Eng 3UIFormal Literary Essay: Topics
Objectives:to arrive at an original idea for a formal literary essay
to formulate a thesis about the play or novel
to build appropriate supporting arguments
to follow the MLA format accurately
to use, integrate and analyze quotations effectively
Length of Essay:4-6 pages, typed, double spaced
Due Date:_Monday, June 4; includes all rough work, drafts, outline sheets, edited in-class material
Topics: Select one topic from Macbeth or one from your literature circle choice
Macbeth
1. Lady Macbeth, as the play is more appropriately called
2. Is Macbeth Bellona’s play? (requires some research on the mythology of Bellona, internet or book)
3. The use of contrast to establish characters
4. Equivocation in Macbeth (Equivocation is the use o f ambiguous expressions with attempt to deceive thelistener)
5. Macbeth: A primer for GI Joe/Jane?
6. Macbeth as a tool for the rehabilitation of murderers and other prisoners. (requires some research into the rehabilitation of prisoners, internet or book)
7. Macbeth as a victim of women
8. Macbeth as a play which establishes a feeling of waste
9. Dramatic irony and Macbeth
10. Macbeth as a study of kingship
11. Black and Red as the colours/images
OR one from the selection below
Alchemist
1. A case for a new age theology
2. A feminist literary criticism
3. What is the good life according to Coelho?
4. A treatsie on the troubles affecting the world today.
Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
1. The Apprenticeship of Yvette
2. Social criticism of Canadian society? (requires knowledge or some reading from a history textbook about the late 40s, early 50s)
3. Are the ideas in Lenny Kravitz`s songs affirmed or negated in Duddy Kravitz? (select 3 songs from Kravitz)
4. Does Duddy Kravitz perpetuate or deconstruct stereotypes of Jewish-Canadian communities?
5. Is Duddy Kravitz a misogynist pig?
6. Duddy Kravitz: Shaped by historical experiences? (requires knowledge or some reading from a history textbook about major events/trends in post-WWII Canada)
7. Duddy Kravitz as the urban-rural clash of civilizations?
8. Women as weaklings or pillars of strength in Duddy Kravitz?
9. The use of symbols in Duddy Kravitz
10. Donald Trump: Inspired by, and or rooted in the life of Duddy Kravitz? (requires some biographical research on Donald Trump, book or internet)
11. Duddy Kravitz and capitalism: source of power or enslavement?
Colour Purple
1. Defining Black Feminism
2. Perpetuating or deconstructing stereotypes of Black American culture?
3. Shug and Pippi as sisters-in-arms? (requires some reading of the original Pippi story)
4. Celie: shaped by mad men?
Great Gatsby
1. It really is the despicable Gatsby.
2. What is wrong with America? Fitzgerald has answers.
3. The Great Gatsby: Expose on the sins of American culture.
4. Marxist literary criticism
5. A party platform for the Democrats?
Kite Runner
1. A guide for Canada’s soldiers in Afghanistan?
2. A glimpse into a prelude to genocide?
3. Is becoming a man a trap or liberation from childhood?
4. Virtues or vices in Afghan culture?
5. Where is the root(s) of the violence?
Lovely Bones
1. Sebold’s Heaven: Salvation or Suffering?
2. Women as weakling or pillars of strength?
3. A study of strength in a traumatized family?
4. Young love vs. seasoned (married love).
Lullaby for Little Criminals
1. Who is responsible for the plight of Baby?
2. Lullaby as a treatiseof the failed welfare state.
3. Lullaby as a source for a political party platform.
4.Lullaby: what makes girls take to prostitution?
Steps and process due dates
You have the following handouts and example:
Skill #6 Introductions: instructions on the handout
Example on handout
Example from class with visual (bulls eye and thesis)
Example from documentary film
Examples from tests
Anatomy of a Paragraph: instructions on the handout
Example on the handout with visual (handshake-Q-magnifying glass)
Examples from the tests
All skill sheets and the anatomy of the paragraph are posted on my webpage: Academics-English Department-English Teachers at WCI-Bro Latour-Eng 3UI or at
Week of May 14-18, Brain Storming, Skill #11
Week of May 22-25, Paragraph organizing
Thursday, May 24, Paragraph plans due for review/edit
Monday May 28, Introduction due for review/edit
Week of May 28-June 2, Writing Essay, Conclusions Skill #12, Formatting Skill #13
Monday, June 4, Essay due