Remember to apply the strategies of analysis, writing, and formatting explained in the Study Guide and in the assigned sections from Janet E. Gardner’s Reading and Writing About Literature. Be sure to remain conscious of the feedback that your tutor provided on your first essay in order to improve your writing and argumentation. Your tutor will be happy to discuss any questions that arise as you prepare your essay.
When you have completed Essay 2, submit it to your tutor for marking and feedback using the online drop box. Essay 2 is worth 25% of your total course grade.
Topics
Choose one of the topics below, and write an essay of approximately 1000 words that develops an analytical argument (the final word count, not including the mandatory works cited list, must fall within the range of 900 to 1100 words). If you wish to change one of the topics below or create your own topic, please discuss your idea with your tutor before proceeding.
1. Explain how the setting contributes to the larger themes in any two assigned short stories.
2. Discuss the significance of the narrative point of view in any two assigned short stories.
3. Compare the function of the diary in “The Yellow Wallpaper” with the function of the father’s books in “The Boat.”
4. Analyze how the representation of illness and medical practice relates to the larger themes in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Squatter.”
5. Discuss the representation of cross-cultural tensions in two of the following: “Borders,” “Squatter,” “Two Kinds,” “The Loons,” “Araby.”
6. Analyze the treatment of race in two of the following: “Borders,” “Squatter,” “The Loons.”
7. Analyze the representation of gender in any two assigned short stories.
8. Explain how the use of irony contributes toward larger ideas in any two assigned short stories.
9. Compare the concept of home in two of the following: “Borders,” “Squatter,” “Why I Live at the P.O.”