American Literature: Are You Ready to Study It?
You have many reasons to study American literature. It's a requirement, first and foremost. You're familiar with some popular titles by American authors, even if you're more knowledgeable about Young-adult fiction. You want to understand "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and the other novels that your mother read to you before you go to sleep. You know Emma Stone is the star of a disarming teen comedy, but you don't have a clue about the book where it is based from. You have read too many comic books, and you strongly believe that it's part of American literature. All of these reasons look good enough for an essay topic, but literary criticism demands a scholarly approach to the subject matter.
English literature may go back centuries before the earliest works in American literature were published, but the latter has come a long way. As a matter of fact, the so-called American classics would be at par with the best in English literature. This should make you think long and hard about pursuing a B.A. English degree, as you need to write lots of pages on American novels. You almost forgot that it can be titles that come to mind after a short introduction by your professor.
A Short List of Essay Titles, Which Help You Understand the Module
What defines American literature? You can answer the question in a playful tone, citing Superman as an icon of American literature. You're certain that your professor won't glare at you after you have read "Watchmen" one more time. You're tempted to impress your instructor, thinking about Hester Prynne instead. The truth is anyone can define American literature, including the likes of Paul Bunyan. In this regard, you can deconstruct the myth surrounding the giant lumberjack. On the other hand, exposing the skeletons behind the American Dream would make your professor admire you (if you understand it right). A character should give you lots of options compared to an abstract concept that is likely to yield the same old arguments.
What do you expect from American authors? It's not right to be modest in your response, as you rather explain your reasons in plain words. You must think big, which should enable you to write your paper in several pages. Don't go overboard (by thinking of archaic words). Moreover, this approach won't give you too many problems while you compose the draft for your essay assignment. Beware of declaring your enlightenment. (Your professor would take it with a grain of salt, and there's a possibility that you're getting an earful from your stern critic.) If you don't have a clue, then look at your professor. Admit if you're running in circles. You might not have made up your mind on the topic, so you're looking around.
Is there such a thing as African-American literature? You have a strong feeling about it after watching "Black Panther" for the second time. You might be a huge fan of Tom Sawyer, even if you're suspicious of Mark Twain having thought of a black counterpart, who rather be a wallflower. This requires intense research in the library, probably the last place you want to be. Your next recourse is comic books, some of which are popular at the moment. You're not amused after reading the success of Wonder Woman on the big screen. There are more memorable characters in the DC Universe. There are more compelling characters in the American landscape, but beware if you're a huge H.G. Lovecraft fan. And you might be taking too much if you insist on creating a myth about Malcolm X. Time won't be on your side.
Comparisons Can't Be Avoided
If you can call Thoreau as the Odysseus of his lifetime, and his odyssey in the remote area in Waken Pond as more significant than the historical claims behind Homer's masterpiece, then be ready to do a long research on the writers behind that classic. This example may be more understood if you attempt to explain certain elements in the storyline, but children need to relate to someone. It's not so different from teenagers, particularly the more popular ones. No need to venture into reality TV, though.
On the other hand, you're the kind of person who likes watching (and observing) other students. It makes you recall Rick Riordan, and how he based his Apollo from an over-the-top teen that the author may not fancy when he was a high school teacher. Don't think about the overlapping of myth and American pop culture in Riordan's works, as you must be strict about American literature (and nothing else).
There's no use in resisting the urge to compare an author's depiction of a particular character to its adaptation to the big screen (or small screen). Look at recent events, though. If you find one, then you use it as your guide to complete an intriguing, if not interesting, essay paper.
If everything is still foggy to you, then look around and ask questions.
