American Literature and Composition 2
Instructor: Michael Thornton
January 28, 2016
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. 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 6, 2016.
Group Presentation
During the week of May 9, 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 9.
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
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane;
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Modernism:
Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin;
Home by Marilynne Robinson
Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway;
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett;
The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote;
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
them by Joyce Carol Oates;
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien;
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Postmodernism:
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos
Krik? Krak? by Edwidge Danticat
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
Generation X by Douglas Coupland;
Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer;
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz