Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 3 page paper which discusses the satire aimed at institutions in John Orozco’s book “Delano.” No additional sources cited.

A 7 page paper which examines the thematic representations of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic work in McInerney’s 1980’s novel, and specifically considers the application of such major symbols as Amanda, the Midwest, New York City, coma baby, and sunglasses. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A comparison between Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Watson's Montana 1948, with particular reference to narrative structure, the use of authorial voice, and the social and political themes with which the novels deal. Bibliography lists 5 sources

A 4 page paper which examines if Mark Twain’s work was truly simple comedy or pointed social satire. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 4 page paper which examines, comparing and contrasting, the animal references in Colette's "The Hand" and John Updike's "A&P." Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 9 page paper examines the idea of tragedy according to Aristotle and evaluates the Arthur Miller play. Information about protagonist Willy Loman is highlighted. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A 5 page paper which discusses how Virginia Woolf’s “To The Lighthouse” is both reflective of her life and how she would like her life to have been. Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

A 7 page overview of Rather's recent book. Patterned after a news hour feature CBS first introduced in 1999, Rather's book delves further into the question of what, if anything the American dream means to today's Americans. Rather answers this question with interviews with over thirty American ranging from professional athletes to migrant farm workers. ...

A 5 page paper which examines a common theme or issue in Lord Byron’s “Prometheus,” Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstien,” and Keats’ “Ode on Melancholy.” The theme examined is despair. No additional sources cited.

This 14 page paper examines four reviews on this book, each having a different interpretation. Psycho-sexual, reader response, semiotic and cultural interpretations are revealed. The thesis that Hemingway is a misogynist is supported by all of the reviews. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 3 page paper which offers a presentation of why Ernest Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea” should be included in an anthology. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 4 page essay/research paper that examines three articles on Louisa May Alcott's novel nineteenth century novel Little Women. This critique examines the manner in which Alcott's novel has been critically evaluated. Three articles on Little Women are examined and analyzed as to what arguments the authors present, what conclusions are drawn, and how ...

This 4-page paper discusses two stories, "A Short Story" by George Bowering and "The Killings" by Andre Dubus and compares and contrasts the motives of the murders.

This 4-page paper discusses the symbolism in three Nathaniel Hawthorn stories: "The Birthmark," "Lady Eleanore's Mantle" and "Youg Goodman Brown."

A 3 page annotated bibliography of sorts on Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 4 page paper provides an overview of some of the central themes of John Updike's story A & P. This paper considers the issue of point of view, especially Updike's use of the first person narrative. No additional sources cited.

This 3-page paper focuses on the three slave owners in Uncle Tom's Cabin (Shelby, St. Clare and Legree) and discusses the similarities and differences between the men.

This 7 page paper discusses the elements of sentimentality and the gothic in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Quotes cited from text. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page essay that contrasts and compares Flannery O'Connor's short story "Good Country People" and Eudora Welty's story "A Worn Path." The writer argues that both stories are deeply psychological in their orientation and suggests that it is how the characters deal with adversity, rather than the adversity itself, that defines who they really ...

This 3 page paper provides an overview of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, especially as it refers to the virtue of humility. This paper looks at Part Two and Franklin's claims that he hoped to live a life of humility. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page essay that contrasts and compares the way that Emily Dickinson's "The Soul Selects Her Own Society" and Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" picture the relationship between the self and the outside world. No additional sources cited.

A 4 page paper which examines D.H. Lawrence’s story “The Rocking Horse Winner” and applies the Oedipal theories of Sigmund Freud. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page essay that analyzes the theme of reality versus fantasy in Tim O'Brien's novel The Things They Carried, which presents the experience of soldiers fighting in Vietnam in a realistic manner. A realistic war story is nothing new. Many writers have related the carnage and horror of war, but they do so in ...

A 4 page paper which examines how Mark Twain attacks racism and slavery in his novel “Pudd’nhead Wilson.” Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page paper which compares “Herland” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the film “Brazil.” Bibliography lists 2 sources.