Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A five page paper which looks at the way in which the rise of capitalism and the merchant classes was relevant to women in the eighteenth century, and the ways in which the works of Defoe and Centlivre illustrate this. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 5 page paper which examines the play "Los Vendidos" by Luis Valdez. The paper approaches the play with a feminist criticism as well as discusses some thematic elements such as symbolism, irony, conflict, and setting. Bibliography lists 4 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which examines what Aeschylus thought concerning the position of women evidenced in his works "The Agamemnon" and "The Eumenides." Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

A 5 page paper which looks at "The Family of Pascual Duarte" by Jose Cela and examines how Pascual was eventually destroyed by his own masculinity, or machismo. Bibliography lists 8 additional sources.

This 6 page paper considers this work, summarizing the story and considering the structure and meaning of the play. The writer uses quotes to illustrate the points raised. The bibliography cites 5 sources.

5 pages in length. John Updike's A&P addresses a very fundamental instinct of every human being: individualism. That this quest for uniqueness asserts itself in every aspect of one's existence is paramount to the extent of prosocial behavior an individual like Sammy might demonstrate. The author acknowledges the fact that altruistic tendencies ...

This 6 page report discusses the 1968 novel written by Dick that tells the story of a human bounty hunter who seeks out androids to destroy because such creatures so closely resemble human beings that they have proven to be a threat. In the process, he has to deal with his own understanding of what it means to be human ...

A 5 page paper which examines how Faulkner’s themes and ideas are developed in each short story. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A six page paper which looks at the way in which Thoreau treats the concept of time in ‘Walden’, the importance which he attaches to the notion of time in relation to the cycle of the seasons, his criticism of the superficiality and time-wasting of urban dwellers and the importance he attaches to the relationship ...

This 5 page paper considers this story by Julia Alvarez about four sisters growing up in 1960's America after leaving behind their native culture. The paper is written in the style of a letter from an editor to the author. The bibliography cites 1 source.

This 7 page report discusses “The Book of Margery Kempe” which is thought to be one of, if not the, first autobiographies in English. The book chronicles the spiritual life of a remarkably unusual and illiterate, medieval woman. Geoffrey Chaucer’s story of “The Wife of Bath” in “The Canterbury Tales” presents an equally unique woman, especially in terms of her railing ...

A 5 page paper which the novel in terms of background, author, its intended audience, and how the novel addressed important historical issues of the time. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

5 pages in length. Pressure and conflict are common in most everyone's lives, occurring in various degrees and created both externally (the world outside) and internally (one's own anxieties, needs and desires). Applying the concepts of pressure and conflict to the literary world, the student will find that D.H. Lawrence's Rocking-Horse Winner and ...

A 6 page discussion of the role of fate and tradition in setting the course of events which would unfold. Asserts that Hardy attributed more of life’s events to fate than to any sort of intelligent guiding force or supreme being. This attribution was fatalistic in that it meant that there was little ...

A 5 page essay that compares the focus on identity in Samuel Beckett's play Krapp's Last Tape with that portrayed in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. The writer argues that each playwright has their protagonist go through a process of self-discovery, in which the reality of their lives is suddenly seen through fresh eyes. This ...

5 pages. John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress is reviewed and the allegories within the book are explained, as well as whom the author is directing his thoughts toward. Discussion included as to the religious worldview that John Bunyan's work represents. Comments are made as to some of the characters in the book, as well as ...

A 6 page paper which provides an overall analysis of the novel, including the significance of the characters, their actions, symbolism, and the meanings of events. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

Faulkner views the idea of community from a transcendental perspective, with a view inclusive of the inherent dignity of the individual, their lives, choices and meaning to the world around them. This 5 page paper argues that Faulkner was able to question the realities of life as well as the relationship of man to society ...

A 5 page research paper that examines three short stories and how they pertain to love. The stories are Love in L.A., by Dagoberto Gilb, Eveline by James Joyce, and A Worn Path by Eudora Welty. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page comparison of the ethnically specific language, or dialect, used in "Manhattan Transfer" and "West Side Story." Both stories present us with the dialect that is commonly known as American and both also touch on various ethnic dialects. No additional sources cited.

A five page paper which looks at the concepts of civilisation and savagery in Melville’s ‘Typee’, with particular reference to the way in which the main character reacts to both types of culture, and the association of the Typees’ society with the Biblical Garden of Eden. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 5 page paper looks at Bronte's great work of fiction. The older Catherine and her relationship with Heathcliff is compared and contrasted with young Cathy's relationship with Hareton. The relevance of the story in the later generation is discussed. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page examination of Herakles (Hercules) which examines why he was so well like among the Greeks of the time, as well as why is still so popular today. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page essay that examines Ambrose Bierce's use of point of view to manipulate time his short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." The writer analyzes how Bierce makes time "stand still" for the story's chilling conclusion. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page discussion of the similarities and differences in these two works. Sometimes densely elusive, Eliot’s “The Waste Land” recaptured much of the essence of the metaphysical poetry of the Seventeenth Century but the author’s style is at the same time unique to his own period, the period of modernism. Asserts that ...