Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

3 pages in length. In somewhat of a departure from her conventional approach, Welty dabbles in a medium known to a select few within the literary world, a place that combines fantasy and reality to create an image much grander than life. The magic realism found in No Place For You, My Love ...

A 7 page paper which compares and contrasts the characters of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth from Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlett Letter." Bibliography lists 5 sources.

3 pages in length. In her inimitable style, Virginia Woolf illustrates how society compels men to be men and women to be women; for her to have killed off the Angel of the House in order to rid herself of the oppressive social dictates the Angel metaphorically represents, Woolf displays a significant evolutionary change ...

This 3 page paper examines the classic work from a Marxist perspective. Some quotes are included. No additional sources cited.

A 12 page biographical paper which discusses how the author’s life is reflected through his work. Specifically considered are his major themes, his contribution to literature, and his unique style. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour" and discusses it in relationship to the song "These Are Days You'll Remember" by Natalie Merchant. No additional sources cited.

This 4 page paper examines this intriguing essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson for examples of transcendence. Several quotes are included. No additional sources cited.

3 pages in length. Considered the most autobiographical of all his works, Hemingway's Big Two-Hearted River reflects upon the writer's never-ending quest to obtain spiritual peace amid an otherwise chaotic world. The absence of organized religion in his life notwithstanding, this spiritual expedition was always fulfilled when Hemingway was surrounded by nature, particularly ...

A 4 page paper which examines the presence of pessimism and optimism in Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises." No additional sources cited.

A 4 page paper which compares and contrasts how Faulkner uses point of view to shape not only characterizations but also the novel as a whole. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 4 page book review that summarizes and analyzes Duncan's novel The River Why. This book concerns fishing in the coastal rivers of Oregon for steelhead and salmon. It is a provocative book that is, at times, very funny, terse, incisive and occasionally boring when the author becomes too enthralled with some of the "big" ...

A 4 page paper which compares and contrasts the characters of Gatsby and Tom in "The Great Gatsby." No additional sources cited.

A 4 page paper which examines how the social conditions presented in "The Tortilla Curtain" by T. C. Boyle can be related to those seen in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." No additional sources cited.

A 4 page analysis of the character Old Major in George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm." Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 3 page paper reviews Shane K. Bernard's book "The Cajuns" and answers specific questions about the work. Bibliography lists one source.

A 4 page essay that looks at Emerson's take on nature in his famous essay "Self-Reliance." American transcendental philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson outlines a perspective that values individualism over unthinking conformity. Just as Martin Luther proposed that individuals can establish a personal relationship with God, without intermediaries such as priests, Emerson eschews the entirety of ...

This 3 page paper compares "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Masque of the Red Death" with regard to their protagonists, central conflict and dramatic questions. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page essay that compares 2 works by Blake and King. Poet William Blake in his eighteenth century verse and Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. in his twentieth century rhetoric each addressed issues of morality and ethics during their respective eras. Examination of Blake's The Poison Tree and King's Letter from Birmingham Jail reveals ...

A 6 page paper which examines Mark Twain's views on slavery primarily through his character Jim from The adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 3 page essay that discusses the nature of playwright Neil Simons' comedy. The writer argues that Simons primarily draws his humor from characterization and that it is situational. Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple and Chapter Two are discussed. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines why first time readers of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" would be shocked. Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

A 3 page paper which compares and contrasts the characters of Fools Crow and Fast Horse in James Welch's novel "Fools Crow." No additional sources cited.

A 7 page paper which analyzes the message or idea of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle." No additional sources cited.

A 3 page paper which illustrates the characteristics of a "true believer" such as Uncle Matt in George Saunders' short story "The Red Bow." No additional sources cited.

A 6 page paper which examines the symbolic messages in William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies." Bibliography lists 3 sources.