The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Wilder. It consists of three interconnected stories that explore the lives of several individuals who perish when a bridge collapses in 18th-century Peru.

The Making of Americans (1925) is a novel by Gertrude Stein, a close friend of Wilder. The narrative follows several generations of Stein's family, utilizing her signature style of straightforward language and repetition. Stein aimed to evoke a sense of perpetual present, stating that "repeating is the whole of living and by repeating comes understanding." Her methods had a significant impact on Wilder.

Mother Courage and Her Children (1941) is a play by German playwright Bertolt Brecht. It centers on a seventeenth-century German canteen woman who symbolizes the destructive nature of capitalism. The play showcases Brecht's concept of epic theater and his anti-illusion techniques, which also influenced Wilder.

Our Town (1938) is Wilder's most renowned work and is possibly the most frequently performed play in America. It portrays the everyday lives of residents in a small New Hampshire town, utilizing similar non-realistic theatrical techniques found in The Skin of Our Teeth.

Six Characters in Search of an Author (1921) is an innovative play by Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello. This work challenged the conventions of naturalistic theater and had a profound influence on Wilder's writing.

Watch on the Rhine (1941) is a realistic play by Lillian Hellman that offers an intriguing contrast to Wilder's style. The drama follows a couple opposing Nazi ideology in the United States, addressing the pressing political issues of its era.