Category: Literature

How does the last paragraph in the novel change our entire understanding of the whole story? In effect, what does that paragraph, like colonialism, do to the Ibo people?

Things Fall Apart

Choose ONE of the questions that you explored in your online Discussion of Things Fall Apart. You can select the question that you answered on the Discussion, or you can select a new question.

The purpose of the assignment will be to continue developing your analysis in order to write a longer, more thoughtful analysis of the novel.

You will have two goals for this paper: 1) conduct a close reading of the novel based upon the question chosen and 2) do research to support your argument.

Here are the questions:

1. According to the novel, how does the Ibo culture, and Okonkwo specifically, divide up qualities based on gender, especially strength vs. weakness? Analyze a specific example from the novel to show how gender is applied to concepts other than a person’s biological sex.

2. Look up the word hubris. What does it mean and how does it apply to Okonkwo? Explain the significance of hubris in this novel.

3. Do you know what locusts usually represent in literature? If not, look it up. Now, relate the significance of locusts to this novel. In what way are the locusts in the novel foreshadowing and perhaps ironic. What is their significance?

4. How does the last paragraph in the novel change our entire understanding of the whole story? In effect, what does that paragraph, like colonialism, do to the Ibo people?

Here are the directions for the writing the paper:

1) A close reading of a text means that you look very closely at just one or two texts, selecting important passages to quote and analyze closely for the way they lead to a particular understanding of the work as a whole.

Every point you make in your argument should be supported by direct evidence from the text.

Direct evidence includes direct quotes as well as brief descriptions of important events when necessary.

Do not speak about the texts generally or in chronological or plot summary order (example: and then this happened, then that happened), but make particular points about the texts that build upon one another.

It will be required that you use at least one quote from the novel in each body paragraph.

Do not use more than two quotes per paragraph, and use no more than one block quote (over 4 lines long) in the entire paper.

2) You are required to use TWO sources other than the novel. The research component of this assignment is meant to help you make your writing more informed.

Things that you can research include:

background on the history, biographical information for Chinua Achebe, any outside ideas you want to bring in to your analysis (example:

A social or psychological theory), or what other literary critics (especially scholars and experts) have said about the meaning/interpretation of the novel.

Websites that end in .org, .com, etc. will not be accepted (no Sparknotes or Wikipedia).

Requirements for writing this essay include: MLA formatting (including in-text citations and a Works Cited); consulting the materials that post on D2L under Handouts and Materials; using lots of quotes that you explain and analyze; 1000 words minimum, double-spaced, using Times New Roman size 12 font. note that the Works Cited page will NOT count toward the word requirement.

It should be located in your first paragraph (typically at the end of the first paragraph).

This is not a statement that says: “this is what will discuss.” Rather, it is an argument; in other words, it will concisely sum up your overall point in the paper.

How does the author use it to describe a specific character or situation? What significance does it have to the plot?

Short Writing Assignment

For this writing assignment,  choose a sentence or short passage from The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon OR Romeo and Juliet and explain how it portrays the importance of specific details throughout the story. How does the author use it to describe a specific character or situation? What significance does it have to the plot?

include the sentence or short passage at the top of your page and include a page number if you have one. Your analysis/explanation should follow. Note that your response must be at least one page in length (not including the sentence or short passage) but no more than two pages. A Works Cited page is not necessary.

Note: This should not be just a summary of the sentence/short passage. Provide analysis and offer details.

This piece will automatically be run through . Papers that include any plagiarized material will receive a ‘0.’ Do not consult SparkNotes or CliffNotes or Shmoop or any other online study guide. want your ideas.

Some difficulties you might encounter:

Thinking you have nothing to say: Dig beneath the surface of the sentence or short passage and explore possible connections and interpretations. If you run out of things to say, you probably have not asked enough questions about the text as a whole or done enough active reading.

Bringing in outside information: Do not do research on the text or consult outside sources for this particular writing piece. For this assignment,  interested in your analysis of the sentence or passage/ideas themselves.

Grading Guidelines:

A papers will be those that are exceptional. They will go above and beyond the assignment and demonstrate your mastery of the material.

B papers will be good. You will show competence in completing the assignment and fulfill the assignment completely.

C papers are satisfactory. They will demonstrate your effort on the assignment and will not be lacking any required element.

D papers represent poor work. These assignments meet the requirements of the assignment on a basic level. They may be missing required elements or fail in some other way to fully complete the assignment.

F papers are failing and have not fulfilled the assignment on a basic level.

**Papers containing any degree of plagiarism will have points deducted.*

what is desire? why people desire what they desire? how do psychologists see desire? what is the relation between desire, unconscious, repression, and self-mastery and self-discovery?

Mapping out the history of desire in psychology and existentialism

what is desire? why people desire what they desire? how do psychologists see desire? what is the relation between desire, unconscious, repression, and self-mastery and self-discovery? do the lidinal drives create happiness amd freedom? dig into related concepts like meaning, free will, sex and sexuality, existence..etc

What features of each writer’s work seem to you to correspond with descriptions of the purposes of postcolonial literature?

“Takehome” Final Exam / E F316N/CL S315: Masterworks of Literature: World / Summer 2021 / Prof. Nehring

Use **Microsoft Word,** include **your email address** in your header at the beginning of the paper, and send the essay as an email attachment to **my UT email address, (Don’t use Canvas messaging.)

Instructions:

Your essay should be typed in Microsoft Word and 1000-1250 words in length. (With one-inch margins, that’s about four to five pages.) Treat the essay as a sit-down exam, not a formal paper: gather your materials, give them some thought, and start writing. You should certainly proofread the result, but don’t worry about extensive revision.

An introduction that includes brief definition of key ideas and/or issues and  that expresses your coverage and argument, and 2) clearly defined paragraph topics in the body of the paper.

Note that  expect you to supply evidence of reading—to supply some citation, that is, of the works you discuss—and that you are required to write about the assigned readings from our anthology.

At the same time, don’t pad your essay with quotations, either. Four or five lines of verse or three or four sentences from prose in the course of a paragraph will be fine, provided they are relevant to your discussion.

Those lines and/or sentences do not have to be continuous—in fact, it would be better if your examples came from different places in a work.

A paper with little or no citation cannot receive a grade higher than a ‘C.’

THE ASSIGNMENT:

The exam should concern two of the authors below, whom we have read under the rubric of “postcolonialism.” What features of each writer’s work seem to you to correspond with descriptions of the purposes of postcolonial literature? OR does the writer’s work seem more closely related to one of the earlier “movements” we studied, modernism, the avant-garde, or postmodernism?

NOTE: The extent to which your exam offers comparison-and-contrast of the authors you select is up to you; do as much or as little as you want.

Anna Akhmatova Nadine Gordimer Murakami Haruki Hu Shi Lu Xun Pablo Neruda

Octavio Paz Salman Rushdie Wole Soyinka Derek Walcott

Discuss the characters and the themes that they represent. Why are these characters chosen?Does this cartoon include elements of older stories/fairy tales/legends? Explain.

Children’s movie/television series/cartoon

1. select a children’s movie/television series/cartoon from the list below.
a. Moana
b. Frozen
c. Shrek
d. Gnomeo and Juliet
e. Tangled
f. Coco
g. Ratatouille
h. Finding Nemo
i. Atlantis: The Lost Empire
j. Zootopia (which I selected)
k. Brave

2. Create a ten-minute presentation for the class by incorporating answers to the following questions:

a. Give a brief synopsis (1 slide maximum) of the movie/cartoon and identify the major elements in the plot structure.

b. Identify the conflict(s) in the plot.

c. Discuss the characters and the themes that they represent. Why are these characters chosen?

d. How is the setting (time/place/atmosphere) significant to the development of the plot?

e. Does this cartoon include elements of older stories/fairy tales/legends? Explain.

f. Discuss the moral lessons/messages present in the cartoon/movie.

g. How can these moral lessons be applied in real life?

3. Your ten-minute presentation must also include a brief class activity to ensure that your audience has retained the presented material (ex. comprehension questions, quiz, game).

4. Format: You are encouraged to use a variety of resources to make your presentation more engaging and memorable.

5. Should you choose to use information from external sources, remember to cite ALL sources using the MLA style.

6. Delivery: You will be asked to turn on your camera while you are presenting since  have to assess your eye contact, body language, and readiness as part of your delivery grade.

Required Components
1. Presentation with answers to the required questions
2. Class activity to encourage participation

Marking Scheme
Creativity /10
Delivery /20
Content (including MLA citation, if applicable) /50
Grammar/Mechanics /20

How does the last paragraph in the novel change our entire understanding of the whole story? In effect, what does that paragraph, like colonialism, do to the Ibo people?

Step 1:

Select TWO questions to answer. You will write TWO separate original posts. For each, you will click “Start a New Thread” and put your name and the question number in the subject line. Your original post/answer will take the form a paragraph that directly answers the question, using examples from the text. You are required to include one quote from the text (with an MLA in-text citation) in each original post, to use as evidence of your analysis. MLA in-text citations include the author’s last name and page number if there is one, for example: (Alexie 99). You will post your paragraph when complete, and then repeat the same for the second question you chose to answer. Each paragraph should be a minimum of 150 words long.

1. According to the novel, how does the Ibo culture, and Okonkwo specifically, divide up qualities based on gender, especially strength vs. weakness? Analyze a specific example from the novel to show how gender is applied to concepts other than a person’s biological sex.

2. Look up the word hubris. What does it mean and how does it apply to Okonkwo? Explain the significance of hubris in this novel.

3. Do you know what locusts usually represent in literature? If not, look it up. Now, relate the significance of locusts to this novel. In what way are the locusts in the novel foreshadowing and perhaps ironic. What is their significance?

4. How does the last paragraph in the novel change our entire understanding of the whole story? In effect, what does that paragraph, like colonialism, do to the Ibo people?

Discuss the costs and benefits associated with these ideas using two or more selections.

 

1. Every story and essay in this section of the class deals with the conflict between the real and the ideal. Compare/contrast three of the selections and specifically look at how the characters handle the problems and challenges associated with their identities and situations.

2. Many of these stories and essays are focused on the way American society welcomes or excludes the various Ethnicity that make up our country. Choose three of them and discuss how their characters handle these difficulties.

3. From our laws to our social/moral code, it can be argued that America is obsessed with both the notions of exceptionalism and equality.

Discuss the costs and benefits associated with these ideas using two or more selections.

You are also required to use one outside source to provide additional support for your argument.

Remember that you must include all sources in your works cited page as well as Parenthetically cite them where they appear in your paper.

What ways could an understanding of some of the ancient world’s obsessions help lessen some of the criticisms a modern reader might have toward one or both of these characters?

Ed Ed video on Joseph Campbell’s definition of a hero

1). Watch this short Ted Ed video on Joseph Campbell’s definition of a hero: . Though it’s a little reductive and doesn’t work in every way, use the video to discuss how Gilgamesh satisfies most of Campbell’s characteristics for a classic hero in Western culture. Refer to the video as you want, but don’t worry about direct quotes or citations or a Works Cited page. Just refer to it freely.

2). Explain how The Odyssey is an expression of ancient Greek values.

3). Explain how Oedipus the King could be read as Sophocles’ response to the Sophists.

4). Choose Medea and/or Odysseus and think of how each of them could be criticized for “bad behavior” by modern readers. In what ways could an understanding of some of the ancient world’s obsessions help lessen some of the criticisms a modern reader might have toward one or both of these characters?

Describe the historical events or innovations that characterize the period in which the work was created (suggested length of 1–2 paragraphs).

you will research the work, the life of the author/artist, and the period.

You will then be ready to create your analysis.

This process of analysis will require you to discuss the events or innovations that define the historical period when the work was created, analyze a theme or stylistic characteristic of the period that is reflected in the work, and finally analyze the work’s or author’s/artist’s/composer’s contribution to the humanities.

A. Analyze the accepted work by doing the following:

1. Describe the historical events or innovations that characterize the period in which the work was created (suggested length of 1–2 paragraphs).

2. Analyze how this work reflects a theme or stylistic characteristic from its period (suggested length of 1–2 paragraphs).

3. Analyze the work’s or author’s/artist’s/composer’s contributions to the humanities (suggested length of 1–2 paragraphs).

B. When you use sources to support ideas and elements in a paper or project, provide acknowledgement of source information for any content that is quoted, paraphrased or summarized.

Acknowledgement of source information includes in-text citation noting specifically where in the submission the source is used and a corresponding reference, which includes the following points:• author
• date
• title
• location of information (e.g., publisher, journal, website URL)

C. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.