Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 10 page paper which examines how the novels of John Steinbeck portrayed man's ongoing struggle with society, and how the companionship of family and friends assisted in the strife of humanity, and how he would forever pursue the ever-elusive 'American Dream.' Specifically considered are the novels 'Tortilla Flat,' 'In Dubious Battle,' 'Of Mice ...

In a child's mind, it must seem that adults are a little bit social-blind. There's so much that goes on that adults just seem either totally unaware of or feel isn't important but children know is important. This 5 page paper asserts that The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and My Antonia by Willa Cather show ...

This five-page-paper presents a discussion on the Ernets Hemmingway book Sunshine on the Rise. The charcaters Brett and Jake are used to outline how a perosn with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder might react to life and the curves that it throws us . Bibliography lists five sources.

This five page-paper discusses and explores the effect of modernism on urban areas through the eyes of Marshall Berman in All That is Solid Melts Into Air. His beliefs of the forces behind modernism and the direction mankind seems to be going are all included. Bibliography lists one source.

This 5 page paper examines Larry Watson's novel 'Montana 1948' which is a story of a small town from the perspective of a twelve year old boy. The author uses the tool of differences between childhood and adult perception to communicate effective the message which underlies this story. This is one of conflict between loyalty ...

This five-page-paper presents a comarison and contrast two books that speak to the heart about tradition and individualism. The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey, and Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko each address the movement of progress and the affect it has on groups of people as well as the individuals. Bibliography lists two sources.

This five-page-paper presents a discussion on the underlying and common feature that runs through James Baldwin's "Go Tell It On The Mountain." The features of what a dysfunctional family does in the upbringing of a child and the struggles the young man encounters when looking for his place in the world are nicely addressed. In ...

A five page paper looking at Henry James' novel in terms of its depiction of the main character, Isabel Archer. The paper traces Isabel's self-assured naiveté at the beginning to her resolute moral decision at the end. Bibliography lists four sources.

A six page paper analyzing the inability of Holden Caulfield's sister Phoebe, and by extension Holden himself, to deal with their brother's death in J.D. Salinger's classic coming-of-age novel. The paper suggests that if their parents had secured counseling for them early on, many of the problems that both children experienced later could have been prevented. Bibliography ...

What is freedom? One of the interesting elements of literature is the diverse and myriad definitions and connotations that one comes across in the writings of different authors and genres. This 6 page paper argues that Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich, Beloved by Toni Morrison, Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner and the film, Birth Of A Nation, all ...

This 5 page paper provides an overview of the perspectives on the theater of the absurd, with a focus on Beckett and Pinter. This paper defines the concept of the theater of the absurd and demonstrates how both authors utilized this in their plays. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page paper which analyzes how the characters struggle to bring order to their lives through language in Raymond Carver's short stories, "The Bath" and "After the Denim," and evaluate whether or not they are successful. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A five page paper reviewing Lois Lowry's dystopian novel for young adults. The paper explains the significance of the story's theme, the relationship of love, suffering, and responsibility. A one-page sentence outline of the paper is appended. Bibliography lists two sources.

A five page paper on this detective novel by contemporary author Walter Mosley. The paper looks at whether it is possible for a Black author to write on his community without exploring the issue of racism, and concludes, in this case at least, it is not. Bibliography lists five sources.

Relationships are funny: ergo; romantic comedies. Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice is a romantic comedy of the Victorian era which adds another dimension to the relationships within the story. This 5 page paper examines the process of romance and love between the characters, Elizabeth and Darcy. No additional sources are listed.

This five-page -paper provides an analysis of the story "Where Are You Going and Where Have You Been?", author Joyce Carol Oates' . It explains the symbolism the author used in the story to represent the protagonist's childhood and unavoidable adulthood. Bibliography lists four sources.

This 5 page paper provides a first person analysis of the protagonist. The book is discussed in terms of Chance's relationship with plants and television as well as other things. No additional sources cited.

A 4 1/2 page paper which discusses "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand and examines the theme as it relates to individualism within man's soul as it involves the characters of Roark, Keating, and Toohey. No additional sources cited.

5 pages in length. Interpretation is everything in Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle." How the author writes, how the characters are portrayed, how the reader deciphers the meaning -- it is all intertwined within interpretation. How does Vonnegut compel his readers to journey forth into his world so prone to distortion? Indeed, ...

Harriet Jacobs wrote the story of her life of enslavement, mistreatment, confinement and eventual freedom shortly after the end of the Civil War. This 5 page paper argues that Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl was intended to be read as a slave narrative and, as such to provide a historical documentation of what the reality of ...

A 5 page analysis of Tim O'Brien's novel of the Vietnam War—"The Things They Carried." The writer argues that the unusual structure of this novel blurs the line between fiction and reality in order to demonstrate how the war experience affected the soldiers involved. No additional sources cited.

This well written five-page-paper explores what Steven Crane, author of : "The Red Badge of Courage", did to use the protagonist's fear to motivate him to react in different manners. Bibliography lists six sources.

James Baldwin has become, in the eyes of many readers, an icon of African American Literature. His work has been the leading edge of Civil Rights fervor and Black rhetoric for many years. This 5 page paper argues that Evidence of Things Not Seen does not appear to be in the same class as some of his ...

Every decision has multiple levels of information to be considered: from what to make for breakfast to dropping the first atomic bomb. The problem, according to Dennis Wainstock, in The Decision To Drop The Bomb, is that political decisions of the magnitude of dropping the bomb also have the added weight of historical review. This 5 page paper ...

5 pages in length. When comparing Joyce Marshall's "The Enemy" with "The Window" by Ethel Wilson we find there are more similarities than first meets the eye. In both of these insightful short stories we find a main character that seemingly is well off financially. While Joyce Marshall's character is female and ...