Rose / Spring 2015
English 42 - American Literature II – Spring 2015
Essay #1 Topic
Due Thursday, April 2
Select ONE of the following topics:
1. INDIVIDUALISM: Individualism and “the pursuit of happiness” are fundamental tenets of
American democracy. Individual freedom in conflict with social norms or expectations is a
recurring theme in American literature. Using 1-2 texts, explore how this theme operates.
Is the conflict ever resolved satisfactorily?
2. NATURALISM: Naturalists emphasize the manner in which an individual’s destiny is
determined by two forces: 1) compulsive biological instincts such as hunger, sex drive, fear
and 2) the social and economic forces in the family, class, environment into which that
person is born. Select 1-2 texts and focus on the ways naturalism informs the text. How is
human life showed to be at the mercy of uncontrollable exterior forces or interior drives? Is
there any hope, or are individuals “trapped”?
3. RACE: The legacy of racism left by slavery is an important theme in American literature.
Select 1-2 texts and explore the way(s) in which authors address the issue of race. Do the
texts challenge or reinforce stereotypes about race? Do the texts suggest that Americans
are moving beyond the constraints of prejudice and oppression? Keep in mind the race of
the author, time of publication, and setting (time and place).
4. GENDER: Women’s role and status in society, at the turn of the century and beyond, was
very much in flux. Select 1-2 texts and explore the representation of women. What is a
woman’s proper role? Do the women accept or reject these roles? What are the
relationships between men and women? Are these relationships sources of conflict, or do
they provide resolutions to conflicts?
5. ALIENATION: During the Modern period, many American authors explored the theme of
alienation – the feeling of being an outsider, of being unable to form meaningful
connections with the people around them. Using 1-2 texts, explore how this theme
operates. How does the modern world isolate individuals? How might an individual’s race,
gender, and social status complicate feelings of alienation?
6. LOST GENERATION: Speaking to Ernest Hemingway in 1926, Gertrude Stein famously said,
“You’re all a lost generation.” Use this quote as a point of departure for an analysis of 1-2
texts. How do the texts represent the disillusionment and hopelessness of American
members of the lost generation?
Rose / Spring 2015
7. EXISTENTIALISM: Many modernists rejected traditional philosophical and religious systems
of belief in favor of Existentialism, which suggests a meaningless, chaotic, Godless world.
Existentialists believe that the individual has the sole responsibility for giving his/her own
life meaning and living life passionately and sincerely, in spite of many obstacles. Select 1-2
texts and explore the existential worldview conveyed by the author(s).
8. LOVE: Love is an intense emotion that is sometimes uncontrollable and unexplainable.
Select 1-2 texts and explore the representation of love. What kind of love exists between
the characters? For example, is love a pure emotion that gives meaning to life, and/or is
love a way to escape reality or achieve something? Does love provide characters with
happiness, or does love result in disappointment and loss?
9. HEROES/ANTI-HEROES: Traditionally, a hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability,
admired for his/her brave deeds and noble qualities, while an antihero is ordinary and
sometimes flawed. What concept of heroism/anti-heroism American authors present?
Select 1-2 texts and consider what makes protagonists heroic or antiheroic. What makes
readers identify with and root for the heroes/anti-heroes? How might the hero/anti-hero’s
motivation and/or development underscore the overall message of the text?
Make sure that your essay has a title, introduction, thesis statement, body, and
conclusion. Take particular care when writing your thesis; make sure that it clearly
states your main point. Your thesis should be an idea that you will support with
specific examples from the literary works. Avoid plot summary.
Essay Guidelines
1. Essays must be 4-6 pages typed.
2. After any quotation from our textbook or the novels, include in parentheses the page number
where the quote can be located.
3. If you consult any outside sources, you must follow MLA format and include a Works Cited
page.
Important Reminders:
Essays are due at the beginning of class on Thursday, April 2. For each day that your essay is late,
I will deduct fifteen points.
I am here to help you write a successful essay, so please feel free to talk to me about your essay. I
am happy to meet with you during my scheduled office hours or by appointment. You may also
send any questions via email: krose@lbcc.edu