World Literature I – Final Paper Assignment
The final paper demonstrates to me that you can analyze a literary text and understand the historical and cultural context in which it was written. For your final paper, write one well-crafted essay about one of the reading assignments covered in this course. This assignment is worth a possible 100 points.
You can do one of the following two options:
• Address one of the essay prompts that I provide at the end of each unit
• Come up with your own an essay prompt to answer for your paper
You will be evaluated according the following criteria:
• Thesis and Focus
• Critical Thinking / Literary Analysis
• Knowledge of Literary Context
• Organization of the Paper
• Citation and Documentation of Your Sources
• MLA Formatting
• Grammar, Mechanics, and Clarity of the Writing
Assignment Guidelines
Please do the following for your final paper:
• Develop fully. The paper must be a minimum of 1,200 words, not counting the Works Cited page.
• Cite in the text at least one primary source (one literary work) and one scholarly article (secondary source) that offers reliable, relevant information on that literary work.
• Have a clear thesis statement, which should be underlined.
• Should display critical thinking through analysis, or interpretation, of the text. Do not write a lengthy plot summary or book report.
• Quote at least once directly from the literary text in the paper.
• Accurately discuss the text as well as its historical and cultural context, which is used to help interpret the work.
• Display a clear organizational plan, which includes a title, introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Body paragraphs should have clear topic sentences and transitions for clear flow.
• Use MLA format and include proper in-text citations and a Works Cited page with entries for all sources both primary (the literary work) and secondary (research).
• Proofread carefully for errors in grammar, punctuation, standard usage, and clarity. Follow the conventions of Edited Academic English.
• Display clarity in sentence construction and word choice, and avoid unnecessary wordiness or inconsistencies that may disrupt clarity. The overall tone should be formal and professional and follow all of the conventions of academic writing.
• Use literary present tense in discussing and describing the text.
• Avoid plagiarism. Be aware that the paper will be run through SafeAssign that will check for plagiarism.
• Submit the paper via Blackboard by the due date.
Source Requirement
You are required to go outside your textbook for at least one source for this paper. Use only reliable and relevant scholarly articles. Please use the campus library to find scholarly articles. The library has many e-books and databases that you can use for your research and will provide proper and accurate bibliographic information for your Works Cited page. Some of the databases that I recommend you use for research for the Final Paper include the following: Proquest, Literary Reference Center, Literature Resource Center, and the library’s e-book collections.
Plagiarism Alert!
Do NOT plagiarize. No copying or pasting off the Internet. I know there are a lot of websites available with papers on the works we have covered in class and you may be tempted to take from those sites because you like how someone else phrases a point or puts an idea. Avoid the temptation of copying and pasting. Do honest work.
I will be running electronic copies through a program called SafeAssign that will catch plagiarism of all types. If you are caught blatantly plagiarizing in any place in your paper, you will automatically receive a failing grade. It is simply not worth it.
Submission
The paper is due by the date indicated on the syllabus to qualify for full credit. The paper file should be uploaded to Blackboard under the assignment link for the assignment. Do not simply copy and paste your response into the Assignment submission field. Your paper should be ideally be formatted in DOC / DOCX format in order for me to open it. If I cannot open the file, I cannot score the assignment and thus I will be forced to assign a zero score for the essay.
Remember to e-mail me or send me a text through if you have any questions about the essay. I will send back replies as soon as possible. I will even be willing to look over rough drafts as long as you ask me specific questions about what areas you need me to look over and on which you need feedback.
Possible Essay Questions for Final Paper
For your Final Paper, you can choose to write at least one of the reading assignments you had this semester. Here are a few essay questions that you might choose to address in your essay or you can come up with one on your own:
The Iliad Questions
1. The Iliad begins and ends with Achilles interacting with a king. Compare and contrast the scenes between Achilles and Agamemnon in Book I and Achilles and Priam in Book XXIV. Why do you think Homer begins and ends the story with these scenes?
2. Analyze conflict in the story, particularly Achilles’ conflicts. Are Achilles’ conflicts primary external or internal?
3. What does it mean to be “heroic” in the Iliad? How does honor and glory factor into this?
4. What does the Iliad seem to say about excessive pride? What does it lead to? What are its ultimate consequences?
5. Hector and Achilles have striking similarities due to the fact that they are their armies’ best warriors, but their differences characterize them the most. Compare and contrast these two characters – Hector and Achilles. What are their similarities and differences?
6. The gods in the story may be powerful, but they have limitations. Analyze the story in light of this. What does the story reveal are the limitations of the all-powerful gods?
7. What is the nature of the relationship between gods and mortals in the Iliad? Do humans or the gods ultimately have control over human affairs?
The Aeneid Questions
1. Both Aeneas and Dido are leaders for their people. Compare the two leaders. Which of them is a more honorable character in terms of leadership? Why?
2. Aeneas is clearly meant to be a role model, but he is not perfect. What are his character flaws and how do they contribute to the overall theme of the story?
3. Is Aeneas truly a strong hero who is faithfully dedicated to his mission or is he so weak-willed that he needs the gods to keep him on track? Does Aeneas have any free will or does he just blindly follow authority? Which characterization of Aeneas is more accurate?
4. The ancients had a strong belief in fate and it shows in this story. What role does fate play in the story of Aeneas? Explain your answer.
The Inferno Questions
1. Explain how a contrapasso works in the Inferno by looking specifically at least three specific groups of sinners. Select at least 3-4 types of sinners from any of the nine circles and explain fully how specific contrapassos works by examining the specific punishments. Specifically explain how specific punishments are counter-penalties to specific sins and what Dante might be trying to say about the act of sinning itself. Note: Go beyond the literal and look for a metaphorical message in the contrapassos.
2. Analyze the character of Virgil, particularly in his types of lessons and methods of teaching. What types of lessons does he teach Dante and is he effective in teaching those lessons? When considering evidence for this question, use specific instances in the text in which Virgil does more than just guide Dante through Hell.
3. Dante starts Hell out with the sins of incontinence, then the sins of violence, and finally the sins of fraud – from bad to worse to worst. Explain the three main categories of sins, according to Dante. Why does Dante put the three categories of sins in these three main categories and in that particular order? What primary criteria does Dante use to categorize and justify his order of sins? Note: Do not simply give a plot summary of the story in the order in which they appear in the story. Explain why the sins are in such categories and such order.
The Canterbury Tales Questions
1. If the Parson is the model of a good clergy member, what about the Prioress, the Monk, and the Friar. Compare each of them to the Parson. What is are the other clergy members lacking exactly? What statements is Chaucer making about the clergy by having readers make this comparison?
2. Focus on at least three pilgrims in the General Prologue with significant portraits. How does Chaucer use seemingly innocent details about the pilgrims to satirize the pilgrim? What satirical comment is Chaucer making about this pilgrim and/or his or her class? Note: Don’t just describe the pilgrims. Make sure to discuss the underlying satirical messages.
3. What characteristics differentiate ideal pilgrim from non-ideal pilgrims in the General Prologue? What do the ideal pilgrims have in common that differentiates them from the non-ideal pilgrims? Note: Make sure to discuss the specific pilgrims in detail.
Thousand and One Nights Questions
1. In Thousand and One Nights, Shahrazad comments on the true nature of justice. Analyze Shahrazad’s message about justice. What is Shahrazad saying specifically about how one should punish wicked deeds and handle those who do wrong? In your answer, make sure to address at least one of Shahrazad’s specific stories dealing with the concept of justice.
2. Thousand and One Nights deals with gender stereotypes primarily, particularly those involving women. Look at the conflicted issue regarding the stereotypes of women in the story, both the prologue and Shahrazad’s stories in Thousand and One Nights. How does Shahrazad address and handle this issue in her stories? Why does she handle the issue in this manner? Make sure in your answer to address at least two specific portrayals of women in the story.
3. In Thousand and One Nights, Shahrazad also comments on the proper and improper uses of a king’s power. Analyze Shahrazad’s representations of Shahrayar and/or other representations of leadership in her stories. What is Shahrazad saying specifically about what makes a good or bad ruler? In your answer, make sure to address at least one specific representation of Shahrayar in Shahrazad’s stories.
The Tale of Genji Questions
1. The prose of The Tale of Genji is enhanced by brief poetic moments that reflect the subtle nature of human interaction. Look at least three specific moments in which Genji or other characters exchange dialogue in the form of short poems (at least three poetic moments – a poem and then its response). How do these brief poetic exchanges enhance the narrative and what role do they play in the way that characters communicate with each other? Make sure to address specific poetic exchanges (poem and then response) and make sure to give context to each situation.
2. In The Tale of Genji, Genji is a complex protagonist who is often accused by readers of simply being a womanizer. Defend Genji against this charge. How does Murasaki Shikibu characterize Genji? How does he display both positive and negative characteristics? Why do you think the author chose to characterize Genji this way? Make sure to address at least three specific characteristics of Genji and specific moments in which he portrays these characteristics.
3. The story of The Tale of Genji displays some key concepts related to Japanese aesthetics, most
4. especially the concept of mono no aware, or “pity of all things.” We might call this evanescence. Analyze the story in terms of this concept of impermanence and fragile beauty. How does this aesthetic shape the story overall, affect the poetic exchanges, and perhaps explain the motivations of characters? Note: This question asks you to look more broadly at the story overall as well as look at specific moments in the story.
The Prince Questions
1. Some would say that Machiavelli teaches people how to be evil and immoral. Is this an accurate statement? Why or why not?
2. Machiavelli makes some very broad statements about human nature in The Prince. How would Machiavelli describe the average human being in his writing?
3. Analyze Machiavelli’s use of rhetoric in The Prince. What appeals does he use and why might these appeals be effective for his purpose?
4. Many people who read The Prince agree with his assessment of leadership. Do you see any flaws in his argument?
Othello Questions
1. In Othello, Iago can be considered a stage Machiavel, a character who embodies the principles of Machiavelli in The Prince. Do some research on The Prince and pay attention to the characteristics of a Machiavellian prince. Is Iago the ideal Machiavellian “prince?” Why or why not? Make sure to address specific Machiavellian principles and specific moments in the play in which Iago either reflects or does not reflect these principles. Note: It would be wise to cite The Prince for this paper.
2. Iago is sometimes called the finest villain that Shakespeare had ever written. However, make an argument defending Iago against critics who see him as simply an evil, deceiving villain. How might Iago not be single-handedly responsible for Othello’s downfall? How can he be seen as “honest,” too? What specific mitigating factors might help defend him?
3. What makes Cassio, Emilia, and Roderigo essential to understanding the major characters of the play? How might these supporting characters be dramatic foils for the three major characters – Othello, Desdemona, and Iago? What do they specifically reflect of these characters? Make sure to address all three supporting characters in your essay.
4. Some would argue that the conflicts in the play result from characters becoming isolated from each other and their society. What does the play say about this theme of isolation? Which characters are isolated and what effect does isolation have on them? What specific evidence is provided that isolation has played a factor in their successes or failures?
5. Critics often point out that Othello is trapped between “appearances and reality” and that is a central theme of the play. What does this phrase “appearances versus reality” mean in this play and how is Othello specifically “trapped” between them? What specific characters, settings, or other elements in the play represent either side – either “appearance” or “reality?”
6. Many readers are confused by Desdemona’s seeming passivity in her death and see her as simply a tragic victim by the end of the play, completely changed from her first appearance. Analyze the character of Desdemona. How might she be seen as a strong or weak character whose specific choices and decisions can be seen as either admirable or pitiful?
The Aeneid Questions
Both Aeneas and Dido are leaders for their people. Compare the two leaders. Which of them is a more honorable character in terms of leadership? Why?
Aeneas is clearly meant to be a role model, but he is not perfect. What are his character flaws and how do they contribute to the overall theme of the story?
Is Aeneas truly a strong hero who is faithfully dedicated to his mission or is he so weak-willed that he needs the gods to keep him on track? Does Aeneas have any free will or does he just blindly follow authority? Which characterization of Aeneas is more accurate?
The ancients had a strong belief in fate and it shows in this story. What role does fate play in the story of Aeneas? Explain your answer.