You will choose only ONE of the available pieces below & answer only ONE of the available questions in the form of a 4+ minute video presentation. Again, ONLY ONE QUESTION FOR ONE PIECE. That’s it.
Jericho Brown’s “Say Thank You Say I’m Sorry”
1. What is it that Jericho Brown wants us to say “Thank You” & “I’m Sorry” for? Please explain. Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
Jamiaica Kincaid’s “Girl”
Girl_by_Jamaica_Kincaid.pdf
1. Why would the “mother figure” in this story speak to her daughter in this manner? Explain what you believe are her motivations. What is she trying to achieve? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants”
Hemingway_Hills+Like+White+Elephants.pdf
1. The reference to “White Elephants” is crucial to this story. Explain why & how. How does it apply? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
2. One of the clever mechanisms that Hemingway uses in this story having his characters speak in “code.” Throughout the entire piece, they never say what they truly feel. Why does he do this? What does it say about the nature of their relationship? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
3. Many consider Hemingway’s story to be FEMINIST. Do you agree? Why/how? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
John Updike’s “A & P”
UpdikeAP.pdf
1. Explain how this particular short story explores the idea of socio-economic divisions & the reasons behind them (Example: Rich vs Poor, Small town vs. Big City). How does the story show it? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
2. This story is considered a classic “coming-of-age story.” As discussed in class, the critical moment in stories like this is when the character makes the transition from innocence to the “real world” & many times it happens via conflict or violence. When does this happen for the main character & why? How do you believe it changed him? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
Dorothy Allison’s “Jason Who Will Be Famous.”
AllisonJasonWhoWillBeFamousComplete.pdf
1. When most people dream of becoming famous, they envision themselves becoming athletes or music/film stars or famous business people and/or inventors or creators. Why then does Jason only envision himself becoming famous through the experience of TRAUMA? By being abducted & kept locked inside a basement for months? Why do you think he believes that’s the only way for him to become famous? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story and interview to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
2. Considering that Jason fits the profile of the “unreliable narrator,” how does this unreliability affect the way you understand the story? Do you believe Jason? Does anything (or everything) need to be questioned due to his unreliability? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story and interview to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
3. Do you see parallels between Jason’s obsession with fame, his twisted fantasy & contemporary society today? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story and interview to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird.
1. Explore the relationship between Lady Bird & her mother. How does it affect Lady Bird? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story and interview to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
2. During the lead up to the film’s release, the film’s writer/director, Greta Gerwig, stated that more “coming-of-age stories” told from a female perspective need to be shared with the world. Why? Because unlike the traditional male coming-of-age story which centers on the idea of obtaining something, she claims that female coming-of-age stories focus more on the idea of “letting go.” So, with that in mind, what is it that Lady Bird has to “let go”? Make sure to develop a focused analysis that makes a point and uses evidence (quotes) from the story and interview to illustrate and support. Don’t just simply make a list of examples.
Important Things to Remember:
- Analyzing any work of literature involves making an argument: You must make a claim (thesis) and support it with specific evidence, details, and examples from the text — this means your analysis MUST include quotations from the texts to be successful. Only with careful attention to detail, solid evidence, and careful reasoning will you persuade.
- Make sure your video responds specifically to the question you’ve chosen.
- A clear position. Are you specific? Does your video follow that claim all the way through to the end? No deviations. No rambling. No “freestyling.”
- Have MULTIPLE examples & quotes to defend your position.
*A NOTE ABOUT PLAGIARISM:
DON’T DO IT. Please review the course policy and definition of plagiarism included in the course syllabus. Plagiarism results in failure of the course. There are no exceptions to this course policy.
*Be sure to organize your thoughts ahead of time, but do not record yourself reading a paper. This video is private (only I can see it), but think of it as a product that best represents you and the best of what you can accomplish.
A five minute speech can range between 600 – 900 words depending on the speaker’s pace.
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