Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

This 3 page paper discusses the way in which Sammy, the protagonist of John Updike’s short story “A&P” matures over the course of the story. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 3 page analysis of the traveling salesman in John Steinbeck’s story “Chrysanthemums.” Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 3 page paper analyzes the book “The Logistics of War” by Beth Scott, Lt.Col. James C. Rainey and Capt. Andrew W. Hunt. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 6 page research paper/essay on Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club, which is a deeply psychological that delineates the dichotomies and conflicting cultural imperatives that characterize masculinity in the contemporary era. Palahniuk’s narrator is a man who has been emasculated, robbed of his sense of self, by these conflicts. This results in self-loathing in which ...

This is a 3 page paper which discusses the ideals exemplified in Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" as they compare to the principles of utopian society. The bibliography has 3 sources.

6 pages in length. To examine the extent to which Ayla possesses a spiritual sense about her and provides a unique insight into the human process is to delve more deeply into the fundamental components of Auel's storyline. The scope of Ayla as the symbolic representation of man's evolution upon this planet is ...

This 4 page paper discusses the approaches Thoreau and Huxley take to the search for wisdom. It discusses their books "Walden" and "Brave New World," how their techniques are the same and how they differ, and which approach is better. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page paper that consists of a 3 page essay and a 1 page outline. In Walden, Henry David Thoreau presents his basic philosophy of life and the lessons he garnered by living simply and “deliberately” in the woods next to Walden Pond. A principal lesson that Thoreau emphasizes repeatedly in this narrative is ...

In three pages this paper compares and contrasts the 1988 novel and the 1990 film primarily in terms of theme, characters, and symbolism. Three sources are cited in the bibliography.

This 10 page paper discusses two works by Gertrude Stein: "The Making of Americans" and "Tender Buttons" Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 10 page research paper/essay that examines Vladimir Nabokov's use of language, in Lolita and also in one of his first novels King, Queen, Knave. The writer argues that these novels demonstrate Nabokov's skills at utilizing symbolism and metaphor as tools that aid him in achieving his artistic and thematic goals. Bibliography lists 8 sources. ...

In six pages this paper compares and contrasts these two late nineteenth century stories by early feminist author Kate Chopin. Two sources are cited in the bibliography.

In seven pages this paper analyzes the message this film version of the classic novel by John Steinbeck sends about California. Seven sources are cited in the bibliography.

This 5 page paper discusses democracy as it was described by Alexis de Tocqueville in “Democracy in America” and by Edgar Allen Poe in “Some Words with a Mummy” and “Mellonta Tauta.” Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 5 page paper answers questions about three short stories: “Paul’s Case” by Willa Cather; “The Child by Tiger” by Thomas Wolfe; and “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page paper critiques the book “God in the Wasteland” by David Wells. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

This 4 page paper discusses what Schlosser says about standardization, uniformity, and conformity in the fast food industry on one hand, and nonconformist entrepreneurs on the other. It also considers the movie industry, which is becoming standardized in the same way as fast food. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 5 page paper discusses Jonathan Zimmerman's book "Whose America?" and outlines five points he makes and why they are important. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page paper which compares and contrasts Hilda Doolittle’s “HERmoine” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender is the Night.” Bibliography lists 3 sources.

An 8 page paper which examines how Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” is a story about society and violence. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 7 page essay that draws on scholarly sources to argue that Chopin's nineteenth century masterpiece The Awakening entails far more than simply her sexuality, as the journey of psychic discovery also encompasses everything that Edna comes to understand about herself and her relationships with others. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

In three pages the struggles of one-time homeless man Lars Eighner and his eventual success are chronicled as detailed in his essay, ‘On Dumpster Diving.’ One source is cited in the bibliography.

A 4 page paper which examines the development of Jake Barnes in Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises.” No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that discusses why hard-back books are better than reading books online. Reading a book is not the same as reading text on a computer screen. This is true for several reasons. First of all, there is the immediacy of hard-back book, as everything the reader needs is there, at the fingertips. ...

A 4 page paper which examines mother/daughter relationships as seen through Amy Tan’s short story Two Kinds. Bibliography lists 6 sources.