Essays and Research Papers on (All) Literature

A 4 page essay that examines the early American poetry of Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor. The writer argues that each poet recorded their reactions to colonial life in their verse, leaving a poetic legacy that offers a glimpse of what life was like in a seventeenth century early American colony. The picture of colonial ...

A 4 page paper that considers this poem by examining the concepts of humanism, sprezzatura, virtue, shame and guilt based culture and literary theory. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page paper which compares two stories, “The Road Past Altamont” by Gabrielle Roy and “The Bridge of Beyond” by Simone Schwarz-Bart, as they involve themes of nature and death. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page paper which examines Homer’s presentation of women in the Hymn to Demeter and the Iliad, and Sappho’s presentation of women in the “Poems of Sappho.” No additional sources cited.

Good vs. Evil : A 3 page essay that analyzes Grisham's novel The Rainmaker. The writer argues that in presenting this narrative, Grisham provides the perfect tableaux for examining the theme of good versus evil, as developed through the circumstances affecting his protagonist Rudy Baylor. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

4 pages in length. The truth that lies within a literary work of art is that which addresses the inherently complicated and diverse attitudes as they exist within each individual. Both Young Goodman Brown and Araby are about human nature -- the very truth of human nature -- which is why they are ...

A 6 page paper which examines the characteristics of Old English as compared to modern English by using a classic Old English poem titled “The Battle of Maldon.” Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A paper which compares and contrasts these two works and the way in which they deal with the treatment of the elderly in modern society. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page paper discussing several ways in which Oedipus created many of his own problems. A prophecy at his birth stated that he would kill his father and marry his mother, and in the end, the prophecy was fulfilled. It would not have been, however, had Oedipus been (1) more accommodating and ...

A 3 page essay that examines the Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale in regards to what it tells the modern reader about the role of women in medieval society and how women were viewed during this time. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper considers the similarities and differences between the words of Olaudah Equiano and Frederick Douglas in their recollections of slavery and words concerning freedom. The words of Douglas are far more direct, but both authors have similar themes. The bibliography cites 5 sources.

A 4 page paper which examines the speeches of Ulysses, Phoenix, and Ajax in Book IX of the Iliad. No additional sources cited.

This is a 5 page paper discussing how the ideologies of Alice Walker and Jane Austen are represented in their novels. Women novelists Alice Walker and Jane Austen provide different examples of how they have managed to represent their own ideologies within their novels. Alice Walker wrote “The Color Purple” in 1982 and conveyed her ...

A 4 page paper which examines the destructive nature of Brett, in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” towards herself and men who are incomplete in themselves. Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A paper which considers the theme of negro domination in Chesnutt's The Marrow of Tradition, with reference to his treatment of moral and ethical values within the black and white communities and the socio-economic hierarchy of the South. Bibliography lists one source.

A 3 page essay that analyzes Allende's poignant short story of self-centered evil and retribution, "If You Touched My Heart." The writer argues that this is a fable that offers a complex morality tale, which works on many levels of understanding. It concerns Amadeo Peralta, an amoral man who treats a young girl, Hortensia, in ...

A 6 page discussion of Delillo’s novel and its illustration of the impact of the Cold War on American culture. Revolving largely around the analogy of baseball, this novel illuminates many aspects of a war which unfolded largely without recognition by a significant segment of the American public. This lack of awareness, however, ...

A 3 page paper which examines the use of satire in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels.” Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 10 page paper analyzes the Preface to Whitman's Leaves of Grass, the first edition. Examples are cited from the text as well as a discussion on the use of ellipses, language, and exclamation points. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 3 page paper discusses the role of females in Homer's Odyssey. Examples given from the text. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page paper which examines the relevance of the title in Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle.” No additional sources cited.

A 4 page analysis of the concluding book, Book 24, of Homer's epic poem the Iliad. The writer argues that Achilles' relinquishing of Hector's body to his father signals his maturation as a human being. No additional sources cited.

This 3 page paper discusses the compression which exists between what the characters do and what they feel inside. This duel nature is exampled from three specific quotes from Austen's Pride and Prejudice utilizing Ghent's critique of the English novel. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the symbolism used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in three of his stories: “My Kinsman, Major Molineux,” “Young Goodman Brown,” and “The Maypole of Merry Mount.” Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 6 page research paper/essay that analyzes the role played by the copious illustrations that William Makepeace Thackeray included in his novel Vanity Fair. The writer argues that the illustrations underscore Thackeray's characterizations. Bibliography lists 3 sources.