PROMPT: 1) Compare the accounts of enlightenment in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and Dave Eggers’ short story “After I Was Thrown in the River and
Before I drowned.” In the allegory, Plato seems to describe enlightenment as transcendence (leaving the cave and attaining a higher level of knowledge), and
while something similar happens at the end of Eggers’ story (Steven dies and transcends to an afterlife and a higher level of knowledge or awareness),
Steven seems a little underwhelmed by it all, no longer running and even saying he misses his old life. Does Eggers offer a different account of enlightenment
through Steven’s experiences of racing and “floating” over the drainpipe? Is this and Steven’s underwhelmed experience of the afterlife a critique of Plato’s
version of enlightenment? Why or why not?
INSTRUCTIONS:
Compose a paper of AT LEAST 1100 words that include an introductory paragraph (including a thesis statement as its last sentence) and enough body
paragraphs to meet the assignment’s minimum word count requirement. Paragraphs should be at least 5-sentences long. You must include at least one
quote in each body paragraph (quotes are not needed in intro and conclusion paragraphs), and, in the entire paper, at least two quotes from each text. Include
a Works Cited list at the end of your essay (I will provide the citations). NO ADDITIONAL SOURCES!- just use the two readings mentioned in your topic. Strive
to be as grammatically correct as possible and to write clear, logical sentences. This requires a lot of revising/editing/proofreading
Guidelines: Papers must be at least 1100 words, entirely double-spaced, properly formatted (MLA), 12′ Times New Roman font, paragraphs indented, no extra
space between paragraphs
CITATIONS:
Eggers, Dave. “After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned.” Course Handout.
Plato. “The Allegory of the Cave.” Course Handout.