The Literary Paper Your assignment is to analyze and interrogate the class’s rea

The Literary Paper
Your assignment is to analyze and interrogate the class’s readings from this semester from your own perspective. The purpose of the literary analysis paper is to bring in outside sources to communicate some insight you have about the stories, poems, and plays we’ve talked about this semester. As with everything we do in class, there is no “right” or “wrong” answer; it’s just a matter of supporting your claims with evidence and convincing your audience.
Your paper should be about 3-5 pages and include a minimum of three sources (though, the texts themselves count). Look for interviews with the authors, scholarly articles written by other experts, or criticism. Your essay should be in MLA format and include a works cited page.
The best place to begin with this assignment is to think about what the readings have left you wondering this semester. Think about a question or a discussion that we’ve had that got you particularly curious. I suggest coming to talk to me about your topic.
Here are three basic “prompts” you can choose from:
1. Write a literary paper in which you analyze an author’s use of a literary element and explain how it contributes to the piece’s overall theme (For example, how does Flannery O’Connor use irony to depict the lives of women in the old south?).
2. Choose a “lens” to analyze a piece from to discuss a social issue (for example, give a feminist reading of “The Yellow Wallpaper” or a historical reading of “A Rose for Emily,” write about the class issues present in “The Death of a Salesman.”) How does your lens or approach to this piece of literature shed light on its meaning or significance?
3. Write a literary research paper in which you incorporate primary research, exploring how people respond to different texts. (How do men vs. women react to the poem “Barbie Doll” differently?).
Here are some other ideas I had while thinking about this project today —
How do these stories/poems/plays portray the experiences of immigrants in the United States? You could choose perhaps two or three pieces to focus on here, and compare/contrast the way they illustrate the immigrant experience.
How does a piece (or pieces) explore, illustrate, or challenge the idea of “American Exceptionalism?” Here, you could perhaps use a contemporary piece and show similarities/differences between it and Winthrop’s City on a Hill sermon and/or Common Sense.
How do these stories/poems/plays challenge social stereotyping of minorities (or choose a specific group) in the United States?
How do these stories/poems/plays portray the experiences those in poverty in America?
What makes a piece of literature “feminist?” Here, you would have to do a little research and find a definition of what “feminist” literature means. Then, you could discuss how certain pieces do/don’t fit into that definition. Some possible pieces include “The Yellow Wallpaper,” and “Trifles.”
What image of the “American Dream” do these stories/poems/plays portray? (Or maybe even examine how the idea of the American Dream has developed or changed by comparing/contrasting some of our pieces).
How do different groups of people (age, gender class) interpret (a specific piece of literature) differently? This one would require a little primary research, which can be just as interesting. I would suggest using a short piece, though, like a poem. For example, how do men vs. women react to Poe’s “Annabel Lee?”
How do authors use irony (or another literary device) to portray the plights of women (or another group of people)?
Good questions
Are open-ended and have no clear answer. They are open to interpretation.
Have a clear direction
Can be explored through analysis and/or research