Bibliography lists 3 sources

A 5 page paper which compares these two feminine protagonists. No additional sources are used.

A 6 page paper which discusses how class difference plays a role in Raymond Carver's "A Small Good Thing" and F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Babylon Revisited." No additional sources cited.