The book is “Bartleby, the Scrivner” by Herman Melville
The prompt is: One of the themes in the story is that restrictive social roles can so repress individualism, marginalize, and silence people in those roles to the point that the restrictions can ultimately lead to the emotional and/or physical death of the person. Argue the presence of this theme, citing how and where this theme is evident in the story’s literary elements (plot, setting, characterization, symbols, word choice, etc…).
Have a clear structure that states a theme and supports your argument.
Analyze the story by
Identifying specific phrases and words that demonstrate where that theme is apparent,
Pointing to where that theme is carried through specific characteristics (e.g.: plot, character, etc…) of the story,
Explaining how connotations of words and ideas help convey the theme.
Explain the significance/importance of allusions to the theme and how this contributes to a better understanding of the story
Avoid summary and casual language at all costs; do not use “I agree,” “I believe,” “I feel,” or “I think”; write in 3rd person only. When writing about literature, remember to talk about the story in present tense, as if it is happening as we read, but if you are referring to historical events or periods, these are in past tense.
The Works Cited page will be factored into the essay grade. It must have at least three sources; at least two of those must be from the library databases, and one of those must be a scholarly article. Make sure it follows all of the MLA guidelines in the EasyWriter.
