Essays and Research Papers on French Literature

This paper compares Camus' philosophy, as demonstrated in "The Stranger," with the philosophies of Karl Marx and Immanuel Kant. Also included in this paper is a plot description and an explation of what the title means. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A five page paper which looks at the themes of personal autonomy and Fate in Crane's The Open Boat and Camus' The Guest, with reference to the relationship between humanity and the universe, and the importance of personal responsibility for self.

This is a 7 page paper discussing symbols and symbolism in relation to the themes found in Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House” and Jean Anouilh’s play “Antigone”. Both Ibsen in “A Doll’s House” and Anouilh in “Antigone” use symbolism to express themes throughout their plays. The central characters of Nora and Antigone are both ...

This is a 6 page paper discussing the struggle for human meaning in Albert Camus’ “The Plague”. Albert Camus in “The Plague” chronicles the struggle for human meaning in the face of a disenchanted world through the plight of social disintegration, the spread of political manipulation, and the crisis of metaphysical reason and morality. Although ...

A 5 page paper which discusses the theme of choices in both novels. No additional sources are used.

A 5 page paper which examines the theme of “Gargantua” by Francois Rabelais as it unfolds through the relationship between Picrochole and Grangousier. No additional sources cited.

A 6 page paper which examines the life of Albert Camus and also discusses how his work “The Stranger” reflects something of his life. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page essay that offers an overview of Balzac's novel Eugenie Grandet (1833). This is a story of obsessive love and the effect of love, or its lack, on the human heart. The writer also addresses Balzac's characterization of Eugenie. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page paper which examines the significance and role of the sun in Albert Camus’ “The Stranger.” Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

An 8 page paper which examines whether, in Zola’s view, the creation of the store called Au Bonheur des Dames is a good thing and considers whether its effects are chiefly good or bad. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 4 page paper discusses the element of hope in Andre Breton's book, Nadja. Quotes cited from the text. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 4 page discussion of the importance of optimism verses pessimism in Voltaire’s world. Voltaire viewed human nature neither entirely in a negative light nor entirely in a positive light. Voltaire realized that humans were just that, human. While many of his characters were driven by such negative qualities as greed, others ...

This 10 page paper provides an overview of the first 20 chapters of Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. This paper also gives an overview of the main characters.

This is a 5 page paper discussing the individual and society as found in “Candide” and “Frankenstein”. Sociologists have outlined the various relationships which exist between the individual and society. Emile Durkheim for one believed that man was an animal with unlimited desires which could only be controlled by the moral guidelines and interactions given ...

This 15 page paper compares and contrasts Kafka's The Trial with Albert Camus' The Stranger (L'etranger). Quotes cited from text. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page essay that examines Moliere's comedy Tartuffe. The writer asserts that there are numerous comedic characters in this play, it can be argued that the most comic figure in Tartuffe is the hypocrite Tartuffe himself because this character is central to the irony that makes up much of the humor in the play. ...

A 4 page paper which analyzes the historical accuracy of Andre Malraux’s “Man’s Fate.” Bibliography lists 4 additional sources.

This 3 page paper uses many quotes to support the fact that many thematic elements in Rousseau's work are contained in Madame Bovary. The nature of Emma Bovary's character is explored. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page paper examines these two Guy de Maupassant stories in terms of their ability to demonstrate the characteristics of nineteenth century French society. Specifically, this paper examines what these stories portray of class, gender relations and politics. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 6 page paper which compares and contrasts the protagonists Mathilde Loisel and Louise Mallard in terms of each story’s theme, climax and conclusion. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

A 4 page paper which examines the failure and/or success of memory in Georges Perec’s “W or the Memory of Childhood.” No additional sources cited.

A 5 page essay which discusses the use of comedy in the ancient Greek play by Aristophanes Lysistrata and also in the seventeenth century French comedy by Moliere Tartuffe. In both of these comedies, the playwrights use the elements of comedy to convey criticism of certain social conventions of their particular era. No additional sources ...

A 7 page analysis of “The Return of Martin Guerre” by Natalie Zemon Davis. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that analyzes Flaubert's masterpiece from the perspective of how it engages the interest of the reader from a writer's perspective. The writer argues that in creating Emma Bovary, Flaubert fashioned a timeless character who epitomizes the pain of women who believe too much in fairy tale romance and ...

A 5 page paper which examines the novel’s major themes, considers the context in which these themes and ideas were developed, and offers a personal reaction presented to the challenges presented within the text by Voltaire. No additional sources are used.