Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A 5 page examination of Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous essay "Self-Reliance." The writer discusses how Emerson urged his American readership to have faith in themselves and also in what was still a very new nation, the United States of America. The writer argues that his essay shows that, in so doing, Emerson summarized characteristics of ...

A paper which looks at the elements of realism within Dreiser’s ‘Sister Carrie’, and in particular the way in which the main characters interact with society, and cope with their ostracism from mainstream culture as a result of their non-conformist behaviour.

A 7 page research paper that examines The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky from a perspective that considers the theories of Rene Girard. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A paper which considers the complicated and ambiguous ending of Philip Dick’s novel. The Man in the High Castle, looks at ways in which the ending might be re-written, and considers the effect that such alteration would have on the text of the narrative as a whole.

A 5 page paper which discusses the significance of the furmity woman in "The Mayor of Casterbridge" by Thomas Hardy. The woman appears only briefly but stands to be significant in presenting the reader with substance to elements such as action, theme, and development of the story. No additional sources cited.

A 6 page essay that contrasts and compares John Updike's short story "A&P" with James Joyce's "Araby" and the roles plays by the girls in each story. The writer discusses how the boys projected their own fantasies onto the girls. No additional sources cited.

A 9 page paper which provides a background on the novel’s author before exploring the theme of confinement. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 10 page research paper that focuses on Edgar Allan Poe's use of satire in his short story "The Spectacles." However, the writer also includes biographical information on Poe, as well as the evaluation of Poe by various critics. Bibliography lists 20 sources.

Faulkner and Larsen in the Context of Racism: This 8-page comparative essay examines William Faulkner’s “Light in August” and Nella Larsen’s “Passing” for the common and contrasting threads pertinent to the racial undercurrents that are a part of this country’s cultural legacy. While coming from totally divergent backgrounds these two critically acclaimed American authors both ...

A 5 page paper which reviews the book "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page book review of Gail Anderson-Dargatz' The Cure for Death by Lightning. The writer describes the twists and turns of this coming-of-age story set in 1940s Canadian British Columbia. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper looks at the concept of an odyssey and explores why it was a significant element in old fiction and fact. The concept is explored in modern times as well. Homer's Odyssey is discussed in detail. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A paper which looks at Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, particularly in terms of the way in which the relationships which Duddy has with his family and others contribute to the formation of his character and the impulses which motivate him to achieve his goals of material success.

A 10 page paper which analyzes and interprets the novel by employing practical literary criticism and application of literary theory. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 6 page paper takes a look at this unusual fantasy that contains many morals and much symbolism for which there are likely a variety of interpretations. The protagonist is evaluated. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines the novel with respect to the statement, “The unusual and the unexpected are characteristic features of the plot of a good literary work.” Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 5 page paper which analyzes how that quote relates to the book as a whole. No additional sources are used.

A 5 page essay/research paper that examines how Edgar Allan Poe used satire in his short story "The Spectacles." The writer argues that Poe possessed considerable skill as a satirist, as this story mocks the romantic conventions of his era making the romantic emphasis on appearance a laughable farce. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

5 pages in length. This is a hypothetical letter to a cousin who is a patient in a mental institution. Taking examples from various texts including works by Harriet Jacob, Jane Austen, Kate Chopin and Charlotte Bronte, this letter is constructed using examples from works from each of these authors. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

Comparing Ideologies -- Frederick Douglass and Henry David Thoreau: This 5-page comparative essay examines the critically acclaimed works by these two American authors -- Douglass,’ “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave” and Thoreau’s, “Civil Disobedience” -- looking for the elements of connection and disparity. Bibliography lists 2 sources. SNFredth.doc

A 6 page paper which summarizes the novel, providing insight on the plot, characters, themes, literary devices and style. Also included are the summaries of two articles of literary criticism. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

An 8 page paper which examines the English writer’s life and career, provides a detailed analysis of her novel, Oroonoko; or The Royal Slave, and argues for her inclusion in the canon of major English writers. Bibliography lists 10 sources..

The heroic tradition implies a pattern of story telling that begins with a hero in unusual circumstances, the search or quest, the transformation of the Hero and a resolution. This 5 page paper argues that Candide, the protagonist of the novella of the same name by Voltaire; Nora from the play, A Doll House by Ibsen; and the underground ...

A 5 page paper which provides a brief overview of each book, considers how the narrative voices in each affect the reader’s response to the novels (empathy), examines the underlying message in each book, whether or not the author’s point of view intrudes or leads to conclusions about themes and characters, discusses whether or not ...

In The Awakening, Kate Chopin presents the theme of sexual passion rather than a moralistic presentation of Victorian values. The story is focused on the portrayal of human sexuality and Chopin writes as an individual, a woman and as a member of a society which condemns such acts of passion. This 5 page paper explores the portrayal of ...