Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

This is a 6 page paper discussing elements of self-involvement, greed, materialism, and immoral behavior in three novels by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Throughout the novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald, readers very much begin to understand the great deal of self-involvement, greed, materialism, and immoral behavior which was prevalent during the 1920s in America and was ...

This 4 page paper gives a brief synopsis of the movie/play then illustrates and examples the various postmodern elements. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 4 page report discusses the similarities that exist between the novel’s primary characters -- Nel Wright and Sula Peace -- despite their many apparent differences. Bibliography lists only the primary source.

A 7 page paper which examines the novel’s plot, narration, characters, themes, writing style and historical accuracy. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 7 page paper compares a non-fiction account of Vietnam with Tim O'Brien's fictional account. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 3 page paper answers three questions. It is presented in Q & A format. Questions are generally in respect to symbolism and are about E.B. White, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dean Howells. All literary works are centered in New York. Literary realism is also defined. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 6 page paper which examines the characters of Huck Finn, from Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Hucleberry Finn,” and Henry Fleming, from Stephen Crane’s “The Red Badge of Courage,” as they relate to the context of the Civil War. No additional sources cited.

A 7 page paper which analyzes some of Edgar Allen Poe’s works. The works discussed are “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Raven,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

A 9 page overview of Mark Twain’s tall tale. The author of this paper identifies the river as an ever present symbolic theme in the story which unfolds. The river is symbolic for the mother than Huck never had and it is symbolic for the freedom which he so desperately seeks. The ...

A 4 page essay that discusses how Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" portrays the societal restrictions on women during the nineteenth century. The writer argues that the depiction of Victorian society that Gilman portrays demonstrates that this psychic damage was not inflicted maliciously or intentionally, but rather grew out of erroneous ideas ...

A 4 page paper which examines John Updike’s short story “A&P” and discusses how it possesses a theme relevant to many as it relates to standing up for something, no matter how insignificant. Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

This 7 page paper analzyes two of Flannery O'Connor's short stories: The Train and A Good Man is Hard to Find. Symbols, themes, literary style are exampled. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A 4 page examination of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.” Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

A 2 1/2 page paper which examines Edgar Allen Poe’s short story “The Tell Tale Heart.” Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.

This is a 3 page paper discussing and summarizing John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley: In Search of America”. John Steinbeck (1902-1968) wrote “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” in 1961 after he had completed a 10,000 road trip across America with his pet poodle, Charley. The work is considered one of his most popular ...

This 7 page paper discusses the use of 'live burial' as a theme in Edgar Alan Poe's, Cask of Amontillado, Fall of the House of Usher, Annabelle Lee, and others. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 5 page paper discusses the characteristics of an anti-hero. Examples of the anti-hero are given from Death of a Salesman(Willy) and Krapp's Last Tape(Krapp). Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 4 page paper reviews Hickam's Rocket Boys. Brief synopsis included. Analyzed for theme and content. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 3 page paper discusses the symbols used in Hills Like White Elephants. Also discussed are various literary devices such as narrative, theme and character. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 2 1/2 page paper which compares and contrasts the freedoms presented in Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour” and Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

A 4 page overview of the symbolism utilized in this short story. Ernest Hemingway is noted for his use of rich symbolism in much of his work. “Hills Like White Elephants” is particularly exemplary in this regard. Hemingway weaves together element of nature and those made by man to present a story ...

A 4 page essay that compares and contrasts the issue of racism in Twain's Huckleberry Finn and Kate Chopin's The Awakenings. An examination of these works reveals how each author addressed issues of race within the context of Southern society and, in both cases, how this issue impacted the lives of their protagonists. Bibliography lists ...

A 4 page paper which examines the relationships between daughters and mothers in Rebecca Well’s novel “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

This 7 page paper discusses the issue of self identity in the work of Leslie M. Silko's book: The Almanac of the Dead. Themes, imagery, and symbolism as well as a brief synopsis are included. Quotes cited from text. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 4 page paper which examines the development of the character of Huckleberry Finn in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.