The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with the process of analyzing a short story (or novel). Along the way, you will also be gaining practice in critical thinking, writing, and research. The key to remember is that this exercise will be as enjoyable as you make it. The process you will follow is:
Choose a story. Remember, most of these can be found online as well.
Read it.
Analyze it.
Go to the library and research the author, the genre, and look for the works of other critics on the author, the story, or the genre.
Prepare study materials for others in the class.
Design and execute a "movie poster" for the story which clearly isolates the main theme of the work.
Choosing a Story:
You may choose from the following:
Edgar Allen Poe, "The Cask of Amontillado p. 149
Kate Chopin, The Storm . P. 108
James Joyce, Araby, p. 295
D.H. Lawrence, The Rocking Horse Winner, p.299
Ernest Hemmingway, Hills Like White Elephants, p. 321
Frank O'Connor, My Oedipus Complex, p. 346
Shirley Jackson, The Lottery, p. 74
Flannery O'Connor, Good Man is Hard To Find, p. 392
Alice Walker, Everyday Use
Toni Cade Bambara, The Lesson, p. 457
Read it.
Analyze it. Determine the narrative components of the story. Isolate its meaning. Look up critical essays written about your story; about the genre of literature your story is from; and about the author. All of these may provide critical insight into the story.
Research it. Head to the library or the Internet and look for supporting material about the story, the author, and the genre. Use the works of others to support your ideas, to encourage discussion or to provide new insight into the text you=ve chosen. Keep copies of your research as you may be asked to provide it to prove that you have correctly cited your paper.
Prepare study materials for the class Provide a TYPED list of study questions for the class. Indicate, to them, the areas and ideas you want them to pay special attention to.
Prepare your paper Your paper should be in the form of an extended 3 to 5 paragraph (in this case the paragraphs will be quite long...in fact this may become a 3 to five SECTION essay) essay (with appropriate graphics) and include the following:
Information about the author (more than the 1 line bio in the lit book!).
Information about the genre.
A plot/narrative structure synopsis.
An explanation of the themes and main ideas of the story.
An identification of the main characters and the archetype they represent.
An analysis of how these elements work together to create the theme.
A movie poster that isolates the theme of the story (I won't grade on quality of art!)
Do more than just recite your answers for these six points. Construct an argument that you are right; develop that argument; and SUPPORT that argument with evidence from your research AND quotations from the text (properly cited in the text and in your bibliography). The more creative and developed your presentation, the higher your grade will be.
What you will turn in to me
Your typed typed paper (written in the format we=ve been using all along.) Include a works cited page!. Be sure to cite your sources in the text as well (footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical...as long as you use the correct form).
What the paper will contain:
The three Body sections will be discussions of:
Author and Genre
Plot and Characters
Conflict and Theme
The paper will contain footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citation (see your handbook or the MLA or APA web sites) as well as a "works cited" page.
To receive a good grade:
1.the paper must be thorough and creative.
2.the poster must be creative.
3.All aspects of your analysis must be addressed.
Plagiarism will result in a failing grade. I will also turn your work and my evidence of your transgression directly over to both the dean of students and the judiciary.