A character’s development generally has an important impact on a story’s major themes. Choose a key character (the story’s protagonist) or characters (the story’s protagonist and antagonist, etc.) in one of the following stories and discuss how the character’s development contributes to a major theme in that story. Completing this task requires that you are able to state succinctly the theme of the short story. Write a 500 to 700-word analytical essay about one or more characters from one of the short stories listed below. You must include at least three direct quotations from the short story itself. You are not permitted to use other sources of information (i.e. web sites, articles, books, etc. about the short story). Doing so will result in a Code of Conduction violation. “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor “A&P” by John Updike “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan “Why I Live at the P.O.” by Eudora Welty “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman ORGANIZATION: The introduction should identify the story under consideration, its author, the major theme in the story, and state specifically how the key character’s development addresses that theme. Body paragraphs should support your argument with specific references to the story, bolstered by relevant textual evidence and analysis of that evidence (use direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries). Your conclusion should place your argument within a larger, meaningful context for your reader. TIPS: Do re-read the short story closely and take notes as you read. Do not read about your selected story online. Don’t pollute your brain with other people’s thoughts about and interpretations of the story. Do not write about yourself or people in general; do write about theme. Do select one main point that your essay will make (your thesis). Do begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence and include adequate supporting details. Do discuss the classification of your selected character (flat, round, stock). Do discuss the characterization of your selected character (dynamic, static). Do discuss epiphany (use “epiphanic moment” to refer to the moment of change). Do discuss if direct or indirect presentation is used. Do discuss the following 3 principles of characterization: Characters are consistent in their behavior (in what way(s) is your character consistent?) Characters are motivated (what motivates your selected character?) Characters are plausible or lifelike (in what way(s) is your character lifelike?)
