“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
As it appears from the novel, the reason why the narrator and her husband John decided to spend their summer vacation in a secluded mansion is that this was assumed to prove beneficial to the [...]
American Literature Essay Examples and Topics
The process of writing an essay on American literature should begin with the creation of an outline. The structure lists the essential points you want to cover in the paper and provides you with a framework you will use to write it.
The finished result should adhere to the initial list. However, you can modify it if you find new matters you want to discuss.
Without a clear outline, your American literature essay may appear weak and disconnected. A work that has one will appear more interesting and convincing, even if it contains the same ideas.
When writing an outline for an essay, you should first list all of the ideas that come to your mind when thinking of the topic.
They do not necessarily have to be contained solely within the work. For example, you can research the author’s life and identify a connection between his ideas and romanticism.
Then, you will reduce the number of ideas by folding some of them into other, related ones as lesser mentions. Lastly, organize the order in which you will cover the topics so that it follows a logical progression.
Here are some tips for your outline creation:
- Always include an introduction and conclusion into your outline. They are critical elements for a literature essay.
- When writing critical essays on American literature, try to associate each major point with an external piece of evidence.
- Try to choose your themes so that they are connected. This will make it easier to maintain a progression between different topics.
- Choose your titles and subtitles so that they are clear and concise.
To find American literature research paper ideas and American literature topics as well as samples that illustrate the process of outline creation, visit IvyPanda.
“Two Way to Belong in America” by Bharati Mukherjee
Even as Bharati has quickly adjusted to the American culture, as evidenced by her wearing of American clothes, in contrast, Mira is reluctant to embrace the American culture.
“The Namesake” Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri
One of the most vital problems revealed in the novel The Namesake written by Jhumpa Lahiri is the problem of cultural gap.
“Common Sense” Pamphlet by Thomas Paine
He knew that in order for his book to receive the attention he needed, he had to choose a means that was receptive to the ears of his audience.
Hills Like White Elephants by Hemingway
The setting of the place also seems perfect for the discussion that the couple had. This demonstrates that she is comfortable with the pregnancy should it happen to be the outcome of their action.
“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
There are those who apt to think that the main motive of the novel is the theme of the time. The author describes the changes of the generations in the town and the changes of [...]
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
He was one of the soldiers sent into the fray, but due to his sense of duty, he managed to earn a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star during his stint in the said Vietnam [...]
“Exploring American Histories” Book Analysis
The book is devoted to description of the main events of the history of the USA. One of the main purposes of the book is to promote increase of the level of knowledge about the [...]
American Novel: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
It is also worth to mention that the novel is indeed relevant to its readership because it mirrors the nature of society affected by racism and inequality. Through the act of inclusiveness, I am in [...]
A Rose for Emily and A Good Man is Hard to Find
In order to highlight this idea, the writers focus on the values and worldviews of the characters who prefer to live in the imaginary world of their past.
“The Big Sleep” by Raymond Chandler
However, to understand this argument, it is pertinent to know the distinctive features of the social world that the author describes events in the Big Sleep.
“No-No Boy” a Book by John Okada
The third chapter of No-No Boy by John Okada starts with the main character Ichiro, the Japanese American released from prison, leaving Freddie's and walking the streets of the city.
“Ligeia” a Book by Edgar Allan Poe
Since the fact that the narrator is not in full control of the mind, this is made very apparent by the author, it could mean that Ligeia and Rowena are really the same people and [...]
“Perfection Is an Insult to the Gods” by Tracy Kidder
Frequently, the techniques of creative writing are applicable to work of nonfiction" Kidder is trying to convey the main idea of the life of the people who are far from being refined and well-mannered, that [...]
“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe Literature Analysis
Although "The Fall of the House of Usher" is traditionally believed to be a timeless horror story and a representation of the deepest human fears, it can also be viewed both as a product of [...]
“Bartleby the Scrivener” by Herman Melville Literature Analysis
Although it is clear that he is suffering from a psychological problem, Bartleby is actually not willing to take his responsibilities at the narrator's office. He seems to believe that it is the right of [...]
Character of “The Octopus” by Frank Norris
Presley, just as a typical American, works very hard, shows respect for the people around him, exhibits the desire to improve his life and succeed in all his endeavors and also fights for other people.
“A Small Place” a Story by Jamaica Kincaid
It is the work devoted to the description of a small country Antigua and analysis of the influence of its colonial past on the modern life of a state.
‘Burger Boy’ by Jerry Newman
The policy of the management to make the current workers in charge of assignments that were usually not their responsibility had led to the dissatisfaction with the service not only of the clients but of [...]
“The Scarlet Letter” a Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This essay asserts that the role of the narrator in The Scarlet Letter functions more as social critic of the Puritanical values that founded the United States; the narrator of The Scarlet Letter represents Hawthorne's [...]
“Into the Wild” a Book by Jon Krakauer
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer tackles McCandless's life, starting with the discovery of McCandless dead body in a bus, Krakauer takes a journey back into McCandless life as a graduate through his disappearance to [...]
“No Name in the Street” by James Baldwin
However, he also asserted that the failure of the radical activism of the 1960s was due in part to the flawed ideology that hampered the growth of the movement.
The Novel “In the Beginning” by Chaim Potok
The novel "In the Beginning" by Chaim Potok gives a poignant story of David Lurie. The agreeable fact is that David manages to achieve most of his ambitions and goals in life.
“The Lottery” a Short Story by Shirley Jackson
When going over the reactions of the various individuals who wrote to the New Yorker regarding the story, their main reasoning for sending letters to the publication was simply due to the relative "strangeness" of [...]
The Salem Witch Trials in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
Though Miller has made a range of changes to the original, the alterations did not prevent from understanding the case better; instead, these changes allowed for updating the story so that it would be interesting [...]
Frank Money’s Character in “Home” by Toni Morrison
These led to the unresolved contradictions and persistence ideologies of racism, prejudice, violence and segregation, which led to limited opportunities for African-Americans as Frank Money shows in the novel.
“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor
The grandmother asserts that she could paint the picture of the black boy if granted the chance. The grandmother seems to be complaining about the dramatic destruction of the environment since plantations that used to [...]
Literature: Integrating War into the Storytelling
The core message of the story was revealed at the end of the novel, and it had nothing to do with the conflict between Great Britain and France.
Literature: “A&P” by John Updike
To emphasize the unusualness of the situation, the narrator describes these girls in comparison with the ordinary female visitors of the store.
“The Turn of the Screw” a Novella by Henry James
The representative and even embodiment of the upper class in the story is the patron, the uncle of the two children, who hires the governess.
American Literature Course: Reason for Attaining
Literary works have always been a source of fascination and enjoyment for me, and it is due to this that I have taken this course not out of any particular reason outside of that I [...]
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
It remains evident that the primary goal of the book is to display the existence of the dramatic social gap in income, inequalities, and the ability of the people to find the way out of [...]
Anthem by Ayn Rand: Discrimination Theme
In the book, the theme of liberty is presented as the opposite of discrimination, and there is a category representing liberty in this book.
“How to Tell a Story?” a Book by Mark Twain
For instance, he says that the humorous story applies simplicity in its narration that the storyteller tells the story in a simple and innocent way that tends to amuse the listeners without even having to [...]
African Americans in Langston Hughes’s Poems
The tone and spirit of the poems display the author's frustration with the fate of African Americans. In addition, because the poem is the brightest example of Harlem period, the presence of musical elements contributes [...]
“We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” by Philip Dick
Overall, one can argue that the film-makers decided not to focus on the main theme of Phillip Dick's novella, in particular the contrast between the expectations of an individual and his real life.
John Cheever’s Satirical Tone in “The Wrysons”
The author emphasizes the main idea of his short story which is the fear of changes in the first lines of his work with the help of concentrating on the description of the peculiarities of [...]
“The Open Boat” a Book by Stephen Crane
The mood in the story is melancholic, partly due to the predicament of the boat and its occupants. According to the description of the boat in the book, there is little space for the sailors [...]
American Protest Literature-Native American Injustices
Native American protest literature was mostly characterised by non-fictional stories written in the form of autobiographies, short stories and novels that were authored in response to the American society's infringement of the Native American people's [...]
“Black Cat” a Story by Edgar Allan Poe
In turn, the use of various stylistic devices helps the writer create a sense of suspense and show the immense moral tension that the main character struggles with.
The Novel “Sula” by Toni Morrison
In the context of the novel, the author addresses the story of two black-American heroines namely Nel and Sula. Although the author begins by introducing some of the key characters, Sula and Nel are the [...]
Prison Issues in “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn
He talked about the survival of the human race, the redistribution of power and wealth, and the destruction of the prison.
“Breadwinning Daughters” a Book by Katrina Srigley
This paper examines the major tenets of the book and evaluates their significance to the history of Women in Canada. The writer introduces the book to readers by showing how women contributed to development in [...]
Behavior in “The Bread Givers” a Novel by Anzia Yezierska
The novel by Anzia Yezierska is called "The Bread Givers", it was written in 1925, and it describes the stories of the members of a family of immigrants living in New York City.
Mike Davis’ Book “The Planet of Slums”
To achieve the intended self-help, the layer of bureaucracy that exists between the slum community and the decision makers should be eliminated by eliminating intermediate NGOs. This raises the question of the ethical capacity of [...]
“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” by Philip Dick
However, according to analysts, even though these elements is an actual matter, it has been used by Rick in this book as a metaphorical scheme to represent the polluted cloud of the mind, which hinders [...]
Major Themes of the Play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell
They were the decision-makers in the family and in the political platform since women were still not allowed to vote and be represented in the political arena.Mrs. Wright is the symbol of the suffering the [...]
“Al Capone Does My Shirts” a Novel by Gennifer Choldenko
The main themes that are being raised in the novel are the problem of adjustment to a new society, the difficulties a family has to face having a mentally disabled child, eternal teenage urge for [...]
American Culture in the Novel “The Great Gatsby”
In The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald documents these changes through an in-depth exploration of cultural changes such as the rise in consumerism, materialism, greed for wealth, and the culture of loosening morals in the 1920s [...]
The Book “Our Secrets” by Susan Griffin
It is not easy to specifically classify some of her works because they do not conform to the conventional styles of writing.'Our Secrets' is one of those pieces of writing, where she brings out the [...]
Passing’ by Nella Larsen Literature Analysis
Therefore, the intention of Irene's passing is to enjoy the opportunities that are available to the white people. In this regard, Clare attempts to reach out to a person of the same identity is an [...]
The Story of an Hour’ and ‘The Storm’ – Women in Literature
The Storm and The Story of an Hour illustrate the viewpoints of women's restriction in marriage. Through the two women's experiences, the author illustrate on the theme of restriction in marriage.
The Metaphor of the Storm in Kate Chopin’s Story
In her short story "The Storm," the American author Kate Chopin portrays her ability to use metaphors in exploring several social and emotional issues affecting women in the 19th century.
“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” a Short Story by Richard Wright
Wright uses the dialogs and interactions between the characters to display the social role of racism on the setting of the story.
Tracy Kidder’s Novel “Strength in What Remains”
The author brings up a theme of a civil war refugee who has fled to the United States from Africa and who struggles trying to match his old experiences to the new ones and to [...]
“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” a Novel by Ernest Hemingway
It is rather late and he is the only visitor in the cafe. It is very symbolic that the old man is the only visitor of the cafe.
“My Old Man” a Poem by Charles Bukowski
From the reaction of the narrator's father, the story about the rich man and horse seems to relate his life to the narrative that was meant to mock him.
“The Most Dangerous Game” a Story by Richard Connell
"The Most Dangerous Game", a short story written by Richard Connell, is one of the first literary pieces to tell the tale of human hunting a subject highly popularized in the contemporary popular culture.
The book ‘For One More Day’ by Mitch Albom Analysis
The mother knew that the son was suffering because of the absence of the father, but she never communicated to the son effectively in order to fight this depression.
Edgar Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” Literature Analysis
The main character in "The Cask of Amontillado" is Montresor with Fortunato being a minor character in the short story. Also, Montresor is the story's narrator, and a lot of details about his character are [...]
Reasons of Immigration Literature Growth
Cofer is currently "the Franklin Professor of English and the director of the creative writing program at the University of Georgia".
Mary Shelley’s Novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus
This is the main theme that the writer explores; in this way, she prompts the readers to think about the causes of misfortunes that struck many innocent people.
“The Jungle” Novel by Upton Sinclair
The excerpt tells about the background of these events and explains how and why Jurgis has got to Chicago in the first place.
“Cat’s Cradle” a Book by Kurt Vonnegut Literature Analysis
In particular, the novel's plot encompasses the different examples of madness including the fabricated religion, the lie, and madness of Bakonon and McCabe, madness in power, crazy invention, and the whole life in the island.
“We Real Cool” a Poem by Gwendolyn Brooks Literature Analysis
The reason why "We Real Cool" is being described as a type of sarcastic personal commentary is due to the type of language is utilized wherein the inflection seen in the sentences and the types [...]
“Kindred” by Octavia Butler Literature Analysis
This is in spite of the fact that the boy's mother is yelling to Dana to "get her black hands off her son".
“The Dead” by James Joyce
It is paramount to address the fact that this collection was written during an extremely stressful period in the life of the author, and it has reflected in the content.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas an American Slave
At the age of 10/11, he was sent to the Auld's where his mistress showed him a new side of life.
“Where are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates
In the middle of story readers are presented with another of Connie's choices wherein she acts differently in front of her friends and in front of her family, this is mainly due to her wish [...]
“Osage County” a Drama by Tracy Letts
Being also preoccupied with the problems in her marriage and separation with her husband, Barbara Fordham works hard on trying to settle the relationships in her family and on understanding what goes wrong with her [...]
“Nobody Knows My Name” by James Baldwin
It is imperative to note that the topics that the author raises in his works are truly intriguing, and it necessary to understand their importance.
John Updike’s Story “A&P”
The final line brings closure to the story by showing that despite Sammy's efforts to please the three girls and even going to the extent of quitting his job, they hardly appreciate his gesture and [...]
Humanism in African-American Literature
The fact that this was indeed the case can be illustrated, in regards to the story's episode, in which Sonny expresses his contempt of the narrator's idea that it is thoroughly natural for people to [...]
“Moby Dick” by Herman Melville
The United States of America are comparable to the Pequod, in the sense that this country is a melting pot of cultures.
“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Hence is the unique peculiarity of the narration: the short story is interpreted as the text with the contradictions. Hawthorne uses his favorite device of the ironic ambiguous features, the shift of the viewpoint from [...]
Whitman’s, Fuller’s and Douglass’s Literature Works Analysis
In the poem, Song of the Open Road, the traveler was excited to explore the open road before him. It is high time to echo the sentiments of Fuller.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Theodor Geisel
It is important to note that the book is a story about the conflict between introversion and extroversion that results in the victory of extroverted people who are the basis of the human society.
“The View from the Bottom” by James Davidson and Hamilton Lytle
Given the supposed illiteracy of the people living in the bottom rail, their stories could only be told from the white masters' point of view.
“Mary Reilly: The Untold Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Valerie Martin
The following paper will discuss the relationship and love between Mary and the doctor, where the former falls in love with the latter, although her love tragically proves incapable of saving Dr.
Laurence Michael Yep and His Books for Children
His father, Gim Lew Yep, was born in China in 1914, and he came to the USA when he was ten.
Relationships in “A Mercy” by Toni Morrison
The women portrayed in the story are Rebekka, the wife of the farm owner Jacob Vaark, Florens, a black slave sold to the farmer, Lina, the Indigenous servant, and Sorrow, the woman with an unknown [...]
Journey to Self in “Quicksand” by Nella Larsen
From the very beginning of the novel, the author reveals the problem of the individual and its place in society. And vice versa, in the society of the black, she experiences the white side of [...]
“The Dead Woman” by Pablo Neruda
In the poem "the dead woman" by Pablo Neruda, the subject, states of his feeling of wanting to go back to where his loved one is lying without life, but he also clearly states that [...]
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
After going through the summary of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, one of the main points that stands out clearly is that people in the novel are quick to judge others simply because they [...]
“Sister Carrie” by Theodore Dreiser
The life in the city turns out to be a complete disappointment to her, and she is ready to give up as she does not want to be a burden for her sister.
Life-Challenges in “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan
Thus, Wu Xing implies that the universe's building blocks exist in the state of circumstantial uncertainty depending on what happened to be the qualitative features of how one of the elements relates to the other, [...]
John Steinbeck’s The Pearl
As the title of the book suggests, the story is based on the enormous pearl Kino finds, and the events that took place as people tried to hunt Kino for possessing the pearl.
“Dawn” by Elie Wiesel
The murder of John transformed Elisha's life to a murderer of masses when he gave up his life to the terrorist movement.
A Perfect Day for Bananafish by David Salinger
The story of the bananafish, is a metaphor to the materialism that had crept into the society and people did anything to satisfy their greed.
“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins Literature Analysis
In the beginning it seems that the main focus of the movie and the books is the game and surviving of the players, but actually, the basis and the causes of this brutal game lay [...]
Bartleby the Scrivener by Joan De Santis Literature Analysis
He says that he is a man, who has always believed that the easiest way in life is always the best.
The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow Literature Analysis
She used to prove her orders and insights to Gertie in the light of the Bible by manipulating the teachings according to her desire.
The Great Gatsby’ by Scott Fitzgerald Literature Analysis
This is one of the details that can be identified. This is one of the issues that can be singled out.
Local Customs and Traditions in the US
This difference in customs impacting behavior can be seen in the story "My Mother, the Crazy African" wherein Lin is ashamed of her mother who is thoroughly immersed in her Nigerian culture and background despite [...]
Through the Eyes of Tim O’Brien Literature Study
The elements that will be studied are the language used, the style and the effects that the stories have on the readers.
John Donnes’ Poetry Literature Study
In the poem Death Be Not Proud, death assumes the role of a tyrant without real power. To the poet, death is a brief rest, and when we wake up we will live eternally and [...]
“Thank you M’am” by Lanston Hughes Literary Critique
Luella Bates Washington Jones acts positively in changing the behavior of Roger. Luella Bates Washington Jones is very successful in changing the behavior of Roger.
Edgar Allan Poe – American Literature
The main themes that are evident in his work are the themes of death and love. He speaks of a chilling wind from the sky that emerged resulting in the death of her wife.
Literary Analysis of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery
The purpose of a lottery is to pick a winner. The author also convinces the readers that the lottery is an important part of the lives of the villagers.
“Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream” by H. G. Bissinger
Bissinger then flashes back on the tribulation and trials of the team throughout that season combined with its football saga in the history of West Texas and Odessa.