Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

6 pages in length. Wilkie Collins' "The Woman in White" surrounds itself with enough pastoral landscapes and compulsory interplay as a means by which to present what is seemingly a run-of-the-mill whodunit; however, when one delves beyond the perfunctory elements so common to conventional mystery/suspense novels, one finds the most delicious array of characters ...

This 5 page paper provides an overview of the book and reviews it in the context of nuclear war theories as well as in terms of its 1950s setting. Several themes are noted and examined. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 7 page paper which examines the significance of the narrator’s relationship with Tod Friendly in Martin Amis’ “Time’s Arrow.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines the New York public school system in Sapphire’s novel “Push.” Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 5 page paper comparing three of Poe's stories -- 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue,' 'The Mystery of Marie Roget,' and 'The Purloined Letter' -- to show how Poe's work set the standard for the detective genre. One source beside the stories themselves.

A 5 page paper which examines “Are These Actual Miles?” by Raymond Carver and “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway as they relate to marriage. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines how C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia,” specifically the 5th book titled “The Horse and His Boy,” captures the minds of the readers. Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which examines how Jane Austen, in her novels “Pride and Prejudice,” “Emma,” “Persuasion,” and “Sense and Sensibility,” successfully communicates the principles which govern her society. Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 10 page research paper based on the interesting proposition of what Yeats and Joyce might think of current day Dublin if they could return from the grave for a day. The writer discusses contemporary Dublin and makes suppositions about how Joyce and Yeats would react. Principally, the writer argues that they would be shocked ...

This 5 page paper provides an overview of eighteenth century writers with a focus on novelists. Several novelists are discussed in depth, including Jonathan Swift. Several philosophers of the era are discussed as well as issues of the day. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 7 page research paper that explores the historical significance of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's famous short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892). The writer discusses how the story dramatizes the effects of patriarchal medical opinions, which were popular in the late nineteenth century, and how they affected Gilman's protagonist, who slowly goes insane while being treated ...

A 5 page essay that examines Kate Chopin's short story "Desiree's Baby." The writer argues that in this story, Chopin utilizes irony to prove her point, which is that any disparity between the races is a matter of environment, upbringing and opportunity and not a factor of genetic inheritance. No additional sources cited.

A 9 page paper which examines the themes of laughter and politics in the novels “The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by M. Kundera and “The Rhinoceros” by Ionesco. Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

This 6 page paper evaluates four characters and compares and contrasts secular folk from those who are in the clergy. Chaucer's Prologue to the Canterbury Tales is used as a springboard for discussion. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page essay that examines and evaluates Sudden Fiction (1987), an anthology of sixty short stories, exceptionally short short stories, edited by Robert Shapard and James Thomas. Generally under 2000 words, the writer critically examines several stories from the volume to make the point that this abbreviated form of fiction can still pack a ...

A 5 page essay that, first of all, examines the paternalistic rationalization for slavery and then examines the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, a first person account of slavery, to see how well the paternalistic model of slavery fits with actual experience. The writer argues that no rationalization can justify slavery, with ...

A 10 page paper which examines Timothy Mo’s novel “Sour Sweet” and illustrates how the story can be seen as a personal as well as universal journey. Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

A 14 page research paper that examines the work of Tillie Olsen, in particular her novel Yonnondio and her short story, "I Stand Here Ironing." The writer argues that Tillie Olsen's writing reflects her personal and political upbringing. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

This 6 page report discusses a number of Geoffrey Chaucer’s stories in The Canterbury Tales. Numerous examples of satire exist throughout Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. In fact, each of the tales and each of the characters offers some form of a parody regarding the personalities and human interactions that Chaucer observed around him. One of his favorite things ...

A 20 page analysis of Shakespeare’s Falstaff in “King Henry IV”, Malvolio in “Twelfth Night” and Sir Epicure Mammon in Ben Johnson’s “The Alchemist”. The author approaches these characters from the aspect of the psychoanalyst to explore they manic depression. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 5 page research paper that examines and analyzes Dave Barry's first novel Big Trouble. The writer argues that while the American reading public has long enjoyed Barry's slice-of-life comedy, this novel is somewhat of a departure for Barry as, while the novel is frequently hilarious, it also presents a grittier, seamier side of life ...

A 5 page essay that examines Jackson's short story "The Lottery." The writer argues that this story's basic theme is that institutions and traditions should not be respected simply because they have existed for a long time. "The Lottery" forces the reader to reconsider and reexamine preconceived notions of what is considered to be "good" ...

An 8 page analysis of Cormier's book for young adults, The Chocolate Wars. In sections that explore specific aspects of the book, the writer analyzes Cormier's prevailing themes, which concern the tyranny of a small group students known as the "Vigils." No additional sources cited.

An 18 page paper which analyzes the theme, structure, conflict, character and characterization, symbolism and style, point of view, setting, and irony in Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness.” No additional sources cited.

This 5 page report discusses and compares the 1993 movie version (directed by Martin Scorsese) of “The Age of Innocence” with Edith Wharton’s original 1920 novel. Bibliography lists 3 sources.