Joseph Chavez

Ms. Gardner
English 10 Period 4
13 November 2014
More Than Just a Falcon
Boswell, Marshall, and Carl Rollyson, eds. "existentialism." Encyclopedia of American
Literature: The Contemporary World, 1946 to the Present, Revised Edition, vol. 4. New
York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008.

This article closely examines what existentialism is, its roots, and the works in which it
can be found. Existentialism is a form of literature about morality and the choices that
people make, which make them who they are as a person, according to the article. In the
article, the information is given in a direct manner which makes it concise and
informational.

By describing how it has affected modern literature and influenced many authors, this
article provides useful information about why existentialism is relevant and important.
With information such as its geographical origin and who began using this method of
literature, this article offers facts that can be useful to a young student or a knowledgeable
scholar. Because it is a concise article, it includes only the necessary information about
existentialism.

Layman, Richard. "The Maltese Falcon." In Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew

J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature: Into the
Modern: 18961945, Revised Edition, vol. 3. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008.
Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 16 Nov. 2014

This encyclopedia article briefly summarizes the significant events that take place
throughout The Maltese Falcon. More importantly, it analyzes the literary devices used
by Dashiell Hammett to create suspense and to give each character a distinguished
personality. The author explains why the combination of suspenseful scenes and intricate
characterization make The Maltese Falcon one of, if not the, best book Hammett ever
wrote.

This article gives a short summary of the important moments and writing strategies that
can be found in The Maltese Falcon. However, the author does not go into very much
detail when describing the mystery novel, creating suspense about the books suspense.
By describing the novels key moments in a direct fashion, the article informs the reader
about the novel, but does not completely reveal the result, persuading the reader of the
article to read the novel. Along with the summary, the article occasionally praises
Hammett, adding to the persuasive tone of the article.

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "roman noir." Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature. New York: Facts On
File, Inc., 2005.

This article, from the Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature, provides insightful information
about roman noir, or black novel. Significant information, such as the history of roman

noir and the novels that have led to its popularity, is included in this article, giving people
who are unfamiliar with the type of literature a clear idea of what it is. According to the
article, roman noir portrays things that are normally looked down upon or neglected in
society, making it a dark type of literature.

By clearly defining it and giving examples of what it is, this article presents valuable
information about roman noir. Examples such as The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep
are listed in the article to give readers a better understanding of what roman noir is and
where it can be found. By providing the history of this type of literature in chronological
order, this article is organized in a way that makes it easier for a reader of any academic
level to comprehend and analyze the history of roman noir.

Van Dover, J. K. "The Maltese Falcon." In Werlock, Abby H. P., ed. The Facts On File
Companion to the American Novel. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's
Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 16 Nov. 2014

This article describes the evolution of detectives in mystery novels, from sly and witty to
tough and street-smart. Although Sam Spade wasnt Dashiell Hammetts first hardboiled detective, he was the most iconic because he was placed in a San Francisco that
was full of hardened criminals. Along with a detailed description of the characters, this
passage provides a clear summary of the major events, ordered chronologically, that
Spade goes through in search of the Maltese Falcon.

By mentioning that The Maltese Falcon is one of the most influential of all detective
stories, this article immediately attempts to persuade the reader into reading this mystery
novel. By describing important scenes in detail and using a commending tone, the author
is able to justify why he believes that this is an iconic novel. Not only does the article
acknowledge the suspenseful plot, but it praises Hammetts characterization, showing that
it is a well-organized novel with many elements, making it the iconic book that it is.

Werlock, Abby H. P., ed. "Hammett, Dashiell." The Facts On File Companion to the American
Novel. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006.

This passage closely examines the life of Dashiell Hammett, including all of his
professions and the numerous novels that he has written. Not only does the article
describe the novels he has written and the characters in them, it contains information
about his family. This clear, wide-ranging information about Hammett gives readers an
understanding of why he chose the genre that he did and why he was able to become a
successful author.

In this informative article about Dashiell Hammett, the reader is able to connect with him
as they learn about the obstacles that he faced throughout his career. Using the precise
information given about Hammetts employment as a detective, the reader is able to
understand why he was such a skilled writer in that genre. Also, the brief explanation of
his time in the U.S. Army shows that he has experience with difficult and life-threatening
situations; he uses similar experiences in many of his novels. Although Hammett did not

always aspire to be an author, the profound information found in this article proves why
he was a legitimate writer when it came to mystery novels.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "Hammett, Dashiell." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short
Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009.

This concise passage on Dashiell Hammett gives an overview on his style of writing and
some of his most famous works. Although the article is rather short, it provides helpful
and informative facts about Hammetts career as an author. By mentioning recurring
themes and literary devices that can be seen in Hammetts novels, the reader gets
valuable information about what to expect when reading his books and short stories.

While it is quite short in length, this article provides readers with the key information that
they need to know about Dashiell Hammett and his novels. This useful context proves
that Hammett is fit to write mystery novels by mentioning that he had eight years of
detective experience before he became an author. Besides describing Hammetts novels,
this article also praises his work by stating that it revolutionized the mystery genre and
influenced many authors to come.