Direction

Throughout the semester you have been introduced to three genres of literature through the reading and analysis of specific selections for each genre. As demonstrated in class, some common themes about the human experience emerge over and over again in some of the works we have read.

Select one theme/question from the list below and respond in a five-paragraph essay containing essential elements of literary analysis (thesis statement, textual support, in-text citation and documentation).

Your essay must respond to selected prompt/question by analyzing assigned texts from at least two of the three genres. You may choose texts from prose and poetry or prose and drama or poetry and drama. Any combination of two of the three genres is fine.

One important theme that recurs in some of the literary texts we have read is the search for identity. Examine how the search for identity is played out in your chosen texts.

Perhaps one of humanity's greatest fears is the fear of the unknown. This fear is buried deep in our sub-consciousness, but it is the root of our troubles and suffering. It causes us to invent stories, create illusions, and establish norms and makes us obsessed with being able to identify and label everything. Discuss how fear of the unknown creates or contributes to tensions developing in your chosen texts.

One socio-political phenomenon explored in the literature we have read is systematic discrimination against specific groups of people such as women and African-Americans. Examine how your chosen texts explore this issue and what seems to be their commentary about it.