Prompts

Prompt #5
 Nov 13, 2011

2002, Form B. Often in literature, a character's success in achieving goals depends on keeping a secret and divulging it only at the right moment, if at all. Choose a novel or play of literary merit that requires a character to keep a secret. In a well-organized essay, briefly explain the necessity for secrecy and how the character's choice to reveal or keep the secret affects the plot and contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. You may select a work from the list below, or you may choose another work of recognized literary merit suitable to the topic. Do NOT write about a short story, poem, or film.

Romeo and Juliet

Kids often keep secrets from their parents about relationships, but whether or not they like it, parents are bound to figure out what is happening.  In The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, these teens, fall into the category of kids, but for good reason.  If they had not felt the need to keep their relationship a secret, there would be no plot, and no love.

Forbidden love is always complicated, especially with parents like those of the couple, Romeo and Juliet. As their love grows for one another, so does their secrecy.  One may think the extent of their action was extreme, considering little time they spent with each other, but there must be some reasoning for everything that happens.  When the Montague and Capulet families feud, it is no wonder, the kids don’t want to let their relationship be known- disloyalty to one’s family would spell trouble.  This secret relationship poses a conflict of divided loyalty between family and so-called- love.

When the secret is known, it is too late, because both families have lost a child. Had the families not hated one another, Romeo and Juliet would not have had to be so secretive, and open marriage between them would not have led to suicide. When these parents realize how deceptive their son and daughter were trying to be, they ask themselves, if their feud is worth the trouble, and decide it is not.

Secrets, can lead to questions, but questions lead to solutions. In Romeo and Juliet, A relationship is revealed to challenge the questionable disgust between two families, resolving the hatred that has caused so much trouble.

Prompt #4
Oct 30,2011


 

1983. From a novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of the character's villainy and show how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

A villain is often depicted as a grown man with a troubled background. , but in the Lord of the Flies, this role is a bit twisted. A young boy, from a steady family, even a leader of the choir, is he antagonist. William Golding uses characterizes Jack as a corrupt leader when catastrophe strikes, to show address the evil nature of seemingly good people, and even children.

When faced with a traumatic event, several boys, strive to gain as much power and control as possible, especially Jack.  Compromising is out of the question with this age group when they have no adult leader, and certain characters fit the role better than others. As in the adult world, one person is desperate for the highest title of power they can earn, and they will do almost anything to get it. Jack, seeing himself as leader of the choir, believes he should also be entitled to leadership of the island.

When Jack does not quite get his own way, and must divide leadership position with others, he is eager to be the “top” of the power pyramid, the last and strongest survivor.  Going out of his way to do so, he is willing to endanger the lives of the younger boys before his own.  Losing sanity, eventually, his emotional and mental status, turn him into a savage.

In any life threating situation, people are likely to change in some way or another, and the boys on the island turned into a dog-eat dog environment, each boy, fighting for power, and more importantly ,their life. One bright boy, a leader, has his innocence ruined by a crash that changes his life.  Always striving for exellance and power, jack went overboard this time, turning into a villain.

Prompt # 3

Oct 16, 2011

1973. An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty. In an essay, discuss the ending of a novel or play of acknowledged literary merit. Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

An ending to one thing, is a beginning to something new.  In books, such as Khaled Hosseini’s, The Kite Runner, the ending to the story, is just the start to a new one.  Before one can fully understand an ending, one must know the beginning. Hosseini uses Imagery, details, and dialogue to tie the closing of The Kite Runner to the opening, with a sense of hope.

 Hosseini’s   imagery conveys that although young Amir and Hassan live together, they display very different attitude towards their lives. Amir, though more powerful, is less courageous and humble than Hassan. In the kite flying competition, the young Hassan willingly acts as a servant to Amir even away from home, after a mission filled with trials, Amir learns how to overcome and accept obstacles as Hassan would, but not until it’s too late to apologize. As an adult, Amir is pictured almost as a servant to Sohrab, though, which shows his change of heart, and re-paying of service.

Running a kite is not as easy a task as it may sound, and this is one of the details Hosseini uses to bring the ending closer to the beginning, with a new mood.  When Hassan is chasing after the prized kite, the reader pictures him, dashing, as fast as his legs will carry him, and when he is abused, the un-repeatable details send the reader into shock from a horror scene.   Each word add despair to the situation, and towards the ending, when Amir and Sohrab fight for their lives against the same abuser, the gruesome details not only cause the reader to feel more sympathy for the victims, but they also help to connect the past and present.

The past seems to repeat itself in Amir’s adult life, but in the closure, it is he who says the haunting line of dedication that young Hassan had said many years before. Just a few words that seemed so trivial to him as a child now carry a message of comfort- one of hope. “For you, a thousand times over,” breaks a barrier between Amir and his nephew.   Hassan may be gone physically, but a part of him will always be with Amir and Sohrab.

Hosseini sends a message of hope-The past may have been dark, but the future may be bright.  He uses imagery, details, and dialogue to come full circle in his closing, that does not provide a fix to Amir’s problems, but gives a glimmer light amongst that dark.

PROMPT #2
Oct 2, 2011

1987. Some novels and plays seem to advocate changes in social or political attitudes or in traditions. Choose such a novel or play and note briefly the particular attitudes or traditions that the author apparently wishes to modify. Then analyze the techniques the author uses to influence the reader's or audience's views. Avoid plot summary.

In the Elizabethan age, women, especially young ladies, were raised and expected to be very submissive.  In many cultures today women are still often viewed as passive, but  many females hold powerful positions people may have never imagined. In order for this to happen, several women have had to take a stand, to take risk, and to make decisions to make change for themselves. This is exactly what Jane Eyre does  in Charlotte Bronte's novel. Charlotte Bronte uses diction and tone that grow in  maturity  to show Jane's growth as a person, along with imagery of Jane's trials to  characterize her as a revolutionary woman.


As a child, Jane has a strong voice, even if it is not heard by others. Defying a young girl's  role to  be "seen and not heard," she addresses her older cousin as a "Wicked and cruel boy" ( Bronte) to his face. When she is punished in the "Red Room," 10 year old Jane does not feel guilty for her actions as an average  ten year old may, rather she assures herself  of the injustice that has been done against her. Although  young Jane has many reasons to feel little to zero  self worth, she comes across to others as if  she had more self-esteem than she should. Even as a child, Jane strives to learn and grow in strength as a person.


When Jane  meets Mr. Rochester and the people serving in his home, she does not let others control her, as men typically controlled women during that time. Jane makes a heart-breaking decision to  leave Thornfield Mansion.  Even after becoming temporally homeless,  resorting to the mercy of anyone who will take her in,Jane does not think less of  herself as a human being. Jane demonstrate self control  and self esteem when she denies her own cousin  of his proposal to her, enforcing the idea she does not need to be with anyone whom  she does not choose. When returning to Thornfield after "hearing" the desperate plea of Mr. Rochester,  she is able to listen to her intuition, her emotions that connect her to her perfect match.


Throughout her life, Jane is challenged by  her surroundings, and she must learn to do what is just, even if it does not feel right, and if if seems to be " out of line". Jane's self-assurance  despite the way her society views her is a model of strength and determination. Bronte's  uses diction  and attidute through charaterization to  show how one women can inspire change in her society, to empower helrself, and those who are willing  be courageoues as she.


Prompt #1
Sep 18,2011

1982. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary.

In criminal court cases,  a detective will always look for a motive. Even killings among strangers are not without a cause. Shows like CSI show how cruel some criminals can be, but not all murders have such premeditated  reasoning.  In Macbeth, the title character  does not kill  out of  hatred, but out of cowardly selfishness.

" It's a dog- eat-dog world" in Macbeth. To gain the title he wants, Macbeth must get rid of anybody and everybody standing in his way. When he is told that he will be Thane of Cawder, he will do just about anything, even kill the king. Although he was not the only one who participated in this evil deed ,he did it out of cowardliness. When  Lady Macbeth questions, his manhood,  he then is pressured to do follow the plan. Sadly, this demonstrates one of his weaknesses : giving into the words of his wife, in the name of becoming becoming king.

Unfortunately, along the way, Macbeth  makes the decision to kill two other men, and worst yet, his friend. Out of panic, he  does this to hide the fact of his first murder.  One violence leads to another, and one lie turns into another. Macbeth never intended any of the chaos to happen, but because of his first choice, he must pay the consequences.

Eventually, even Lady Macbeth feels guilt while sleeping. trying to wash the deeds away, she exclaims " Out you damned spot; I say." But no one will ever be able to leave behind their murderous sins, until they die. Even with remorse, Macbeth and his wife can never erase what has been done , because violence can never be undone. In the end,  Macbeth pays the ultamite consequence for his initial power- hunger, with death.

Macbeth never planned on becoming a "bad guy", but his actions turned him into one. Shakespeare show that greed for power is of human nature, but those who kill for it will pay one way or another. In this case, Macbeth payed with his life. Violence is used to show just how far people are willing to go to get what they may want, even for something temporary,a and once it's done, there is no undoing.