Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 4 page discussion of how societal perceptions of gender enter into the equation of responsibility for one's actions. The author investigates responsibility in Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" (a short story fictionalizing the real-life murders of Charles Schmid in the 1960s) with articles by Susan Jacoby, Ellen Goodman, and Lara ...

A 5 page paper discussing Thomas Pynchon's first novel. Pynchon writes in a free-wheeling style that breaks with the established fiction traditions of the time; it is only fitting that he should address a subject matter equally shocking. At a time when we tried to present proper appearances, regardless of what was happening outside the public view, ...

A 5 page paper which discusses the various uses of gender in "The Dead" by James Joyce and "A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woolf. Problems of human relationships are discussed in the context of the stories as well. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 4 page paper considers Fitzgerald's attitude toward gender, based on what we can glean from his writing. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page commentary on how Betty Friedan contributed to the shift in gender role identification. The writer focuses on both the negative (gender confusion) and positive aspects of her contribution (life-sharing and equal opportunity). Bibliography lists 3 sources.

5 pages in length. Expectations of gender and class structure have long carved out predetermined paths for those within global communities, not the least of which includes assigned roles of masculinity/femininity and hierarchy of social status that serves to stratifying social structure in such a way that reflects a definitive separation of economic, political, ...

5 pages in length. Leslie Marmon Silko's "Ceremony" addresses a long-standing issue that has existed between Native American men and women: the open and equal pursuit of identity. That patriarchy has been the controlling social force for centuries has effectively placed the female gender in the shadows of acceptance, while the male gender has ...

A 3 page essay that examines Chopin's nineteenth century short story. Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" (1894) is one of the most anthologized short stories in American literature and numerous students have "grappled" with the story's implications as to gender in nineteenth century American society (Deneau 210). Modern readers debate as whether ...

A 5 page paper that provides an overview of the elements of gender-based social constructs described in Fernea's story, and demonstrates the differences that Fernea experiences as a westerner in an eastern culture. Bibliography lists no additional sources.

A 7 page paper which critically examines how these stories represent Chopin’s efforts to reflect her own life in her art, how they are innovative feminist critiques (such as gender stereotypes and oppression) of the social conventions that were defined and maintained by the American patriarchy. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

This 6 page essay argues that Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" should be interpreted as a critique of nineteenth century gender roles, marriage and the medical establishment of that era. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page paper takes a look at the coming of age theme in this story that is intertwined with themes of gender and the circle of life. The characters are evaluated and the plot is discussed. Bibliography lists 2 sources

Roles as delineated by gender or by the institution of marriage are generally first defined within the realm of the family and are expanded to include community and regional aspects. This 5 page paper explores the role of marriage with W. M. Thackeray's Vanity Affair and then briefly compares that with the view of Elizabeth in Gaskell's North And South. ...

This 5 page paper considers the theme of oppression in this Alice Walker novel. The paper looks at oppression in terms of gender and they different manifestations the oppression may take along with the way that these are dealt with by the characters involved. The bibliography cites 1 source.

This 5 page paper considers the way in which this short story looks at human nature and the conflict between individual needs and social expectations. The use of emotions, sexuality, morals and gender differences are all discussed in terms of the social expectations and contracts of the time and the conflict that they create in ...

A 5 page overview of the predominant viewpoints expressed in Indian Captivity Narrative and the Slave Narratives, two of the most important types of literature produced during the American colonial period. Contends that while both were concerned with the circumstances of captivity and the ever-present temptation of escape and overall issues of race, these ...

A 7 page research paper/essay that critically examines John Okada's novel No-No Boy. which addressees the immense psychological damage that was incurred by Japanese Americans who were interred by government order during World War II. The novel deals with the post-war experience of its protagonist, Ichiro Yamada, a "no-no boy" who answered "no" to two ...

A 5 page paper which compares how the views of democratic government are represented in each essay. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 10 page paper which examines George Orwell’s “1984” and Max Nieman’s “Defending Government: Why Big Government Works” as they relate to warnings and positive conditions concerning a controlling, or big, government. Bibliography lists 4 additional sources.

(10 pp) The discussion has been prompted by questions concerning urban studies, particularly in the Western United States. Areas of discussion include: the progressive era; the growth of Los Angeles; the role of government in land patterns; the work of Carl Abbot; and regionalism. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

This is a 6 page paper that provides an overview of Thoreau's view of protest. Counter-arguments that protest against the government is unjustified are logically dismissed. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 5 page research paper investigating the messages in Robin Cook's "Outbreak" in terms of reality. Does the government cover up events? Evidence is offered that it indeed covers up lots thus, Cook's book, while a fictional account, is closer to reality than we might want to think. Several supporting/critical sources cited in bibliography.

5 pages in length. Dean Ornish's "Love & Survival : 8 Pathways To Intimacy And Health" addresses a very fundamental instinct of every human being: individualism. That this quest for uniqueness asserts itself in every aspect of one's existence is paramount to the extent of prosocial behavior and how that relates to one's ...

A 3 page research paper/essay that addresses the theme of slavery within the context of three writers drawn from the Puritan, Colonial and Romantic periods of American history. The writer examines how Samuel Sewall, Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass each address this theme within the context of the societal ideals of their time. Bibliography lists ...

This 3 page paper discusses Dan Brown's early book "Angels and Demons," and argues that by incorporating real places, people and organizations into his fictional work, he not only creates a sense of heightened reality but also teaches a "painless" history at the same time. Bibliography lists 5 sources.