Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 4 page essay that reviews Charles Portis' humorous novel Gringos. The writer argues that plot--what there is of a plot--is secondary in this novel and that characterization is the overwhelming feature of the narrative. The novel's laid-back protagonist, Jimmy Burns, an expatriate American living in Mexico, does various odd jobs and rescues various people ...

A 3 page essay that examines the legacy of Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman." This play is an American tragedy because the legacy that Willy passes on to his sons is one that is terribly flawed. Willy has consistently adhered to the American cultural standard that links good looks, popularity ...

This 4 page paper considers the symbolic meaning of blindness in the story Cathedral. In Raymond Carver's story Cathedral, the theme of blindness is touched upon repeatedly. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page paper which discusses how examining the characterization of Hepzibah provides a greater understanding of the novel. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

This 4 page paper relates the authorship of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Harriet Beecher Stowe was a prolific author during the period that most describe as the "rise of American realism." The Minister's Housekeeper is related in this paper. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 4 page paper relates the authorship of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Harriet Beecher Stowe was a prolific author during the period that most describe as the "rise of American realism." The Minister's Housekeeper is related in this paper. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page research paper that examines the career of Emma Lazarus (1849-1887). who endeavored through her poetry and other literary work to express the experience of being Jewish in America for the benefit of the massive waves of immigrants who were in the process in integrating themselves into US culture during the nineteenth century ...

A 3 page paper that gives brief answers to 7 questions on Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Topics covered include Willy's philosophy, Biff's motivation and Willy's death as compared to Dave Singleman's. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that contrasts and compares Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" and William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," which are short stories separated in time, but very similar in theme. Hawthorne pictures a colonial setting in which a young man succumbs to perverted, devilish way of viewing his fellow villagers. Similarly, Faulkner ...

This 3 page paper is a book report on John Hersey's novel A Bell for Adano. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page analysis of the dramatic intensity within Henry James’ story “Daisy Miller.” The paper examines three different scenes that demonstrate this intensity. No additional sources cited.

An 8 page paper which analyzes the theme and various elements in Stephen Crane’s short story “Open Boat.” Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

This 5 page paper examines the book and the water imagery found in it. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 3-page paper focuses on the importance of location in several of Ernest Hemingway's short stories. Stories discussed include "In a Clean, Well-Lighted Place," The Snows of Kilimonjaro" and "The Killers." Bibligraphy lists 4 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines the relationship between the title of the story and the theme of the story “The Artificial Nigger” by Flannery O’Connor. No additional sources cited.

This 3 page paper briefly discusses the structure of some of the episodes in the novel 'The Awakening." Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 3 page paper compares and contrasts George Orwell’s “Shooting the Elephant” and Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Black Cat” to assess the way in which they both depict the human heart with the aim of identifying which may be the most effective. The bibliography cites 2 sources.

A 7 page paper which examines Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn” and also offers an examination of critiques of Twain’s novel. Bibliography lists 6 additional sources.

Angela Carter's collection of short stories, entitled The Blood Chamber, provides a variety of examples of the use of the narrator and how the narrator can be developed as a storyteller, a character or both. This paper provides an overview of the current literature on this topic and references a variety of sources. ...

A 3 page research paper + annotated bibliography that address the theme of loneliness in this work. John Steinbeck is known for his novels portraying the suffering and injustice that was rampant during the time of the Great Depression in the 1930s (Vibig 32). His novel Of Mice and Men addresses the economic hardship of ...

A 3 page paper on S.E. Hinton’s “That Was Then, This is Now.” No additional sources cited.

A 3 page paper on Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” No additional sources cited.

This 4 page paper examines Upton Sinclair's work entitled Flivver King, about the rise of the Ford Motor Company. The political nature of the work is revealed. Concepts such as Fordism is discussed. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

Robert Inman’s novel Dairy Queen Days follows the traditions of other Southern authors by creating vivid characters with a distinct cultural view. This 5 page paper provides an overview of the issue presented and relates it to the current literature. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

Arthur Miller found humor and irony in the presentation of characters that are not as they appear. More concretely, Miller developed characters who demonstrated a distinct difference between appearance and reality, including a notable difference between the way they perceive themselves and their reality. This 5 page paper provides an overview of the ...