The Literary Research Paper

Writing a research paper over a short story you've read requires that you first read the stories; in this case, you'll need to read "Young Goodman Brown," and "The Things They Carried."  We'll discuss "YGB" in class, then "TTTC."

Following our discussion, you'll receive the topics for research and choose one for which you will create a thesis statement and support from details in the story AND from available resources. The critical essays will come directly from the Literature Resource Center, available online, via Galileo Scholar:
Literature Resource Center

There will be three essays on each story; thus, you will read those essays and use information to support your work. While you are welcome and ENCOURAGED to locate, review, and use other reference material for your research, you will be REQUIRED to use information from each of the critical essays that have been pre-selected.

PLEASE NOTE: The amount of information available on either of these stories or authors can be overwhelming; I have chosen 3 essays on each short story that I believe you can actually use in writing your paper, rather than requiring you to sift through the abundance of sources.  I will also explain anything in those essays you do not understand; however, it will be up to YOU to carefully select and incorporate information into your paper.

We will begin "Young Goodman Brown" in class, Monday, Oct. 1. It is a story altogether fitting for October and Halloween. It has even served as inspiration for a short story by Stephen King.

Topics for Essay #2

Today, Wed., Sept. 26, 2012,  in class, I will answer any questions you may have about the topics and finish the discussion on Poe with the podcast I mentioned yesterday. If you have no questions about the topics and you don't care about Poe . . . then you need not come to class; HOWEVER, YOUR ESSAY WILL BE DUE MONDAY.

TOPICS FOR ESSAY #2: Choose one of the five topics to develop into a thoughtfully essay, supported by specifics from the respective story (stories):

Character Foils:

In literature, a character foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another, perhaps more primary character, so as to point out specific traits of the primary character. Because the two characters display contrasting qualities, the reader is better able to see the unique features of each one.  In some movies and stories, character foils are clearly defined as the antagonist and the protagonist pitted against each other in conflict. In some stories, the character foils share a similar background or goal, but are strikingly different in their perspective or attitude.

1. In what way are Maggie and Dee character foils in Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”? What background do the sisters share? How has that background separated them rather than brought them closer? In what way do their differences toward their mother, their heritage, and the quilts distinguish each sister?

2. In what way does Edgar Allan Poe use character foils in his horrific “The Cask of Amontillado”?  What interests do Montresor and Fortunato share? How do they differ in their actions on the night of carnival as they descend into the catacombs? How does the action of each man lead to the inevitable live burial of Fortunato?

3. In the southern gothic tale of “A Rose for Emily,” how does William Faulkner contrast Tobe with the townspeople of Jefferson in regard to the involvement each has with Miss Emily Grierson?  Which is more direct? Which seems more self-serving?  How does the contrast between Tobe and the townspeople peak immediately after Miss Emily’s burial? What does this reveal about both Tobe and the citizenry of Jefferson?

Setting: 
4. Setting refers not only to the time and place a story takes place in a general sense, but also in a specific sense. The characters in a story are placed in a specific location and situation. While some stories could take place almost anywhere, in other stories setting becomes critically important to the characters and to the events that take place in the story. Indeed, in some stories, if the setting is changed, the events in the characters' lives might not be possible. Discuss the importance of setting in "The House on Mango Street," "Everyday Use," and "The Cask of Amontillado," explaining how the setting itself is critically important to the characters and the events that play out in the course of the story.

Foreshadowing: 
5. Authors often provide readers with clues or hints early on in a story so that they can anticipate the ending. In William Faulkner's story "A Rose for Emily" the reader is not aware of the careful foreshadowing of events until he or she has finished the story. It is only upon a second reading that the one becomes aware of the subtle clues that hint at Miss Emily's insanity and Homer Barron's death.   Identify these clues that Faulkner has placed in his story and explain how each one contributes to the revelation at the end of the story. 

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Analyses of 3 Stories

#1 - "House on Mango Street"
~ Questions
setting & character - "Everyday Use"
theme  & title - "Cask of Amontillado"
symbolism & irony - "House on Mango Street"

#2 - "Everyday Use"
~ Questions
setting & character - "Cask of Amontillado"
theme & title - "House on Mango Street"
symbolism & irony - "Everyday Use"

#3 - "Cask of Amontillado"
~ Questions
setting & character - "House on Mango Street"
theme & title - "Everyday Use"
symbolism & irony - "Cask of Amontillado"

Setting: What is time and the place of the story? Why is this significant? (This is important to all 3 stories)

Character: Who are the primary characters in the story? What motivates each character? Who is the protagonist [the main character]?  How can you tell this is the main character? Who [or what] causes a conflict in the protagonist? What is the conflict?  Is it external? Internal? Both?  EXPLAIN.  How does the protagonist resolve the conflict?

Theme: What is the controlling idea of the story? Could there be more than one theme? [In many cases there can be.]  How can this story relate to modern readers?  Does the story seem plausible?

Title: The title of each story appears in the story itself. What is the significance of the title? In what way does the title anticipate the story?

Symbolism: All 3 stories use symbolism, whether it's a house, a quilt, a coat of arms or something else. Discuss the symbols and what each represents.

Irony: Is there an irony that Maggie ends up with the quilts. Is the nun's behavior ironic? Is it ironic that Fortunato ultimately responds to Montresor with only a jingle of his bells?  Consider these questions and other ironies you find the stories.