Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 6 page paper which examines the work and contribution of F. Scoot Fitzgerald during the Jazz Age. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 3 page paper which analyzes modern marriage in Kate Chopin’s story “The Storm.” No additional sources cited.

5 pages in length. The relationship between Biff and Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman has long been the focus of close analysis, with myriad elements culminating all at once to fashion a comprehensive appreciation for and understanding of their troubled yet inextricable bond. In short, Biff is the product ...

A 6 page paper which examines Herman Melville’s “Billy Budd” in terms of its unique qualities. No additional sources cited.

This 3 page paper examines the writings of Miller and Aristotle as concerns tragic plays. Their concepts are exampled in Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex. Quotes cited from texts. Bibliographpy lists 4 sources.

A 5 page paper discussing the various methods that Annie Dillard uses to define and describe ways of seeing. “What you see is what you get” (Dillard 140). And what we see, according to Dillard, is only that which we are prepared to see. We can construct a variety of methods of ...

A 4 page essay that argues that Marsha Norman's play 'night, Mother fails to fit the definition of Greek tragedy. This examination of the play reveals that it is not Greek tragedy, merely tragic, because Jessie's final act accomplishes no purpose. It is merely her final abdication of personal responsibility. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page paper provides an analysis of Arthur Miller's well known tale through a Marxist perspective. The plights of Willy Loman and others are evaluated with the use of Marxist concepts such as alienation. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 10 page paper provides an overview of the character of Dominick in Wally Lamb's I Know This Much is True. This paper considers how Dominick's personality and certain typical behaviors represent his character as a stereotypical male, and how some of his choices reflect a difference in his nature when compared to his ...

The Chicano author Sergio Troncoso is gaining a great deal of recognition. This 5 page paper considers how his work has themes of the relative nature of truth and how this is linked with core personality and identity values. The paper focuses on the book “The Nature of Truth” to look at how truth is ...

An 8 page summation of Laurence F. Peter and Raymond Hull's The Peter Principle. The writer offers a chapter by chapter brief summation of the major points of this text, arguing that this an excellent parody on several levels, as it basically castigates the entire hierarchical structure of Western civilization. As with all good satire/parody, ...

This 4 page paper applies a view of death and dying to Shreve's book. Anita Shreve’s book The Pilot’s Wife is an excellent example of the grieving process and the depiction of the grieving process begins at the onset of the novel. This book was selected as a means of applying Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ ...

This 12 page paper provides an overview of the characterization of Holden Caulfield. Holden Caulfield, the central character of J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, is a teenager who initially seems plagued by all of the same problems that many disgruntled teenagers experience: he is disillusioned, rejects his family and seems to ...

This 12 page paper provides an overview of Chaim Potok's novel The Chosen. This paper outlines the characters, and then provides a chapter by chapter review of the book.

This 14 page paper provides a comprehensive overview of the character of Dominick in Wally Lamb's novel I Know This Much Is True. This paper outines the basic elements of Dominick's character as they relate to stereotypical elements. Bibliography lists 19 sources.

This 10 page paper provides a summary of the characters and a chapter-by-chapter overview of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn.

This 12 page paper provides one view of the character of Turtle in Barbara Kingsolver's "Pigs in Heaven". This paper applies Freud's Ego Defense to an understanding of Turtle. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

This 11 page paper provides an overview of the characterizations and narrative style of The Green Mile. This paper outlines some of the elements of the film as well as Stephen King's novel. Bibliography lists 5 source.

This 4 page paper discusses the psychological descent of the protagonist of Faulkner's A Rose for Emily. Quotes cited from the text. Brief synopsis included, symbolism, characterization. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page paper gives a sample of how a historical introduction to a work of fiction might read and be constructed. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 3 page paper discusses the use of characterization in Chicano literature. The works of Anaya are discussed. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page essay that summarizes and analyzes Ray Bradbury's science fiction short story "August 2026: There will come soft rains." The writer argues that this narrative is poetic in its style, tone and imagery. It is a softly sardonic commentary on the cleverness of Western civilization, which is pictured as capable of producing ...

A 5 page paper which compares “The Children’s Story” by James Clavell and “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. No additional sources cited.

This 4 page paper examines the reason why this book has been banned, and asserts that it should be able to be taught in schools. This paper highlights the controversy associated with this book, and offers insight from critics as well. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 6 page review of Shirley Jackson’s novel “The Lottery”, the chilling story of an annual ceremony in which the inhabitants of a small village draw lots to determine who will be stoned to death that year. Complying with the authoritarian regiment which was in place the people of “The Lottery”, even the family ...