Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A 5 page research paper that discusses the importance of slave narratives both to the study of the nineteenth century and also to African American literature today. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A six page paper which considers the extent to which harsh childhood experiences affect the later lives of the protagonists in five novels by Central American writers. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A five page paper which closely analyses Hooper's dying words in Hawthorne's 'The Minister's Black Veil' and considers the way in which they illuminate Hooper's view of his community in the earlier part of the narrative. Bibliography lists one source.

A 5 page paper which examines the use of disguise in Mark Twain’s classic “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The paper examines the theme of disguise versus that of reality within the novel. Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the historical significance of Anita Diamant’s novel “The Red Tent.” No additional sources cited.

This is a 5 page paper discussing two articles about The Odyssey by Homer. Tutorial language is inserted into the paper using square brackets. In a summary and discussion of Peter Green’s article “Reading, translating, and speaking Homer” (1997) and Paul Cantor’s article “The art in the popular” (2001), both Green and Cantor compare Homer’s ...

This 6 page paper gives a biographical overview of the life and times of F.Scott Fitzgerald and discusses the three major influences on his work. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This is a 6 page paper that discusses Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and H.G. Wells', The Time Machine. It lists 3 sources.

5 pages in length. The irony of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House – and thereby justifying the suitability of titling his play the same – is discovered early on in the story by way of the author's shrewd use of language, as one realizes the inner conflict that resides within the main character. Nora ...

5 pages in length. The primary theme throughout the literary artistry of author Chaim Potok revolves around Jewish pride, familial relationships and accepting one's heritage. A strained cultural home life complicated by Lev's need to exhibit his pain through art in "My Name is Asher Lev" effectively illustrates how Potok is quite successful ...

This is a 5 page paper comparing the difference in the attitudes toward sex and love in the ancient Chinese and Egyptian love poems and songs. Ancient songs and poetry written around the 1,000 B.C. vary greatly from culture to culture. The Chinese lyric poetry found in “The Book of Songs” tells of lovers and ...

A 5 page paper which examines the theme and importance of lying, or the tall-tale, in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The edition used is the Thomas Coley Norton Critical Edition. Third Edition. No additional sources cited.

This is a 5 page paper discussing Gawain’s character at the end of the tale, aspects of chivalry and the significance of the hunting scenes. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is a well loved tale of chivalry and bravery which was originally written in the late 1300s. What makes this tale of chivalry different ...

A 5 page paper which examines the claims that Ray Bradbury is not truly a science fiction writer. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A paper which explores the concept of sacrifice in both a societal and religious context, with particular reference to Melville's 'Bartleby', Ibsen's 'A Doll's House' and Jackson's 'The Lottery'. Bibliography lists 3 sources

A 5 page essay on Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. The writer argues that Chandler's protagonist, detective Philip Marlowe, is the modern day equivalent of a knight -- a rugged individualist who relies on his own skill and cunning to defeat evil-doers, has his own code of honor, and rescues those in distress. No additional ...

A five page paper which looks at the themes of personal autonomy and Fate in Crane's The Open Boat and Camus' The Guest, with reference to the relationship between humanity and the universe, and the importance of personal responsibility for self.

A 7 page book report of Discovering the Women in Slavery, edited by Patricia Morton. This anthology consists of fourteen essays that explore the diversity of experience encompassed by female slave narrative and historiography. The writer offers a brief description of each of the fourteen essays. No additional sources cited.

This is a 5 page paper comparing Thomas Jefferson and Hank Morgan’s goals and values. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence and the bill which established religious freedom in the United States. In addition, he believed in the value of education for all and the separation of the Church from the state. Hank Morgan ...

A 5 page overview of this 1798 ode. The author contends that Wordsworth actually viewed “Tintern Abbey” as a lyric meditation which was utilitarian in leading his reader on an emotional journey centering around the beauty and wonder of nature. The author also emphasizes Wordsworth’s view of the ancient ruins if Tintern Abbey ...

A five page paper which analyses the importance of the unknown letter-writer in Kate Chopin's short story 'Her Letters' with regard to the influence which this character has on the lives of the other two characters. Bibliography lists 3 sources

A 5 page essay that examines the common theme of uncertain vision in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Shakespeare's Othello. The writer argues that in each play, the protagonist is "blinded" by circumstance and ego. Othello and Oedipus each exhibit an uncertain, inaccurate vision of his situation, causing him to make false judgements that lead to ...

An 8 page paper which examines the role and meaning of death in Celtic fairy tales. The paper predominantly addresses the fairy tale “The Banshee Woman” and also focuses primarily on the psychological interpretation of the fairy tales. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the development of political satire in the first three chapters of Ian McEwan’s novel “The Child in Time.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which compares and contrasts the short stories “Child By Tiger” by Thomas Wolfe and “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. No additional sources cited.