Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

John Steinbeck – His Life and Style: This 8-page essay analyzes many of the works by this prolific author, while examining elements relevant to his writing style, character development, themes, language and the like. In addition, the importance of his work and its social implications are addressed. Bibliography lists 7 sources. SNStein1.doc

This 5 page paper examines the writings of J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur to see what they tell us about his thoughts with regard to the American experience and values such as equality and religious freedom. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 6 page consideration of some of the more notable writings in this period in American history. The paper emphasizes that references to nature made by great writers like Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman, and Twain, all reflect that each of these men prided themselves on individuality, self reliance, and independence, qualities that encapsulate Americanness. ...

A 5 page paper which examines the influence that Ernest Hemingway had on the writing of Raymond Carver and J.D. Salinger. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

This 8 page paper evaluates novels by both Latin and non-Latin authors. Authenticity of each batch of novels is discussed. The paper concludes that the novels written by Latin authors are more authentic. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

Errand is said to be Carver's last published and, perhaps written, short story before he so tragically died of cancer. This 3 page paper explores the setting and cultural aspects of the story. No additional sources are listed.

A 7 page paper which examines the literature of Herman Melville, discussing and analyzing his writing style through his narrative voice. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 4 page paper which analyzes how Steinbeck’s use of language and writing bring the characters to life. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 3 page paper explores the science fiction novel written by Arthur Charles Clarke and Gentry Lee. Characters are discussed in depth. No additional sources cited.

The book, Rigoberta Menchu And The Story Of All Poor Guatemalans, was written by David Stoll, a Stanford anthropology student who has been studying the political plight of the Guatemalan people for more than a decade. This 5 page paper provides an overview of some of the existing debates about the accuracy of Stoll's perspective. ...

A 5 page paper which examines the writing style of Nathaniel Hawthorne by considering literary criticism of his books "Fanshawe, A Tale," "Twice-Told Tales" (short stories' collection), "Mosses from an Old Manse" (short stories' collection), "The Scarlet Letter," "The House of the Seven Gables," "The Blithedale Romance," and "The Marble Faun." Bibliography lists 12 sources.

A 5 page paper which discusses how the character of Emily was severely controlled by the gender conditions inherently possessed in the time period and the region of the South. Mention is made of Judith Fetterly's essay titled "A Rose for "A Rose For Emily." Bibliography lists 4 additional sources.

A 10 page review of the poetry of Sylvia Plath and Adrienne Rich. Contrast the differences in approach of these two women noting that while Rich approaches poetry as a vehicle for activism, as an instrument which is useful in effecting social change, Plath approaches it as a means of exploring her own inner ...

This 3 page paper is a reaction to the book, "Race Matters". This critique is written from the perspective of a white woman. This critique addresses such issues as, what ideas in the book challenged previous beliefs/assumptions, evidence of biases in the authors view, what the reader learned from the book, what the ...

This 7 page paper uses John Jervis’s essay on the flâneur to analyze two other works: Edgar Allan Poe’s writing “Doings in Gotham” and Hitchcock’s classic “Rear Window.” The three works all examine the complexity of life in the city. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

Richard Feynman's book, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman, is one part autobiography, one part humorous antectdotes and three parts storytelling fun. This 5 page paper provides a tutorial on writing a book report focusing on four chapters: The Dignified Professor, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman, A Map Of The Cat and Lucky Numbers. No additional sources are listed. ...

A 5 page discussion of the reasons behind Harry Crews’ writings. “Life of a Georgia Innocent”, like most of Crews’ work is captivating and many times shocking. Perhaps the most interesting thought repetitively emphasized by Crews is that in many ways there are few distinctions between man and animal under these harsh conditions. ...

An 8 page paper discussing the evolution of Huck's own sense of ethics in contrast to those of the nineteenth-century ante-bellum society in which Twain wrote. It is ultimately concluded that the story confronts us with questions of what American society is and what it should and could be--Even in light of criticisms surrounding the ...

A 4 page analysis of the film and book “The Ugly American” written by Eugene Burdick and William J. Lederer. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This paper examines the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and describes how his styles both matched and enhanced the 19th Century Romantic Movement of American Literature. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page essay that discusses how "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Minister's Black Veil" demonstrate elements of romanticism in the writing of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page review of this turn of the nineteenth century diary written by a midwife in Hallowell Maine. The author of this paper concentrates upon the rare insight the diary provides into such aspects of everyday life as which jobs men were expected to perform verses women and the social differences which existed ...

This 5 page paper considers the issues of insecurity, anxiety about her ability to write and issues surrounding self-presentation as they are defined in Charlotte Perkins Gillman's Yellow Wallpaper. This paper reflects the personal elements that are Gilman's in this work and defines the link between Gilman's characterization of the wife and her own ...

A 6 page book review and essay that consists of 2 parts, each 3 pages in length. The first half of the paper offers a synopsis of the novel Aztec by Gary Jennings. The write covers the structure and main topics of the novel, describing how it informs the reader about Aztec culture. The second ...

A 4 page paper which offers up a gender analysis of Joyce Carol Oates’ story Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been? Bibliography lists 2 sources.