Once you have chosen a story to write about, choose one of the following prompts:
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1. Articulate a Statement of Theme, following the guidelines established in the textbook chapter (and summarized in the handout I put on Moodle).
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2. Pose a pertinent interpretive question raised by the story and then answer it. For instance:
* • Does O’Connor seem to be attacking or defending conventional Christianity in “Good Country People”?
* • What is the significance of Zaroff being both an aristocratic cosmopolitan gentleman AND a brutal, amoral savage?
* • How should we interpret the fact that Lahiri’s characters begin the story all in one small town, but end up scattered across the world?
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3. Note whether you feel the story contains instances of Intertextuality. Explain what these intertexts are, and how they enable a more rich and in-depth interpretation of the story.
Whichever you choose, your central point should be posed in a thesis statement, which must offer an argument. That is to say, it must be something that another student might reasonably be able to disagree with. PLEASE PUT YOUR THESIS IN BOLD
Main Body of Essay and Plot Summary
Throughout the body of your paper, you should point to and analyze specific moments of the text to support your thesis. STAY FOCUSED. Try very hard not to let your observations about the story drift away from your central purpose, which is to defend and support your thesis statement. Imagine your reader is skeptical of your thesis!
Do not spend much time summarizing plot – anyone who reads your essay will also have read the story. If, for instance, you wanted to write about the moment in “The Whore’s Child” when Ursula goes to the city with her father, you do not need to exhaustively set the scene; you can just write In the scene in which Ursula goes to the city with her father . . . And jump right into your discussion from there.
Literary Terms
You must use at least two terms from our textbook readings in your discussion (if you choose Prompt #1, “Theme” does not count as one). Any of the bold-faced terms from the chapters are acceptable, not just the terms that make the chapter titles. The terms “Plot” and “Character” do not count, though some of the more specific terms within those chapters are fine.
When you use a literary term, it should not be merely to define it. It should be used in such a way that you demonstrate your understanding of the term itself AND use it to advance your argument. For instance:
In “The Whore’s Child,” Russo makes great use of dramatic irony to heighten the emotional impact of the scene in which Ursula realizes the truth about her father.”
Put the terms in bold the first time you use them in your paper.
Other Details, Hints, etc.
* • 3 full pages (double-spaced, 12 pt font) is ideal. Please do not go over 4 pages.
