Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 6 page paper which examines domestic tragedy in Anne Tyler’s novels “Accidental Tourist” and “Saint Maybe.” Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

This 3 page paper analyzes Amy Tan's story "Two Kinds," which appears in "The Joy Luck Club." Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the element of journeys seen in William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” and “The Counterlife” by Philip Roth. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page paper which examines the role of the town of Maycomb in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page essay that analyzes Silko's novel Ceremony, which draws directly from Native American culture and myth. As such, the structure of the novel departs from the standard European-derived paradigm, as Silko grounds her narrative within Pueblo oral tradition. the writer discusses the various aspects of the novel that accomplish this purpose. No additional ...

A 3 page analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.” No additional sources cited.

This 3 page paper discusses the book Mr. Pipes Comes to America by Douglas Bond. Bibliography lists 3 sources

A 6 page paper which examines the symbolism of the journeys taken in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy).” No additional sources cited.

This 3 page paper discusses the reaction a reader might have to David Brooks' book "Bobos in Paradise" after reading Barbara Ehrenreich's work "Nickel and Dimed." Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 3 page paper examines the book Passing, and argues that it, like Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, is about an America that forces its black citizens into a life of invisibility. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page paper which analyzes the short story “The Lady with the Pet Dog” by Joyce Carol Oates. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page essay that contrasts and compares the characters of Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway from F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece The Great Gatsby. The writer argues that it is through Nick's perspective that Fitzgerald is able to dramatize this basic decency in Gatsby and show that this is a common feature of both men. ...

This 7 page paper examines the character of Hester from a feminist, psychological and historical perspective. The theme of adultery is thought to be the most important one in the work. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A paper which considers the theme of revenge in Poe's Cask of Amontillado, and argues that Montresor's revenge does not conform to the motto of his family coat-of-arms, but rather invalidates it. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 4 page paper which compares the film’s depiction of Capote’s writing of his masterpiece with the book itself. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page book review of Dean Koontz's thriller Velocity. The writer summarizes the plot and discusses the gripping nature of the suspense. No additional sources cited.

A 4 page essay/research paper that investigates the writing of Flannery O'Connor, focusing specifically on Good Man as a representative short story. The writer discusses how this short story has been interpreted by critics and what critical opinion has said about O'Connor's typical themes. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 5 page paper analyzes Thom Jones's short story "I Want to Live!" paying particular attention to the writing style and word choices of the author. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page paper analyzes the character of Mrs. Wilson in Thom Jones's short story "I Want to Live!". Bibliography lists 3 sources

This 3 page paper discusses some of the literary devices used in the three novels "Emma," "My Name is Asher Lev," and "Huckleberry Finn." Bibliography lists 4 sources.

An 8 page paper which examines the imagery in Earnest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms.” Bibliography lists 4 sources.

An annotated bibliography of four critiques of Updike's Rabbit novels. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the influences Mark Twain had in relationship to writing “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and elements of racism that could be found in the story. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 7 page discussion and analysis of 5 short stories. The stories are Kate Chopin’s “The Story Of An Hour,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” and D.H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner.” Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

A 3 page paper which examines the objects characters either take with them, leave behind, or encounter along their journey in order to determine their importance as well as the significance of the journey. No additional sources are used.