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

85147 total results

Theme Analysis in the Movie a New Life, to Kill a Mockingbird, on the Waterfront and Cinema Paradiso (636 words, 2 pages)

In the film A New Life, we can notice that the plot circles around a depressing theme divorce. However, the movie portrays this dark and macabre subject with comical dialogue, scenery, and music. The scores in this movie emphasize the fact that this movie was made as a comedy disguised ... Read More

Racism and Poverty in the Play Fences by August Wilson (1479 words, 6 pages)

The majority of us understand that poverty and racism exist throughout the world and throughout any time period. These common aspects of society often have influential power in ones work life, social life, or even ones relationship life. In Fences, we see numerous aspects and examples of racism and poverty ... Read More

Ethnic Identity in Trying to Find Chinatown, a Play by David Henry Hwang (400 words, 1 pages)

The manner in which Benjamin and Ronnie identify themselves are very similar but extremely different. Benjamin identifies himself as an Asian American due to the fact that he was adopted and raised by Chinese parents. Although he possesses no blood from China, he fully identifies himself as having an ethnic ... Read More

An Analysis of the Byronic Hero, Jay Gatsby in the Novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1230 words, 5 pages)

Jay Gatsby A Byronic HeroF. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby can be and has been interpreted in a multitude of different ways. Nothing is more worked over and analyzed than the character and qualities of Jay Gatsby. It is easy enough to see that Gatsby is not a hero in ... Read More

The Valuable Lesson in the Short Story Contents of the Dead Man’s Pockets by Jack Finney (521 words, 2 pages)

Contents of the Dead Mans PocketsIn the story Contents of the Dead Mans Pockets, the main character, Tom Benecke, learns a valuable lesson by the time the resolution is revealed. Tom forgoes spending time with his wife, Clare, and decides to spend time on work that he doesnt even need ... Read More

Spreading the Beliefs in the Novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (934 words, 4 pages)

Fahrenheit 451 Essay In the story, Fahrenheit 451, an old lady refusing to leave her burning house says Play the man, Master Ridley we shall this day light such a candle, by Gods grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out. This short phrase in the story ... Read More

The Hemingway Code in the Novel Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (962 words, 3 pages)

Farewell to Arms EssayOne of The SameIn most of the books written by American author Ernest Hemingway, the protagonist has a set of characteristics literary critics call the Hemingway code. In this code, the protagonist lives by his own ideals, he is stoic he does not share his feelings or ... Read More

Women Entrapment in the Novels Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1431 words, 5 pages)

Gendered Entrapment of the Nineteenth CenturyIn the nineteenth century, although they were looked down upon by their male counterparts, female writers busied themselves with their work and shone light onto issues facing the women of the day. Two particular works by women seem to connect with one another in one ... Read More

The American Dream in the Novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Play Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet (2434 words, 8 pages)

The American dream is a topic that writers have been trying to capture in modern literature for countless years. Two of the foremost of those works is the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the play Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet. Both of these literary works ... Read More

The Mental and Physical Weight of Things on the Soldiers in the Novel The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (1241 words, 4 pages)

Soldiers carry many things with them when they are in the battle zone. These things range from rifles to ammunition, to basic survival kits, to their personal belongings and their emotions. The things they carry are not only tangible, physical objects but also intangible emotions and memories. These things weigh ... Read More

The Revenge of Montresor Against Fortunato in the Short Story The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe (923 words, 3 pages)

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe is the twisted story of Montresor's revenge against Fortunato, a friend who insulted his family name. After luring Fortunato into his familys catacombs with the promise of enjoying a drink of Amontillado, Montresor chains him to wall and leaves him there to ... Read More

An Ethical Argument on the Illegal Publishing of the Literary Works of Harper Lee (1493 words, 5 pages)

To Kill a Mockingbird has long sat in the upper echelon of American novels. Perhaps the most remarkable testament to this fact is that more than fifty percent of my high school literature class gave it a thumbs up, the only book in our year-long curriculum to gain such widespread ... Read More

A Research Synthesis on the Changes in American Society in the 1920’s in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (581 words, 2 pages)

The Great Gatsby - Research Synthesis In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the author Fitzgerald reveals the shift in American values by encapsulating the free-spirited and glamorous lifestyle of American society in the 1920s.First of all, the author demonstrates how the roles of the American woman have changed in the ... Read More

A Character Analysis of Chris McCandless From Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (460 words, 2 pages)

As portrayed in Into the Wild, Chris McCandless was a rebel, trying to prove society, and specifically his family, wrong. McCandlesss decision to leave his home and venture into the wild could arguably be seen as an act of defiance against his parents. He never really wanted to go to ... Read More

The Chase after the American Dream in the Novel My Antonia by Willa Cather (3242 words, 10 pages)

Many people immigrate to the United States of America in search of the American Dream of freedom, equality, and the opportunity to achieve their own goals in life that they could not otherwise achieve anywhere else. The American Dream is the pursuit of prosperity and opportunity that drives people to ... Read More

American Dream as an Illusion Through the Characters of George Wilson, Myrtle Wilson, and Jay Gatsby From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (610 words, 2 pages)

In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald argues that the American Dream of social mobility is merely an illusion by describing the yearnings and outcomes of George Wilson, Myrtle Wilson, and Jay Gatsby.First of all, Fitzgerald presents the character George Wilson as a victim of the rigid social hierarchy in America. George ... Read More

A Literary Analysis of the Metaphors in Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (952 words, 3 pages)

The violent battle royal, a significant obstacle the narrator must overcome before being able to present his speech, in the opening chapter of Invisible Man serves as a visual representation for the racial inequality still existing in America. And though the narrator seemingly triumphs the situation, achieving a victory for ... Read More

The Flaws of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare in America (802 words, 2 pages)

The affordable care act, commonly known as Obamacare, has been under much scrutiny since its introduction in 2010. Unrest over ACAs recent overhaul was created after Douglas Elmendorf, director of the congressional budget committee, released a controversial report on his analysis of Obamacare changes. When questioned by House budget committee ... Read More

Understanding August Wilson’s Fences: Helpfulness of Lyon’s Interview with the Author (633 words, 2 pages)

Upon finishing Fences by August Wilson, I had mixed emotions. There were times where I genuinely felt bad for characters, and I found the entire play to be a very enjoyable one. Fences covers a lot of the social and moral issues that take place during the 1950s. Despite the ... Read More

August Wilson’s Fences: Feeling Sympathetic to Cory (621 words, 2 pages)

Upon viewing the end of any work, whether its a play, a movie, or a novel, one gets a feeling of satisfactoriness, and sometimes, even a lust for more. We are a species that is amazed with not only the climax, but the resolution of a story. After all, it ... Read More

Recitatif by Toni Morrison: A Story of Children Being Divided Because of Race (564 words, 2 pages)

During the twentieth century, humanity saw levels of progress that have out-performed all previous progress we have achieved combined. From eradicating several diseases to escaping our own atmosphere, this was truly a century to be proud to have lived in. One issue that was actively protested and fought for was ... Read More

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Power of Christian Faith and its Role in Abolishing Slavery (883 words, 3 pages)

Harriet Beecher Stowe was a deeply committed Christian woman who believed that religious faith would be a major factor in the abolition of slavery which it eventually was. Uncle Toms Cabin repeatedly underlines the redemptive power of faith in God be that through Christ-like characters that represent Gods angelic love ... Read More

Looking at Butterfly Effect by David Hernandez from the Theory of Knowledge Perspective (504 words, 2 pages)

As one begins to read and understand literature, they form interpretations of what the literature should be about. We often begin to assign meaning to things and make the story as relatable as possible. With writing and analyzing, though, comes critiquing. Critics look at works through a surfeit amount of ... Read More

Fences by August Wilson: The Relationship Between Rose and Troy (517 words, 2 pages)

In history, we have always sought forms of entertainment. From simple things like playing music to the blood-sports the Romans were obsessed with, we have always been a species that is enthralled with actions and spectacles. One medium for this entertainment is the humble play, and it has played a ... Read More

Lev Grossman’s Magician’s Land: The Transformations of Quentin and Alice (980 words, 5 pages)

Lev Grossmans Magicians Land consists of a bevy of transformative experiences woven together to create an extremely tangible fantasy novel. The narrative with a lot of moving parts, and a characters that are constantly in motion. Each character has a unique trajectory but is constantly deviating from goals or adapting ... Read More

The Relationship of a Mother in Daughter in Daughter of Invention by Julia Alvarez and Two Kinds by Amy Tan (552 words, 2 pages)

In popular culture, there are very few relationships that are stronger than that of a mother and daughter. We are constantly seeing a number of these kinds of relationships in family sitcoms, movies, and even modern books. For this assignment, I was to read Daughter of Invention and Two Kinds. ... Read More

The Impact of Culture on Our Views and Decisions in Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin (1013 words, 3 pages)

How do you view the world? If someone was to ask a group of ten people this question separately at a university, I believe that they would give ten different answers. Why? Because these people come from a multitude of Cultural heritage and backgrounds. Culture is the life-blood that runs ... Read More

Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut (832 words, 3 pages)

Topic 1 How do you understand Billy Pilgrim and what he represents? Do you sympathize with him or are you troubled by his personality and actions?Billy is the main character of Slaughterhouse-Five, but thats not to say that he can be classified as the hero of the narrative. Or rather, ... Read More

The Powerful Voice Inside Your Head in the Ultimate Voice by Oral Roberts (1070 words, 4 pages)

The Ultimate VoiceIn the Ultimate Voice, Oral Roberts begins to show the reader the powerful voice inside of your head, and how to tap into it and know what God is calling for your life. In the first couple of chapters Oral really goes into detail for the reader to ... Read More

The Personal Liberty of Louise Mallard in Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour (755 words, 2 pages)

Setting in "The Story of an Hour" Personal liberty supersedes the constraints of societal conventions.This is the message of Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," which centerson Louise Mallard, a married woman who learns she is now a widow. Hersister informs her that her husband has died in an ... Read More

American Literature Essay Examples