Final Essay Topic Choices

Topic 1: Write an essay in which you compare Art Spiegelman's Maus to a more traditionally formatted story assigned for this class or a comic book you are familiar with. How are elements including theme, plot, and conflict different or alike in the two works? How successful do you think Spiegelman is in conveying his message through the more unfamiliar format of the graphic novel?

Topic 2: Choose two texts that we've read from week 3 (you may use Trifles for one of them) and discuss them in relation to modernism. Use the definition of modernism given in the Terms lecture from Week 3. Make sure to explain what modernism is and show how the texts you chose demonstrate modernism.

Topic 3: View one of the films below. Choose one character from the film and compare him/her to another character from another reading we've studied in class. How are they similar? Why did you choose these characters? Do they have characteristics that you can relate to? You may include elements of psychoanalytic criticism (see Week 2 Terms).

The below identifies the three films you may choose from.

Film

The Great Gatsby, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel. Available to rent on Amazon; available for streaming on Netflix as of May 2013;
also in theaters in May of 2013)

Of Mice and Men, based on John Steinbeck's 1937 novel. Available to rent on Amazon; available for streaming on Netflix as of May 2013

The Glass Menagerie, based on Tennessee Williams's 1944 play. Available to rent on Amazon; available for streaming on Netflix as of May 2013