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Shakespeare’s Macbeth is one of his most famous tragedies. Many see it, however, as a psychological thriller, complete with the supernatural and episodes of madness. Others see it as a moral story of the downward spiral that happens when someone acts against his or her conscience. Pick one of these approaches to Macbeth and support your ideas with references to actions in this play.

Moral principles collide in Macbeth’s personality initially when doubts are just emerging in his soul. Macbeth is a nobleman who becomes a villain due to his ambition and the incitement of evil in the form of his wife’s personality. Ambition and lust for power become his companions, so they push...

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Read Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” Chapter 18. Think in terms of the story. What happens, and how is the text structured?

The structure of this text consists of the dialogues of the characters alternating with the author’s speech. This structure helps the readers immerse themselves in the situation by explaining the characters’ experiences. This text describes the dance and dialogue of two characters, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Moreover, one can learn...

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Perform a close reading of the following passage. You should have an organizing “thesis” which explains the significance of the item you select (e.g., “This passage from XYZ is significant because…”). The best responses will analyze specific textual details from the excerpt (word choice, imagery, punctuation, syntax, etc.). The key is to use your analysis of such details to sustain a coherent explanation of the meaning of the passage you choose. “It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him, but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support. If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man’s shoulders.”

This discussion will analyze the first passage sourced from Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”. This short essay represents Thoreau’s ultimate resistance to the government’s injustice in the context of the slavery crisis and the Mexican-American war. He asserted that there is a basic obligation for every citizen not to have his consciousness...

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In the first pages of “The Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta,” the narrator explains how Joaquín becomes a bandit after enduring three episodes of racist violence. How do you interpret the logic of this sequence of violations?

Through the narration of Joaquín’s childhood, Ridge demonstrates the transformation from a mild and peaceful boy into a daring-spirited bandit. The first incident occurs when Joaquín is 18 and still an American character’s admirer. As Joaquín is lucky enough to strike gold in the California Gold Rush, a group of...

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When reading “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale,” one should note that her prologue is far longer than her actual tale. Why does Chaucer devote so much time to the character’s history? How does the Wife’s romantic history connect with the moral of her tale? What might Chaucer be commenting on with the Wife’s history?

The Wife of Bath starts off her tale by giving information about her life experiences in a prologue before beginning the tale. The prologue, which is notably more extended than the actual tale, starts by stating that knowledge is enough for her as a rule. However, the authorities are not...

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In “A Book of Showings to the Anchoress Julian of Norwich,” while presenting many traditional images of God, Julian has some surprising ways of experiencing or describing God. In your analysis, identify one to two nontraditional representations of God and explain how each representation could provide a deeper understanding of God, Christ, the Trinity, or traditional Christian teachings.

Julian explains the sixteen different visions she had when she fell ill in “A Book of Showings to the Anchoress Julian of Norwich.” She tries to describe the divine significance of each dream, where she gives various representations of God that help provide a deeper understanding of Christian teachings. The...

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“Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare

Discuss the play “Romeo and Juliet” by Shakespeare. Describe the staging, lighting, costumes, and characters of the performance. How do these match or revise the written version of the play? What type of mood and tone does the performance create? How? What parts of the play are easier to understand...

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The Role of Iago in Shakespeare’s “Othello”

Is Iago a round or a flat character? What makes him so? What makes Iago a good and interesting villain? What impact does Iago’s character bring to the lives of each character in the play? What kind of dilemma does he undergo that changes his life forever? What does he...

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Hateful Things in “The Pillow Book” by Sei Shonagon

Sei Shonagon’s “The Pillow Book” is part of the important literary tradition of the Heian period. Analyze this work. Read the list “Hateful Things” from “The Pillow Book.” Select one of the items on Sei Shonagon’s list that you identify with or agree with and explain why. Be sure to...

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Kafkaesque in “The Metamorphosis” and Personal Life

Analyze the essence of Kafkaesque. Discuss what the adjective “Kafkaesque” means. Read the excerpt from The Essence of Kafkaesque by Ivana Edwards: “Kafkaesque is when you enter a surreal world in which all your control patterns, all your plans, and the whole way in which you have configured your own...

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A Minor Character in Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”

Select a minor character from “Much Ado About Nothing” and construct an argument about them. That is any character except for Beatrice, Benedick, Hero, and Claudio. Aim to answer the proverbial “so what” in your argument. That is, why does your argument regarding the minor character matter to our understanding...

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The Pursuit of Utopia in Dante’s Art and Our Lives

Can you make connections between the pursuit of utopia in Dante’s pursuit of heaven and comparable pursuits of utopia that might exist in your own life? Remember that to connect our life to Dante’s Art is to connect our life to Dante’s creative, imaginative processes. We must always recognize that...

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“The Kingdom of Matthias” by Johnson & Wilentz

Analyze a book by Paul Johnson, and Sean Wilentz called “The Kingdom of Matthias.” Supply the basic historical context of the book. Identify Wilentz and Johnson’s thesis. You should not limit yourself to a single-sentence thesis like this: “Johnson and Wilentz say that the case of Matthias reveals a lot...

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Reviewing Literature on the Legalization of Marijuana

Discuss the topic of the legalization of marijuana. Briefly introduce your idea about why this topic is interesting or important and what you want to study. What is the theoretical framework that can be useful in researching the topic? Review the literature related to the question of your interest. Present...

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Telemachus and Penelope from Homer’s “The Odyssey”

Analyze one of the two characters from Homer’s poem “The Odyssey”: Telemachus and Penelope. Using evidence from “The Odyssey,” choose one of these characters, and compare and contrast how this character is portrayed in “The Odyssey” and how they are portrayed in a modern-day poem. How are they similar, and...

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The Main Theme of “The Birthmark” by Hawthorn

What is the main theme (not the main idea) that Hawthorn is trying to convey with “The Birthmark?” Make sure your answer is an analysis of the text and not merely a summary. You must use at least four direct quotations but no more than eight. Remember that a quotation...

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The Story “The Love of My Life” by T. C. Boyle

Analyze the story “The Love of My Life” by T. C. Boyle. Choose one character who is responsible for the predicament China and Jeremy find themselves in. This is totally based on your opinion. You may only use examples or quotes from the story “The Love of My Life” by...

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Literary Text Analysis of Voltaire’s “Candide”

Analyze Voltaire’s “Candide.” Focus your inquiry on an exploration of a specific (intriguing) element — a word, phrase, action, character trait, or image that you believe is essential to understanding the power, mission, and/or impact of the text. Your close analysis of this crucial element should reveal more complex layers...

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The Novel “The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline

Analyze the novel “The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline. Explain why you think the novel imagines that nonnatives can no longer dream and what, as a result, you think the novel might be trying to show us about Indigenous peoples and their dreams. Through the ways it imagines this conflict...

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Philip K. Dick’s Novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”

Analyze the novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” written by Philip K. Dick. One important question is, “what is it to be human?” What is Dick’s answer to this question? How are androids and humans contrasted in this novel, and for what purpose? Is his view of human nature...

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Comparing “Everyday Use” by Walker and “The Confidence Man” by Melville

Read and compare “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker and “The Confidence Man” by Herman Melville. Compare the two stories under some similar or oppositional theme. Make sure to integrate at least four different examples of characterization and multiliteracy descriptions from each of the stories that help illustrate your stance of...

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Frederick Douglass’ Characterization of Slave Masters

Discuss characterization, reversal, irony, and allusion in Frederick Douglass’ works. Read “The Book of Job” and discuss characterization, reversal, irony, and allusion. Also, read Chapter 3 of “Life of an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass. Include a reflection on how Frederick Douglass’ characterization of slave masters establishes them as pitiful...

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Analysis of Passage from Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”

Analyze a passage from Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” about the change in the family’s fortunes following Gregor’s death. Analyze its structural features (its use of character, plot, setting, atmosphere, tone, narrative perspective, etc.) and its narrative style, including attention to diction (word choice), syntax (the grammatical arrangement of the words),...

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Characters from the “Badeye” Short Story by Rash

Describe characters from the short story “Badeye” by Rash. What are they like, and how are they described? What do we know about their past and present? Consider their relationships, their environment, their position in society, and their culture. What do they want? What are their dreams and goals? What...

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African Culture and Folklore Shaping People

Research African culture and African folklore. How the culture shaped the folklore, and how the folklore, in turn, shaped the people? What do the culture’s stories tell us about the people themselves? Include at least one folktale, fable, or myth and sources about the culture. Research the connections between African...

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Read “New York Workingmen Demand a Voice in the Revolutionary Struggle” in the “Voices of Freedom” by Eric Foner. In what respects does the author believe all colonists are equal?

The author establishes that all people are equally entitled to liberty. As such, he provides that the regulation of taxation and importation should prioritize the working class, which most trade depends on. He establishes the similarities between all people despite their social standings by reminding them that all people are...

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Literary Elements in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”

As you progress through Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” track the use of literary elements as they’re used to create meaning in the play. Track the presence of the following literary elements throughout each act of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” Archetypes: a common type of character, conflict, or plot seen in the literature....

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The Life of the Author Translated Into Their Writing

Considering Jamaica Kincaid or Eudora Welty as examples, how the life of the author may have translated into their writing? Choose one of these readings: “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and “Why I Live at the P.O.” by Eudora Welty. Research the life of either Jamaica Kincaid or Eudora Welty. In...

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Narrators in J. Kincaid’s and E. Welty’s Stories

What similarities and differences can you find between two narrators in Jamaica, Kincaid’s and Eudora Welty’s stories? Both short stories “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and “Why I Live at the P.O.” by Eudora Welty are told from the point of view of female narrators. What similarities and differences can you...

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The Irony, Symbolism, and Hypocrisy in Jackson’s Story “The Lottery”

Analyze the irony, symbolism, or hypocrisy present in Jackson’s story “The Lottery.” Something is often considered ironic when the opposite of what is described or stated happens. For example, from the title of the story, one expects a positive outcome, but after reading the story in its entirety, one can...

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An Argument Regarding Themes of a Single Fictional Text

Construct a close-reading-based analysis that advances an interpretive argument regarding one of the core themes of a single fictional text. Consider the formal elements of narrative fiction covered in class this semester and draw on the critical terminology we have covered – as appropriate. Also, remember that your interpretive claims...

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A Character Analysis of One of the Literary Heroes

Provide a character analysis of one of the next characters. “Hunters in the Snow”-Kenny, Frank, Tub; “The Destructors”-Trevor, Blackie; “How I Met My Husband”-Edie, Chris Watters; “A Family Supper”-The Father, the Son, and the Daughter. How would you sum up the character in a few sentences? What evidence in the...

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Dante: The Journey of the Commedia Discussion

Focus on Dante and discuss the journey of the Commedia (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso). Dante makes clear that the journey of the Commedia (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso) entails the education of the soul. In Cantos 5 and 15, we see Dante the pilgrim (the character, as opposed to the author)...

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A Rhetorical Analysis of Turkle’s Argument in “Alone Together”

Provide a rhetorical analysis of Turkle’s main argument in the introduction of “Alone Together.” To answer this question, explain how Turkle makes her argument through rhetorical techniques. Evaluate why she’s effective and ineffective in constructing her argument through the use of these rhetorical elements and any logical fallacies that you...

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Aspects of Confessions, Books 1-6 and 8

Review Confessions, Books 1-6 and 8, and explore the topic of ”The Classical World Reconsidered in Augustine’s Confessions.” First, identify at least five examples in the Confessions of Augustine’s engagement with an idea, literary form, artwork, story, institution, or another element of the Classical World. Analyze these five examples, within...

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The Short Stories and Analysis of Literary Aspects

Choose any of the short stories and analyze a character, theme, motif, symbol, or any other literary aspect that you find interesting. Justify the importance of your idea concerning the text and relevant content. Discuss the significance of your idea concerning a theme that is presented in the story and...

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We’re talking about Harriet Jacobs’s “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.” Post on whatever you’d like from Jacobs, perhaps in relation to Henry Box Brown or other works. This is a rich and intensive text! What has it got you thinking about?

Frankly speaking, I was always more into fictional stories than autobiographical ones. However, after reading some books from our course, including Henry Box Brown’s “Narrative” and Harriet Jacob’s “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” I start to see their appeal and value. The books mentioned above invoked much...

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Read “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin. What is your general response to this reading? You can include ideas such as the content, message, and/or style. What issue/s does the reading focus on? What can you personally relate to about this reading?

Desiree’s Baby is a story that outlines the plight of African-Americans and women, and racists. It is a sad story that focuses on the social issues of racism and sexism. The story is set in times of slavery and explores how racism was in a facet of society. One of...

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Read “The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence. What is your general response to this reading? You can include ideas such as the content, message, and/or style. What issue/s does the reading focus on? What can you personally relate to about this reading?

The story narrates a little boy who seeks to revive his family’s financial concerns by accurately predicting the outcomes of horse races. The reading talks about gambling, luck, and making money. Lawrence, therefore, suggests that love and materialism are incompatible, illustrated in how Hester focuses on her perceived suffering and...

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Read “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor. What is your general response to this reading? You can include ideas such as the content, message, and/or style. What issue/s does the reading focus on? What can you personally relate to about this reading?

The story by O’Connor involves an egocentric grandmother that consistently lies to her family members to get things executed her way. Her lies lead to a car accident and a subsequent acquaintance with the Misfits. All the family members are shot dead, including the grandmother. The story talks about hypocrisy,...

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Read “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver. What is your general response to this reading? You can include ideas such as the content, message, and/or style. What issue/s does the reading focus on? What can you personally relate to about this reading?

The Cathedral is a story about the narrator and his wife’s friend, Robert, who is blind. Robert’s blindness does not amuse the narrator due to the sympathy he gets from his wife. Later on, he realizes that more than what meets the eye, Robert is more impressive than he assumed....

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Read “Mallam Sile” by Mohammed Naseehu Ali. Identify any 2-3 lyrics from a song of your choice and 2-3 sentences of elaboration that could reflect Mallam’s mindset.

The poem that Mallam repeats in search of his partner resembles the man’s worldview by emphasizing his prioritization of personality and heart rather than appearance. Within Mallam’s mindset, considering beauty as a priority is unacceptable. He says, “I am not savage. I am only looking for love.” The song that...

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Read “Mallam Sile” by Mohammed Naseehu Ali. Describe the setting that the story takes place. What can the setting tell readers about Mallam Sile’s (MS) character?

The story’s setting introduces Mallam as an old-fashioned, conservative, responsible, caring, and hard-working man. The shop in which he works is built of cheap material, and to protect his good; Mallam covers them with plastic, which shows his care for customers regardless of the circumstances. However, his social life demonstrates...

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Read “Mallam Sile” by Mohammed Naseehu Ali. How does Abeeba’s character show integrity? Share any two examples and some brief elaboration on each.

Abeeba showed her integrity through her deliberate work at the shop and her communication with Mallam. For example, she consistently discussed the idea of a no-credit policy at the shop, although her husband refused to consider it. Another example is his encounter with Samadu, which ultimately changed the people’s attitude...

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Read “Mallam Sile” by Mohammed Naseehu Ali. Share any two quotes and how each might shed light on his purpose for writing “Mallam Sile.”

The reason why Ali wrote “Mallam Sali” is validated by his desire to raise awareness of injustice toward underrepresented populations. The author states that his main theme is “the treatment, or rather mistreatment, newcomers encounter in a new environment.” His motivation to write the short story was “to give voice...

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What element/substance appears in each of the four stories: “The Song of Creation,” “From the Popol Vuh,” “An African Creation Tale,” and “How Man Was Created?”

The Rig Veda and Popol Vuh both mention water in the world’s creation, whereas the tale of African people mentions “a bed of reeds” as the beginning of everything: animals, plants, and people. “How Man Was Created” includes the story of how the Good Spirit created the first men of...

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What are some similarities between the creation tales “The Song of Creation,” “From the Popol Vuh,” “An African Creation Tale,” and “How Man Was Created?” and the popular Judeo-Christian creation tale in Genesis?

To begin with, the Judeo-Christian tale is similar to the Rig Veda story as they both mention the eternal darkness at the beginning of creation. Furthermore, Rig Vada and Popol Vuh include water at the origin of life, as well as Genesis tales. Tepeu and Gucumatz, from the Popol Vuh...

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An Analysis of “Until Gwen” by Dennis Lehane

Provide an analysis of “Until Gwen” by Dennis Lehane. To answer this question, judge whether or not the text successfully fulfills its purpose based on your analysis of it. Analyze whatever you want about the text by asking and answering questions about what specifically was or was not done well...

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“Hard Times” by Charles Dickens Review

Make a review of “Hard Times” by Charles Dickens. Discuss how the title of each book relates to the characters, events, and themes. Also, analyze Dickens’s message about England’s mid-19th century logic within these paragraphs. Cite specific examples from the book. The language should be standard formal English in the...

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Briar at the Center of the “Such a Fun Age” by Collins

Review a “Fun Age” by Sara Collins. Black characters in the novel look at racism differently than White characters. How do Black characters understand racism and think about cross-racial relationships? How do White characters? Analyze Kelley Copeland and Alix Chamberlain’s portraits. Who is the main hero of the novel? Discuss...

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“Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara Review

Reviewe “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara. The climactic event of Bambara’s story is Squeaky’s victory in the fifty-yard dash, so why is the story named ”Raymond’s Run?” What is the significance of Raymond’s run for Squeaky? What do we study about Squeaky through her interactions with, and stories about,...

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“The Making of Theodore Roosevelt’s America” by Eric Rauchway Review

Review the book “The Making of Theodore Roosevelt’s America” by Eric Rauchway. Provide details and smaller ideas from the book that support this big idea. Provide historical interpretation and analysis to the public and set the conversation for historical debate. Use that main idea in your paper’s introduction to organizing...

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“A Farewell to Arms” by Hemingway, E. Review

Make a review of “A Farewell to Arms” by E. Hemingway. What is war associated with? What can make the same impression on the psyche as the war? Who is the main hero? Does he believe in the victory and strength of the officers? What is his weakness? Does the...

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Critical Reaction on “Weaver” by Benjamin Malacia Franklin

Review “Weaver” poem by Benjamin Malacia Franklin. Your critical reaction should include two parts. You would start by summarizing and then analyzing the assigned reading. When analyzing, keep the following questions in mind: how did the writer construct his/her argument/narrative? Why did the writer make these choices? The second half...

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Dante’s “Inferno” Popular Book Review

Review Dante’s Popular Book “Inferno.” Employ the resources of the Internet by allowing students to include hyperlinks to relevant content. Write an original post of approximately 150 words. Why do you think this book is so popular? What did you find interesting? How do you see culture mixing in the...

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“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker Analysis

Analyze “Everyday Use” short story by Alice Walker. Focus on providing a close formal analysis of the texts under examination, and the interpretations that you offer should be backed up by a minimum of three secondary sources. Demonstrate your knowledge of the interplay between literary texts and larger cultural/historical formations,...

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“What We Can Do About It” by Y. Fullilove

Analyze the book “How tearing up city neighborhoods hurts America and what we can do about it by Y. Fullilove. What is the main point in gentrification, and how the United Nations has been documenting its impact on global cities since 1985? Describe an interest that stood out. Focus on...

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Extract of Beowulf “Prologue” in Modern and Old English

Make a review of Beowulf’s “Prologue.” Which characteristics indicate that intonations in old English sentences resemble intonations in modern English? Which lines relate to the consequential arrival of a baby on the Danish coast named Scyld? Analyze stock phrases that fill the needs of a metrical line or half line....

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The Reach of Dialogue: Confirmation, Voice, and Community by Anderson

Review “Confirmation, Voice, and Community” by Rob Anderson. What is the main point of the reading? What are some connections to Interpersonal Communication and your emerging understanding of Interpersonal communication? What of interest stood out for you as you read? Focus on some paragraphs from the text, and tell us...

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The Short Story “Found Objects” by Jennifer Egan

In “Found Objects” by Jennifer Egan, Sasha is getting therapy for her compulsion to steal. Does Sasha make progress during the story, and why or why not? You might consider this topic as character analysis (assessing Sasha as the main character), or you might consider it as an exploration of...

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Comparison of the Movie and the Poem “Beowulf”

Compare the movie Beowulf, directed by Robert Zemeckis, and the poem “Beowulf”. Introduce the three key elements about the movie you will be critiquing in regard to the poem. Briefly summarize how the element was portrayed in the poem. Briefly summarize how the element was presented in the movie. Based...

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Heroism in the Book “1984” by George Orwell

Analyze the book “1984” by George Orwell. Discuss whether Winston Smith was a hero or not. Based on the author’s definition of heroism, “ordinary people doing whatever they can to change social systems that do not respect human decency, even with the knowledge that they can’t possibly succeed.” Should he...

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A Poet and His Works From a Different Culture

Find a poet from a culture other than your own who appeals to you. Why does his or her work appeal to you? Explain your ideas and feelings so that your colleagues can understand why you have chosen this particular author. Explain the differences between the poet’s culture and your...

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Pecola’s Outlook in “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

Discuss “The Bluest Eye” (1970), the first novel of Nobel Prize-winning American author Toni Morrison. Communing with the dandelions is one of the few spots of joy in Pecola’s unhappy existence. What do the dandelions mean to her? What do they represent to other people in Pecola’s world, such as...

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How “The Lottery” by Jackson Relates to America Today

Provide a literary analysis of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. Formulate your thesis statement and state an idea related to the thesis. Incorporate quotes from the story to prove your point. Develop your ideas fully. In each section, integrate quotations and textual details from sources. Analyze all examples, probing into...

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Dehumanization of Jews in Spiegelman’s “Maus” Novel

Discuss the dehumanization of the Jews in Spiegelman’s “Maus.” What does it mean to dehumanize someone? How is dehumanization implemented? What are ways to dehumanize someone? What are the signs of dehumanization? How were Jewish people dehumanized in WWII? How is the Holocaust represented in “Maus?” Use evidence and examples...

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Analysis of “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

Analyze the short story “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. In order to analyze fiction, the critic must dissect the basic conventions of fiction: plot—characters-­conflicts—setting—the point of view—theme. What happened or caused something to happen in the story? In what type of conflict is the protagonist involved? What are...

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Comparative Analysis of Literary Texts

Analyze two texts from this list: “On Self-Respect” by Didion, “Optimism Within” by Keller, “Self-Reliance” by Emerson, “Solitude” by Thoreau, and “Man’s Rights” by Rand. Synthesize the claims of 2 authors based on a common topic, illustrating how each author presents his/her argument or viewpoint and examining how the authors’...

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Cantos I and IV from Dante’s “Inferno”

Analyze Cantos I and IV from Dante’s “Inferno.” Analyze the way that Dante introduces the narrator in Canto I. Examine how the choices the author makes introducing the character in this way affect the reader’s view of the narrator. Be sure to use specific details from the text to support...

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Using a Concept from the Non-Fiction Essay or Fiction Short Story

Use a concept or situation from one of the non-fiction essays or fiction short stories to analyze an outside work of narrative art that interests you. It could be a movie, TV show, short story, novel, podcast, etc. Whatever you want to write about. The idea is to use the...

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Chapters 2 & 4 of “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald

Analyze chapters 2 and 4 of the novel “The Great Gatsby” by Francis Scott Fitzgerald. How does the opening scene of Chapter 2 establish atmosphere and mood? How does it contrast with previous settings and scenes? Who are the main characters in this section? What, in general, seems to be...

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Themes of “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen

Analyze the play “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen. Create a literary analysis based on any one theme and show how the elements of drama and the symbolic patterns in the dialogue, stage direction, or any of the elements help to create the artist’s statement of that theme. Use any...

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Vertical Lines of Power or Authority in Literature

In the essay “Scratching the Surface: Some Notes on Barriers to Women and Loving,” Audre Lorde identifies “the vertical lines of power or authority.” Drawing from Lorde’s argument, what does she mean by this statement? How are “the vertical lines of power or authority” portrayed in the short story “Sweat”...

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Creating a Scene That Establishes Mood and Pacing

How would you write a short fictional scene that uses vivid description to establish mood and pacing? Envision your scene as a small part of a larger narrative. First, decide on a setting – both the place and time – and a point of view. You’re free to be as...

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Myth, Poem, and Painting Dedicated to Prometheus

Examine the myth of Prometheus, the poem “Disconnected” by Brent Michaels, and the painting “Prometheus and the Child of Tomorrow.” Put the three texts into conversation with one another. You do not need to focus on the texts equally, but all three should play a role in your argument. Your...

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Exploring Important Human Issues in Literature

Discuss a short story, novel, or non-fiction text that deals with an important human issue, such as the conflict between good and evil or hatred between individuals or groups. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the writer explores this theme. What can you say about the writing’s features, such...

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A Critique of the Poem “The Tyger” by William Blake

Provide a critique of the poem “The Tyger” by William Blake. Your answer should include a contextualized thesis statement that answers three questions what, how, and why. Provide carefully chosen textual evidence and analysis. What is the poem literally about? Where does the poem take place? Who is speaking the...

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Lynching: “Fire in a Canebreak” by Laura Wexler

Analyze the book “Fire in a Canebreak” by Laura Wexler and the problem of lynching. What is lynching? Why was it so difficult to prosecute lynching? What were the historical factors that made lynching possible in the first place? What were the roles of the outsiders (NAACP, FBI, Federal Government,...

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Money in the “Everyday Use” Story by Alice Walker

Analyze the story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. In a well-developed and highly-organized answer, explain what the story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker teaches you about money, materialism, and greed. You may wish to focus on symbolism, narrative, imagery, dialogue, or other literary techniques. Please do not merely summarize the...

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Critiques of Jamaica Kincaid’s Short Story “Girl”

Summarize the essays on Jamaica Kincaid’s short story “Girl” provided by the literary critics Cynthia Bily and Liz Brent. Your summary must be straight, faithful, and balanced. You don’t express an opinion in this summary. Give a summary of the critical essay’s thesis and supporting arguments. How does the essay...

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A Sonnet on Macbeth From the Character’s Point of View

How would you write a sonnet on Macbeth from the point of view of a character? The character could sort through a problem and come to a realization at the end or could comment on a wrong and come to some sort of realization at the end. The topic could...

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Layli Long Soldier’s “38” in “Ways of Reading”

Develop a clearly articulated and well-supported critique of the text “38” in “Ways of Reading” by Layli Long Soldier. This assignment will require developing appropriate criteria for evaluating your text, assessing your text in light of that criteria, and then coherently and persuasively arguing for the validity and relevance of...

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The Evolution of Shakespearean Othello’s Character

Discuss the evolution of Othello’s character in the Shakespearean play. Provide a description of the emotional and psychological journey he undergoes (connect the play’s events to these things) as well as an analysis of the reasons for this journey. Note the beginning of a change in Othello. Why does this...

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Analyzing “Recitatif” Story by Toni Morrison

Discuss the short story “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison. Why does the author start out the story with Twyla and Roberta as children? With Twyla and Roberta, we have one Afro-American character and one Caucasian-American character. But which character is which? And how did you arrive at your decision? When Twyla...

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Magical Realism: “The Nose” by Nicolai Gogol

Compare and contrast “The Nose” by Nicolai Gogol to another magical realist story of your choice, focusing mainly on the tone of the two stories. How does the tone differ? What does the tone have in common? Your answer should include a claim that explains how you compare and contrast...

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Analysis of “American Jerk” by Todd Schwartz

Analyze “American Jerk” by Todd Schwartz. Choose representative passages and carefully deconstruct them, highlighting meanings that may not be immediately obvious to fellow readers in order to support your overall interpretation of the text. The idea is to reach a deep understanding of the text by examining the writer’s narrative...

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