American Literature Essays Examples For College & High School Students in PDF

85147 total results

An Analysis of the Simbol of Rittenhouse Square in the Compolitan Canapoy by Elijah Anderson (1583 words, 6 pages)

Elijah Anderson, author of The Cosmopolitan Canopy, discusses Philadelphians lives among different races in present times. His point propones how all types of races live in todays work all over the United States. In the first chapter of the book titled A Center City Walking Tour, Anderson targets what areas ... Read More

A Critique of Rainer Marie Rilke’s Statement That the Only Journey Is the One Within (659 words, 2 pages)

The personal development of ethics and morals overshadows all other developments, according to German poet Rainer Marie Rilke in his quote The only journey is the one within. Specifically, journeys are rendered irrelevant when compared to the expedition an individual must endure to reach a state of complete moral enlightenment. ... Read More

A Review of The United States of Lyncherdom, an Essay by Mark Twain (618 words, 2 pages)

In the essay The United States of Lyncherdom, Mark Twain attacks the practice of lynching and those who condone the act as a means of establishing justice. According to Twain, the world generalizes all Missourians as lynchers, despite the relatively small portion of individuals who actually partake in the event ... Read More

A Review of Quiet Torrential Sound, a Short Play by Joan Ackerman (1915 words, 7 pages)

Looking GlassIn the short play, Quiet Torrential Sound by Joan Ackerman, two sisters, Claire and Monica, pose as foils to one another. While Claire does not care much about her appearance and would rather seek out true happiness, Monica remains too preoccupied with the idea of appearing perfect to address ... Read More

The Cure for Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a Novel by Mark Twain (812 words, 4 pages)

Huckleberry Finn Challenging Racism through Everlasting FriendshipsHuckleberry Finn, perhaps Mark Twains most famous Realistic novel is set in the 1830s-40s a time during which slavery was both legal and very common. 20 years before the civil war, Twain uses the character Jim to explore the South and the racial conflicts ... Read More

A Discussion on Various Authors’ Views on the American Dream Through Different Generations (1480 words, 6 pages)

Throughout the history of America, multiple generations have viewed the qualities of the American Dream in different ways. Each generation proving to be influenced by the society and culture in which they live. Some parts of culture play a large role in what is envisioned as the ideal life such ... Read More

An Analysis of the Symbolism in the Novel Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut (724 words, 2 pages)

Symbolism in 2081 The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal.What seems like the ideal world, the greatest scenario possible in any given condition of living, is a curse for the characters weaved into the world of Harrison Bergeron. Society, as perfect as it may seem, is still a ... Read More

An Analysis of the Fahrenheit 451, a Novel by Ray Bradbury (446 words, 2 pages)

Fahrenheit 451, written in 1953 by Ray Bradbury has a very timelessmessage. The novel is about a "fireman", Guy Montag, and his internalstruggle between morality and law. It is set in a dystopian future in whichbooks are banned. In this universe, fires no longer need put out- instead,the so-called 'firemen' ... Read More

The Purpose of Doubling in The Black Cat, a Short Story by Edgar Allan Poe (1004 words, 3 pages)

The Black Cat is a short story written by Edgar Allen Poe about a man who suffers from guilt after hanging his beloved pet cat, Pluto. He later finds and adopts another black cat, but this cat terrifies him because it reminds him of what he did to the previous ... Read More

The Theme of Horror in The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe (1096 words, 2 pages)

Horror has about a thousand different definitions in everyones minds and can be associated with anything from movies to video games. The definition of horror has changed over the past few centuries, and the media is the best example of change, morphing around what weve taken as fear into events ... Read More

The Unexpected Twist in the Story A Rose for Emily, a Novel by William Faulkner (862 words, 4 pages)

A story with a twist is always a story that leaves you thinking why? When William Faulkner wrote the story A Rose for Emily, he accomplished many things. By not putting the story in chronological order he made the story more interesting. The story had you asking questions in your ... Read More

The Use of Literary Elements to Emphasize the Significance of Colors in The Great Gatsby, a Novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald (972 words, 3 pages)

A green light out in the distance. Just across the water. Easily accessible to many. Many, not including Jay Gatsby. A number of people reach out to things that they want to be in possession of whether its an opportunity, a tangible object, or, in Gatsbys case, a person. In ... Read More

An Analysis of the Company Man by Elen Goodman (533 words, 2 pages)

Pity for Corporate SocietyThe Company Man by Ellen Goodman is a narrative showing the downsides of a life committed to the workforce. The story takes place at the funeral of a man named Phil, whom Goodman labeled a a perfect Type A, a workaholic. Phils dedication to his job ultimately ... Read More

An Analysis of the Jelousy, a Key Koncept in the Crucible, a Play by Arthur Miller (1029 words, 4 pages)

Black and White MoralityThe greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion (Clarke). The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a historically accurate play regarding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Seventeenth century Salem, Massachusetts was a scene of mass hysteria citizens were killed due ... Read More

An Analysis of the Wrriting Metods of the Stephen King (679 words, 2 pages)

The Kings View on WritingOn Writing by Stephen King is a thought-provoking memoir on the art of writing fiction. Throughout the book, King analyzes his own career as a writer and identifies tactics that he took in order to become successful. He also provides his audience with specific tools and ... Read More

The Unlikable Character of Ellsworth Toohey in The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (975 words, 3 pages)

There is no other character in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead I despisemore than the renowned Ellsworth Toohey. His character combines allqualities of a person that make me want to throw The Fountainhead at thewall. At first Toohey seemed to be a nice old grandpa, but then his motiveswere slowly revealed ... Read More

An Analysis of the as I Lay Dying, a Novel by American Author William Faulkner. (663 words, 2 pages)

Much can be deciphers from a few simple sentences. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner has several moments that are prominent to an active reader. A specific example from p. 45 goes as follows When we enter the room she is watching the door. She looks at me. Her ... Read More

The Carelessness of Tom and Daisy in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1105 words, 4 pages)

The Buchanans Trail of DestructionTom and Daisy were careless people. Not only did they hurt others, but they knew about it and did nothing in respect. I believe the thesis of The Great Gatsby is summarized in the following quote They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up ... Read More

Culture and Counter Culture in the 1960’s in Play It as It Lays and True West (1029 words, 3 pages)

When people thinks of culture, they will refer to something that is old, traditional and universally accepted and of counterculture, that is a way of life opposite to mainstream culture. It is hard to explain that why there are different cultures. In the novel play it as it lays and ... Read More

An Analysis of Into the Wind by Chris McCandless (541 words, 2 pages)

Answers in Wilderness When we are in nature we tend to not only see things out of theordinary, but we also tend to discover things about ourselves as well.Chris McCandless not only left his family to be on his own, but to uncoverthings we would not be able to in ... Read More

An Analysis of the East and the West in the Mr Buterrfy, a Ironic Play (3214 words, 11 pages)

Mister Ill make a Man out of youThe iconic play, M. Butterfly requires a firm grasp of the gender and racial roles of the nineteen-sixties pertaining to the views of gender binarity in a post war world. This dissention between the East and the West introduce premises on the nature ... Read More

The Use of Characterization and Symbolism in The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (4080 words, 12 pages)

How does Ayn Rand implement characterization and symbolism in The Fountainhead in order to explain objectivism?The purpose of this essay is to discuss how Ayn Rand implements characterization and symbolism in her novel The Fountainhead in order to explain objectivism. The guiding research question was chosen, because it is clear ... Read More

The Consequences of Losing Sight of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (921 words, 2 pages)

The Great Gatsby Ahh, the life of luxury vivacious dances, ostentatious parties,flashy men and women, and all-around high living. Set in the "RoaringTwenties," The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald exemplifies this spiritof rebellion in the American people after the end of WWI and before thestock market crash of 1929. ... Read More

An Analysis of the Character Jane Louise in the Harper Lee’s Novel To Kill a Mockingbird (1491 words, 6 pages)

In Harper Lees backwards sequel to the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Jean Louise Finch removes her rose colored glasses upon returning to her hometown of Maycomb, Alabama to see the world Scout grew up for what is really is filled with hatred amongst races as well as the inequity ... Read More

Chris McCandless’ Journey in the Wild on the Cold (374 words, 1 pages)

Who would be crazy enough to go into the wild when it is cold? Well apparently Chris McCandless was. He is a hitchhiker who wanted to explore the wild. Gallien picked Chris up on the side of the road. Chris introduced himself as Alex. He couldnt have been more than ... Read More

The Pleasure in Breaking a Rule in The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe (1009 words, 2 pages)

Im sure we all have broken a rule for the sake of knowing we shouldnt. Face it. When someone tells you not to press the red button, you really want to press it because you are not supposed to. One can even see this in history when Prohibition began, the ... Read More

An Analysis of the Setting in The Cask of Amontillado, a Short Story by Edgar Allan Poe (610 words, 3 pages)

All stories have an important setting. Setting is determined as thetime and place of a story. In the short story, "The Cask of Amontillado" byEdgar Allan Poe, the setting is in the catacombs during Carnival season.The catacombs is where Montresor takes Fortunato to get his revenge. Poe'suse of the catacombs ... Read More

An Analysis of Jane, Character in The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (1566 words, 5 pages)

The Joy Luck Club Lost and FoundIn The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, the daughter of Suyuan, Jing-Mei Woo (aka June), experiences many different types of losses to which she later finds answers for her prying need for identity through an extraordinary journey of self discovery and courage in ... Read More

The Different Themes Used in Catcher in the Rye, a Novel by J. D. Salinger (601 words, 2 pages)

In the novel Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, he showsmany varied themes and emotions throughout the novel. The first major theme in the novel is innocence. Throughout the storyHolden tries to protect the children from having to grow up and face adultproblems and decisions. Holden wants the ... Read More

A Film Characterization Evaluation of John Proctor From The Crucible by Arthur Miller (440 words, 2 pages)

Film Characterization EvaluationIn both the movie production and the written text of Arthur Millers The Crucible, John Proctor is portrayed as a strong, independent character. Proctors actions in the story indirectly characterize him as having these traits, but a fundamental difference lies in the fact that the text also uses ... Read More

American Literature Essay Examples