American Literature and Composition 2
Instructor: Michael Thornton
March 17, 2014
PAIRED NOVELS ASSIGNMENT 2
The Paired Novels assignments are intended to acquaint students with the styles
and themes of specifics periods in American literary history. Students must now
write a research paper on their second novel, and make a presentation to the class
as part of a group who read novels listed in the same category.
Research Paper
The first book of the pair, which students read Fall Semester, was usually written
during the time period listed – Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and
Postmodernism. The second book, to be read over the next month, may have been
written during the period listed; or may be a contemporary book reflecting the
themes of the first book in the pair.
For the research and analysis of this second book, students should focus on the style
and themes of the book, as representative of the period under which it is listed.
They should also compare and contrast the second book with the first.
The American values presented in the two books may be the easiest starting point
for a comparison paper. Discuss what is alike and what is different in terms of the
values presented in each book. Refer to the other literary pieces that we read listed
under the same period heading. Do your two books focus on some of the same ideas
that we discussed in class? We will review the sequence of literary movements in
American history to introduce those periods the class has yet to study.
In examining the themes of the books, you may start to notice structural similarities.
How is the writing alike, or is it? Some of these paired novels are written at
different times. Does the style enhance or substantiate the novel’s themes; does it
reflect the time when the second book was written; does it detract from the book’s
ideas? Consider point of view, sentence structure, format, the various elements of
style. Write about those points that distinguish this work.
Use one scholarly article that focuses on the author or book, and use one that
focuses on America society. Use these articles to support your interpretation of
the book as representative of the values and style of writing associated with the
period or movement listed.
So, to sum up the requirements for this research paper on your second novel:
 Compare and contrast the values and themes in your two books
 Discuss the style of the second book, relating it to the themes and period
 Integrate quotes from two scholarly sources – one on the author or novel;
one on the specific literary period or social era – tying these to the theme or
style; these should be quoted or specifically paraphrased in your paper
 Include at least five quotes from your novel.
The class will look at various online databases for scholarly research; public and
college libraries are also good places to conduct research. This paper should be
three typewritten pages, double-spaced 12-point font, one-inch margins, with one
additional page listing Works Cited, using MLA documentation. Check a usage guide.
Paper is due May 12, 2014.
Group Presentation
During the week of May 19, students who read novels listed in the same category will
present to the class their findings of what constitutes thematic similarities and
stylistic techniques in their books. A short synopsis of the book, and a note of the
relationship between the paired books by each student would be appropriate. The
group should then talk about the themes that they noticed in their books that
illustrate something unique to the period. A discussion of the styles of the books
would also be relevant at this point. Visual aids, such as a video illustrating the
major themes of the era, or a powerpoint or poster that outlines the themes, could
enhance the presentation. Students should discuss what kind of presentation best
communicates the themes and styles of their books and the period. Students will
only have one meeting the previous week to organize this presentation. Students
should have written their paper and submitted it on time in order to prepare their
presentation during the week of May 12.
Romanticism:
Moby Dick by Herman Melville;
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne;
Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
Realism:
Portrait of a Lady by Henry James;
The Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion
Oil by Upton Sinclair;
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
My Antonia by Willa Cather;
Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
Modernism:
Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin;
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck;
Ask the Dust by John Fante
Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald;
Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney
Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway;
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger;
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote;
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
them by Joyce Carol Oates;
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
Postmodernism:
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos
Krik? Krak? by Edwidge Danticat
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett;
The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
On the Road by Jack Kerouac;
Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya;
House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
Herzog by Saul Bellow;
White Noise by Don DeLillo
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston;
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros;
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez