1. Identify a character you want to analyze. How do they tell their story? What does your character
prioritize when describing themselves (either to others or to themselves)? How do they tell their
story? Why do they tell their story (under what cues or motivations)? What assumptions do they
make about themselves, the categories they use, those around them, their past/future, etc.? What
effects stem from the way they tell their story? How does their narrative create events or
repercussions or reactions?
To do this well, you want to explore evidence from the character, about the character. Be
imaginative in your evidence and your analysis. Consider not just language, but also setting,
costume, and context to explore how story is told beyond language.
Here are some concepts you can use to explore your character’s method of telling their story.
How do they make use of gender, race, class, family and family relationships, history, trauma,
sexuality, politics, alien/citizen or natural/foreign, justice, or time? (Don’t try to use these all; pick
the one(s) that are most appropriate.)
2. Find evidence in the play for alternatives to that character’s story. What do other characters offer as a
rival narrative, subtle or extreme. Are there elements of the plot that strain your character’s version of
their story? What is distinct from your character’s narrative, and how/why is that important? Again,
think imaginatively about possible pieces of evidence; you do not need to rely on speech alone.
3. Now that you have explored both your character’s method of narrative and potential rivals to that
story, step back to consider Shakespeare’s use of narrative in the late-comedy genre. What can you
say about Shakespeare’s concept of narrative in his Romances? What strategy have you identified,and why might it be useful for these particular kinds of comedies? How do you understand these two
plays, and how does your analysis of narrative at work inform and refine your understanding?
This is a structured essay prompt that helps you model academic writing, one where you move from
detailed analysis to broader claims. There is no need for outside research; this is a close reading essay.
You do not need a substantial understanding of narrative theory’s complexities. We use narrative every
day, so our own experience and having read several Shakespeare plays will suffice. But for the essay to
succeed, you will need to use textual evidence to support your claims. You want to work with specific
detail to move beyond summary to analysis of Shakespeare’s choices and their effects.
Details
The paper needs to focus on one play, either The Tempest or The Winter’s Tale, and on one character. The
paper will be 5 pages long, MLA format. The paper is due April 10, via Blackboard.
Rubric
I will use the following rubric to assess your essays. Please be sure to consult this list as you draft and
revise your work.
• Thesis: does the paper offer a specific and original argument appropriate to the size of the essay; does
the thesis stem from a careful analysis of the character’s narrative and its relevance; does it account for
its effect in the play?
• Organization: is the paper organized well with a clear beginning, middle, and end; does it open with an
adequate introduction and conclude without simply repeating the beginning; are the paragraphs in
proper sequence, and do they build to support the overall argument?
• Detail in language: does the paper examine carefully the character’s choices and alternative narratives;
does the paper’s details offer insight not only into the character, but also the genre broadly? Does the
paper provide specific detail for why those details matter?
• Style: is the essay without grammatical or stylistic errors; does the author cite correctly? Is the essay
insightful, original, and engaging for the audience; has the paper been sufficiently edited?
• Title and Formatting: does the author introduce the essay with an informative and arresting title; does
the title adequately initiate the argument; does the title add to the complexity or nuance of the author’s
argument and approach to Shakespeare’s approach to narrative? Is the paper properly formatted,
including MLA heading and proper textual citations?