Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

This 5 page report discusses Raymond Carver’s very short story of “My Father’s Life.” Carver makes very little judgment about either his actions or those of his father. Instead, he leaves it up to the individual reader to make a generalization based on the clues he offers. What the reader ends up seeing is the life of a ...

A 5 page paper which discusses the aspects of racism and sexism in the book "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison. The aspects, or influences, of sexism and racism are examined in the perspective that they stem from institutional concepts, created in society, and that such aspects have clearly affected the growth and existence of the characters in the ...

6 pages in length. In Chapters XVI and XVII of "Brave New World", Mustapha Mond and John the Savage debate the meaning of life. Mond asserts that Ford did a great deal to shift the emphasis from the truth and beauty to comfort and happiness. John the Savage prefers truth and beauty. ...

(5 pp). Our goal during this discussion will be to examine the sound and meter of Robert Frost's "Stopping by woods on a snowy evening." Choice of words and the sounds they make as the slide over the tongue, can enhance a piece of poetry, and make the simple seem elegant and sophisticated. ...

(5 pp). On one level this book is about society's dislike for, and eventual destruction of the unrepentant non-conformer. But on another level it is exactly what the story line portrays - a brilliant look at the abuse, oppression and even murderous nature of the modern 'mental-health' system. Action plays out through the ...

This 5 page paper compares Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman and Lorraine Hansbury's A Raison In The Sun in terms of the relationships between men and women. No additional sources are listed.

A 5 page paper which illustrates how the relationship between McMurphy and Nurse Ratchet, Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," is symbolic of larger scale power conflicts within society. No additional sources cited.

An 8 page paper which discusses various cultural aspects of the books "Colored People" by Henry L. Gates Jr., and "Rain of Gold" by Victor Villasenor, as they involve Mexicans and African Americans. Bibliography lists 4 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which discusses many psychological problems and conditions in the character of Savannah Wingo, and others, in the novel and movie "Prince of Tides." Bibliography lists 4 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which discusses "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, and the characters of Heathcliff and Cathy in relationship to their tragic flaws. They both suffer greatly from dissatisfaction with self. They are uncertain about who they are, and in their loneliness and dissatisfaction with self they seek happiness and are unable to find it due to their ...

This 5 page report discusses the actual character of Nat Turner in “The Confessions of Nat Turner” (1967) by William Styron. Three key features of his personality are addressed. In the second half of the report, the issue of personal identity is discussed. How does a person view himself in comparison to how he is viewed by others ...

A 5 page paper which considers how the lives of Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass personified the American dream that anyone is capable of success, by examining "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" and "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." No additional sources are used.

A five page paper looking at this satirical story by Edgar Allan Poe. The paper points out that satire is an unusual genre for Poe, although the story is typically macabre; but, in addition to being a gentle jibe at Transcendentalism, this story argues that not all fiction must have an obvious moral to have ...

A 5 page paper. Gary Soto offers some of his recollections of his youth in this book. He does so without bitterness at the negative experiences but rather, with a sense of humor. This essay discusses what this book is about and offers some quotes from the books. Bibliography lists 1 source.

An 8 page discussion of the book "Catch 22", a tongue-in-cheek novel presenting a fictional account of the horrifying bureaucratic absurdities of World War II encountered by one officer in his attempts to accomplish his job while at the same time maintaining his identity and even his life. Discusses the true-to-life characteristics presented in ...

An eight page paper looking at Ambrose Bierce's short story in terms of the way the author uses plot, characterization, and style to shock the reader in this surprising and memorable tale. The paper shows that we are trapped by Bierce's thematic artistry just as his protagonist was trapped by the Yankees. Bibliography lists 10 ...

A 5 page paper which analyzes Amy Tan's short story, "Two Kinds" by specifically considering the conflict between mother and daughter, the effect of the mother's broken English and occasional Chinese expressions, and the significance of the story's last paragraph. No additional sources are used.

(4 pp). A narrator, seven centuries down the road tells us of a "manuscript" he has found. "(There are not ) errors of fact, but errors of interpretation. Looking back across the seven centuries that have lapsed since Avis Everhard completed her manuscript, events, and the bearings of events, that were confused ...

7 pages in length. A market is a place where goods are put on display in order to be bought and sold; as well, it may also be classified as targeting a class of people to whom a particular commodity can readily be sold. Keeping gender and sexuality in mind, and as ...

6 pages in length. Gerald M. Stern's "The Buffalo Creek Disaster" speaks directly to the absence of social responsibility in the corporate world. Not only did the coal company initially refuse to take accountability for the dedicated lives that were lost in the collapse, but the only reason it finally settled was for ...

A five page paper looking at these two stories by Willa Cather and Thomas Wolfe, respectively. The paper argues that both are moral tales because they compel us to sympathize with characters whom in real life we might find difficult to understand, and this broadens our moral horizons. No additional sources.

This seven-page-paper presents a detailed discussion about the book Joseph Heller wrote called, "Catch-22". It explains Heller's view that the absurdity found in war and life are merely human conditions. Bibliography lists four sources.

This 5 page paper provides an overview of the central points and purpose of Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle. This paper assesses the many different roles in the novel and their impact on creating a social view of the meatpacking plants in Chicago in the early 20th century. No additional sources cited. ...

This 7 page report discusses Shirley Jackson’s (1916-1965) 1948 short story “The Lottery.” Jackson’s story is of the annual lottery in a village of 300 people that takes place on June 27th. All villagers participate and the oldest man in the village has personally been a part of 77 separate lotteries. While there is not a particularly festive sense ...

This 5 page report discusses Flannery O’Connor’s short story and examines whether or not The Misfit is simply insane or what has driven him to commit the horrors he does. He is a despicable character who is still fascinating in terms causing the reader to wonder how a person actually develops the attitudes and thinking processes that he exhibits. Religion ...