Interpreting Global Literary Texts with a Focus on Multiculturalism
Directions:
Write a 7-8 page literary interpretation paper, in 12 point standard font with one inch margins, using at least FI
selected readings throughout the semester. The readings are:
The Tain
The Wife of Bath
One thousand and one nights
The Illiad
The tale of Osiris and Isis
Use a general theme that you feel exists in all of your 5 chosen works. THE THEME IS THE ROLE AND POW
WOMEN IN HISTORY AND IN DIFFERENT CULTURES. Trace this theme throughout your global works, and
important, have a multicultural purpose for doing this.
For example: If you choose the theme that defines a hero as someone who defies societal structures like government, religi
tradition, then you should analyze, through the use of your interpretations of the 5 global texts, if your definitio
hero can be applied to the different cultures that produced each work. Discuss the culture as you discuss the
relation to your theme.
Use your detailed discussions of texts as specific examples of cultural heroes throughout a larger discussion o
your theme of a hero changes or remains the same within the different cultures. Be sure to tie the paper toget
a multicultural focus on your theme.
Also, very important, the vast majority of your paper must be an interpretation of the works, which means I do
you to simply summarize the events of the poem, short story, or play. I have read all the works, so I know the
want your unique interpretation on what the hidden meanings of the works are.
You also need to include at least three researched literary interpretation sources. You can find these on the on
academic journals provided by the UMC library, or you can obtain them from general online sources, as long a
approved their credibility. I suggest you know your personal interpretations intimately before you start looking
critics’ interpretations, so that you won’t be swayed by their opinions.
You should use these interpretations throughout your paper to either support a point that you are making, or to
how a critic’s interpretation is short-sighted, and how yours is superior.
Sources to use:
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-canterbury-tales/section8/
https://www.bl.uk/medieval-literature/articles/female-soveraynetee-in-chaucers-the-wife-of-baths-prologue-and
https://www.gradesaver.com/the-t%C3%A1in/study-guide/summary
https://www.gradesaver.com/the-arabian-nights-one-thousand-and-one-nights/study-guide/summary
https://courses.bowdoin.edu/arabic-2350-spring-2019/gender/dangerous-women-gender-themes-in-one-thous
one-nights-and-the-odyssey/
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/iliad/summary/
The Tale of Osiris and Isis
https://www.ancient.eu/article/143/the-gifts-of-isis-womens-status-in-ancient-egypt/