Today's Date:
December 16, 2024
“Sister Carrie” by Theodore Dreiser: Naturalism, Capitalism and the Urban Sea
Theodore Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie is an example of a naturalist text because it integrates the ideas behind the American literary realism movement, particularly in terms of precise descriptions and rational observations, yet also contains elements that make the reader understand →
Realism in American Literature
There have been several ways of examining not only the emergence of American realism in literature, but how it has been sustained throughout the decades. One of the most important first steps to understanding realism is by contemplating how it →
Identity, Race, and Disguise in “Puddn’head Wilson” by Mark Twain
Throughout Twain’s “Puddn’head Wilson” disguises are employed not only in the literal sense, but also in a more slippery rhetorical manner. These numerous instances of concealed or confused identity function on the level of narrative and plot certainly, but more →
The Significance of Land in “O! Pioneers” by Willa Cather
In Willa Cather’s “O! Pioneers” the setting itself melds into a quiet but omnipotent and omniscient main character alongside other central characters such as Alexandra, her brothers, and her neighbors. The land is not just the backdrop for the action, →
Short Analysis and Summary of “Neighbors” by Raymond Carver
The short story “Neighbors” by Raymond Carver has a plot that follows the exploits of Bill and Arlene Miller who are left to take care of the Stone’s apartment. The plot is chronological and despite a few memories of the →
Multicultural Writers and the Quest for Identity
American literature written by authors from different backgrounds than the standard white majority often revolves around the difficult struggle to solidify and define identity. Writers such as Amy Tan, Anna Raya, and Langston Hughes continually explore how complex the search for identity →
