Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A 3 page essay that contrasts and compares the poetic styles of Thomas Hardy and T.S. Eliot. The writer argues that the verse of Hardy and Eliot has in common the fact that both poets take a negative view of life and society. However, they each expressed this pessimism in very different ways. Hardy's verse ...

A 7 page review of the stories by Edith Wharton, an author best remembered for her examination of New York society in the 1800s. Much of this work is interwoven by the themes of silence, isolation and illusion. Such is certainly the case with “The House of Mirth” and “Ethan Frome”. The ...

This 5 page paper discusses the issues of social class and wealth as portrayed in Agatha Christie's novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Quotes cited from the text. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 4 page essay that has the premise that Tolstoy's character Ivan Ilych (from The Death of Ivan Ilych) is a real mortal soul, recently deceased, and that the soul of Socrates is quite aware of the circumstances of his last day on earth and is writing to Ivan that they should discuss how ...

This 6 page paper discusses the themes of motherhood and identity in the work of GArcia-Lorca in his work, Yerma. Quotes cited from texts. Bibliograpy lists 6 sources.

This 9 page paper discusses the motivations of both Sancho and Don Quixote as they journey together. Themes of chivalry, narrative shifts, and characterization are discusses, exampled, and supported with quotes from the text. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 4 page paper discusses the use of various literary techniques in the novel of Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice. Foils, themes of marriage and epistemological studies are included. Bibliographpy lists 3 sources.

A 3 page essay that analyzes Browning's poem "My Last Duchess" as a dramatic monologue. The writer defines "dramatic monologue" and discusses how Browning uses this device to create a concise character sketch of a depraved and shallow nobleman. No additional sources cited.

This 3 page paper discusses the gothic elements in Gilman's Yellow Wallpaper and Faulkner's Rose for Emily, as well as feminist overtones. Quotes cited from text. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page essay which discusses the use of comedy in the ancient Greek play by Aristophanes Lysistrata and also in the seventeenth century French comedy by Moliere Tartuffe. In both of these comedies, the playwrights use the elements of comedy to convey criticism of certain social conventions of their particular era. No additional sources ...

This 4 page paper examines the role of Sam in this poignant story about racism and apartheid in South Africa. Essentially, the story is about whether or not Sam (the influence of good) is able to outweigh Hally's father's negative influence. This paper highlights the main themes of the story as well as ...

A 5 page discussion of Mary Shelly’s classic science fiction. The author contends that the underlying theme of subjugation could be interpreted to apply to the societal situation which the feminist movement as a whole has revolted against. The primary perpetrator of this situation in Mary Shelly’s "Frankenstein" is identified as Dr. ...

An 8 page analysis of Marian Yule in George Gissing’s “New Grub Street.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page essay that compares and contrasts the concept of time expressed by John Keats in his poem "Ode to a Grecian Urn" and Andrew Marvell in "To His Coy Mistress." The writer argues that each poet expresses very different perceptions of time. Marvell expresses a carpe diem theme in order to persuade the ...

This 3 page paper evaluates the Faulkner work through a Marxist point of view. The class difference that seemed to propel Snopes to commit arson is accentuated. No additional sources cited.

This 3 page paper discusses the major points of the essay by Mary Jane Schenck on O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find. Quotes cited from both texts. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page paper discussing identity in this work. In the age in which the term “cop out” was commonly heard, the quest to “find” oneself typically qualified as the ultimate “cop-out.” Too often, it involved resigning from life and abandoning convention in favor of drifting. Proulx’s Quoyle certainly could have taken ...

A 13 page paper which evaluates the author’s place in the African-American literature of the 1960s. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A 7 page analysis of “The Return of Martin Guerre” by Natalie Zemon Davis. No additional sources cited.

This 4 page report discusses the nature of individual identity in Woolf's 1931 novel "The Waves" and how each of the six main characters in the exist individually and as part of their group. Bibliography lists only the primary source.

A 4 page research paper that argues that Santiago in the Hemingway novella The Old Man and the Sea is a Christ-like figure. The writer discusses the numerous allusions to Christian symbolism that are in this narrative and their ultimate meaning. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 7 page paper which examines the conflicts between classics and Christianity in Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page summary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “This Side of Paradise.” Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 4 page paper discusses the work of Guillien de Catro y Bellvis called, Las Mocedades del Cid. Symbols, synopsis, themes and characterization discussed. Bibliography lists 1 source.

An 8 page paper that begins with a short overview of Capital Crimes by Stuart Woods. The story focuses on a serial sniper targeting conservative personalities and politicians. Real life serial bombers, serial killers and serial snipers are related to the theme, which proposes that these killers are all mentally unbalanced. The paper compares Wood's ...