English 102 Essay Two
Choose one of the following topics and write a well-developed two to three page essay.
- In “A Rose for Emily” and “The Cask of Amontillado,” analyze the authors’ use of symbolism. Explore the importance of each symbol to the overall story and discuss how the symbolism adds to or takes away from the effectiveness of the story. Include citations from the story where necessary.
- Discuss the effect of the narrative point of view in Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby” and Glaspell’s “Trifles.” Include the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen point of view and comment on how it adds to and/or takes away from the overall effectiveness of each story. Use examples of the text where applicable.
- “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” and “Everyday Use” are about family, heritage, and identity. Choose at least one character from each story and examine how each approaches these three issues. Provide specific examples from the story to back up your opinion.
English 102 Essay Two
- Using “The Necklace” and “Barn Burning,” give a character analysis of a dynamic character or characters in each story. Show exactly how those characters change, grow, and develop. Provide examples where necessary.
- Discuss the irony found in “The Story of an Hour” and “Sweat.” What sorts of irony make the stories more effective? Examples should be added to support your argument.
- “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” and “The Lottery” are based on the morality or lack thereof of the people in each story. Discuss the theme of morality and how the authors use this theme to attempt to change society. Be sure to cite quotes to help support your thesis.
- Using The Misfit and the grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and Mrs. Turpin in “Revelation,” explore these three characters’ views of religion. Be sure to cite examples from the story.
English 102 Essay Two
- Discuss the way “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Lesson” gives us insight into the inner life of the protagonist. You will need to describe examples of this inner life (explain the examples), and then discuss what these examples together reveal about each character.
Some things to remember while writing your paper:
- No first or second person should be used.
- There should be at least one quote per paragraph.
- Internal citations and a Works Cited pages should be included. MLA format should be used for these and formatting.
Remember to avoid plot summary, paragraph your essay, and include an introduction (with a thesis) and conclusion.