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

85147 total results

The Dark Side of Humanity and Violence in America in In Cold Blood, a Novel by Truman Capote (717 words, 2 pages)

In Cold Blood EssayWhen society is immersed with evil and negativity, one can evaluate humanity and learn what kind of person not to be. Today, we are put into a world that is marked by birth and death, and the human fascination with violence is omnipresent with unrestricted access to ... Read More

The Sanity of Marilyn Monroe in The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe, a Book by J. Randy Taraborrelli (1208 words, 5 pages)

To Be or Not to BeMonroe Monroe, a praised and celebrated idol, is rarely remembered for her admittance to the Payne Whitney Clinic for being suicidal. In The Secret Life of Monroe Monroe, J. Randy Taraborrelli exposes the pinup girls staycation at the New York Clinic. After the paparazzi gained ... Read More

The Decline of Morals and Values in Pursue of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby, a Novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald (535 words, 2 pages)

In 1931, James Truslow Adams defined the American Dream as life being better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald explains through context that the American Dream isnt all its made out to ... Read More

The Personification of Time and Nature in But I Can’t, a Poem by W.H. Auden (501 words, 2 pages)

Written Commentary Selected Auden PoemIn But I Cant by W. H. Auden, time is personified in order to demonstrate that the inevitability of time has great influence on ones life in predetermining ones fate. In this poem, Auden uses personification as well as nature imagery to further his views on ... Read More

An Analysis of the Narrator’s Personal Outlook on Life and Methods of Living It in Walden, a Book by Henry David Thoreau (349 words, 1 pages)

Text-Analysis ResponseThis excerpt from Walden by Henry D. Thoreau. is a description of the narrator's personal outlook on life and method of living it. He addresses why he came to move into the woods and how the change of scenery assists him in his way of living happily. The narrator ... Read More

An Analysis of the 1920’s in The Great Gatsby in the Film Adaptation and Novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1241 words, 5 pages)

Film and Literature Heads or TailsFilm and Literatures are two entities that often clash in debates. The major question asked is "Which was better the Book or the Movie?" In the recent film The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald's timeless 1920's classic is made into a motion picture. However it ... Read More

The Central Theme of Grudges, Mindless Violence, and Empty Tradition in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a Novel by Mark Twain (386 words, 2 pages)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a sequel to the iconic Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain illustrates the journey of Huckleberry Finn, a character that appeared in Tom Sawyer, after the events of the book. After Hucks abusive father returns after years of absence, Huck decides to stage his own murder ... Read More

The Transformation of Jackson in What You Pawn I Will Redeem, a Short Story by Sherman Alexie (1172 words, 4 pages)

Jackson's Transformation In Sherman Alexie's short story "What You Pawn I Will Redeem," thetwenty-four hour journey that Jackson embarks on in reclaiming hisgrandmother's regalia proves to do him way more good than he could haveever thought possible when beginning. Alexie uses the characterization ofthe main character, Jackson Jackson, in order ... Read More

Understanding the Message of the Author in Walking, a Book by Henry David Thoreau (1466 words, 5 pages)

My understanding of and ongoing experience with nature is reflective upon my youth and continues to modify and deepen as I saunter along lifes path. Nature demands pure existence. By this, I mean not just to be alive, but to be most alive (Walking, 17), to unleash the wild savage ... Read More

The Cycle of Shifting Power Between States in The World America Made, a Book by Robert Kagan (1314 words, 4 pages)

The world is constantly in a state of change. In one era, the world is vastly liberal and in the next it is realist. The same goes for the types of power. Through history we can see the ever changing shift of power between states. In The World America Made, ... Read More

A Review of Racism in A Lynching in the Heartland, a Book by James H. Madison (445 words, 2 pages)

The book A Lynching in the Heartland, seeks to etch into the readers memory that racism wasnt just a problem found in Dixie, but rather throughout the country. Madison uses the 1930 lynching in Marion as a microcosm for race relations throughout United States, and uses the color line as ... Read More

An Analysis of Emotions in Missoula, a Book by Jon Krakauer (1120 words, 4 pages)

Missoula AnalysisIn Missoula, Jon Krakauer does not use specific statements regarding his emotions or opinions on the cases he studies. Instead, he chooses his words very carefully in order to convey what he is feeling. In this particular passage, pages 88 through 90, Krakauer is frustrated by the lack of ... Read More

A Literary Review of The Glass Castle, a Book by Jeannette Walls (678 words, 2 pages)

...he said it was interesting. He used the word 'textured'. He said 'smooth' is boring but 'textured' was interesting, and the scar meant that I was stronger than whatever had tried to hurt me.The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls is an inspiring memoir that displays ... Read More

Our Present Vision of Ferociousness in The Practice of the Wild, a Book by Gary Snyder (1517 words, 5 pages)

Gary Snyders life has been a seemingly endless journey through various trails across the world and he has gathered many thoughts. His worldly underpinnings of anthropological, religious, and geologic studies lay the foundation for his writing, but his ability to write practically and passionately ignites the fluidity in his words. ... Read More

Character Analysis of Victor Mancini in Choke, a Novel by Chuck Palahniuk (589 words, 2 pages)

Avid adult readers are likely to be familiar with Palahniuks novel Fight Club which was popularized when the film was released in 1999, his lesser known novel Choke carries a similar dark humor produced by an anti-hero. Victor Mancini a dropout medical student, scams upscale restaurant patrons by pretending to ... Read More

Technology’s Disrespect of True Nature in Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv (637 words, 2 pages)

2nd Rhetorical Analysis Essay Last Child in the Woods by Richard LouvModern technology has finally gone too far in its side effect of udder disrespect for true nature. Nature provides essentials for all living creatures to thrive in equilibrium, yet humanity, in addition to over saturating the planet, has lost ... Read More

Henry Shacklefield’s Concept of Self Identity in The Good Lord Bird by James McBride (874 words, 4 pages)

From Boy to Man Self-identity is the recognition of one's potential and qualities as an individual, especially in relation to social context. Being able to define with ones own self-identity is a big step towards maturing into a new person. Accepting who you are as an individual is important in ... Read More

The Life of a Slave in The Good Lord Bird, a Novel by James McBride (1279 words, 4 pages)

Freedom is the ability to be who one wants to be, think what one wants to think, and does what one wishes to do. Is it possible to be a slave, but still be free? Are some slaves more free than others? In The Good Lord Bird by James McBride, ... Read More

Bill and Betty’s Meeting in a Play Inspired by Works of David Ives A Night of Ives (937 words, 3 pages)

This past Thursday night, I attended the play "A Night of Ives". Theplay's acts were inspired by the works of David Ives, who is an Americanplaywright well known for his comical one act plays. The set consisted of atable with two chairs, and a picturesque look, as if it was ... Read More

The Representation of the Ira Reiss’ Wheel Theory in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (374 words, 1 pages)

The Great Gatsby is the best represents Ira Reiss Wheel Theory. The theory involves four majors of the interpersonal processes of love that included rapport, self- revelation, and mutual dependence and need fulfillment. The characters in The Great Gatsby show exactly the meaning of the Ira Reiss Wheel Theory as ... Read More

An Analysis of Joseph Campbell’s Hero Cycle (696 words, 2 pages)

alaJoseph Campbells hero cycle is an outline of the typical fictional heros journey. The three key events are the crossing of the threshold, the overcoming of the main obstacle, and the return home. There are other elements to the cycle as well found between the main three, such as the ... Read More

Brainwashing Via Government Controlled Media in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (689 words, 3 pages)

"Will you turn the parlor off? he asked. Thats my family."(46). This exchange between Montag and his wife occurs after he awakes feeling ill. The night before Montag was experiencing feelings of alienation and superficiality regarding his relationship with Millie. When he first tells her that he isnt feeling well ... Read More

“Sunrise on Mercury” by Robert Silverberg, a Short Story About a Team of Astronauts on Man’s Second Mission to Mercury (371 words, 1 pages)

This short story is about a team of astronauts on mans second mission to Mercury. The main character is Flight Commander Harry Ross, who is in charge of the expedition and is witness to what happens. As the rocket nears Mercury, one of the astrogators on the team, Lon Curtis, ... Read More

Activist Policies of Famous Activists in the Book Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (1029 words, 3 pages)

Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man details the recollections of an unnamed African-American narrator living invisibly in a New York basement. Through his memories and thoughts on his experiences with racism and civil rights activism in late 1940s America, the novel offers insight and critique on many activist policies promoted by famous ... Read More

The Real Importance Behind Outlawed Books and Literature in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (574 words, 2 pages)

Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. (83). This quote occurs while Faber is attempting to convince Montag of the real importance behind outlawed books and ... Read More

The Society Plagued by Mindlessness in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (586 words, 2 pages)

"'And some day we'll remember so much that we'll build the biggest goddamn steamshovel in history and dig the biggest grave of all time and shove war in and cover it up. Come on now, we're going to go build a mirror factory first and put out nothing but mirrors ... Read More

A Review of Clybourne Park, a Play by Bruce Norris (1498 words, 5 pages)

The play Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris is a spin-off of the famous play by Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun. This performance tells two parallel tales about two couples whose recent move provokes some tense conversations on the topic of racism. Two Women in two different time periods ... Read More

A Review of Madness in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a Novel by Ken Kesey (987 words, 3 pages)

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest A Study in Madness While madness is not a topic unique within Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, one character's apparent madness plays a significantly more crucial role than the others. Randle McMurphy demonstrates irrational behaviors that suggest a lack of a ... Read More

The Petition in Lyddie, a Historical Fiction Novel by Katherine Paterson (534 words, 2 pages)

In the historical fiction novel Lyddie by Katherine Paterson, the main character has to decide on whether to sign a petition or not. Lyddie Worthen is a poor girl who originates from Vermont, is working VERY hard to pay a debt that her mother owes. But since the working conditions ... Read More

Learning to Be Accepting in Wonder, a Book by Racquel Palacio (1308 words, 4 pages)

Throughout the book Wonder there is a consistent theme of learning to be more accepting of others. When August first attends school, many of his peers have difficulty accepting him because of his birth defect. When the students first look at him, they act as if his face is contagious. ... Read More

American Literature Essay Examples