Topics for a Literary Essay

1. Topics for a Literary Essay Using Hamlet as a Guide World Literature

2. Writing About Literature • This course will require you to write an original essay on a piece of Literature (in this case Kite Runner) • You will need to present an argument that should be evident in your thesis • You will not be given a topic; rather you should develop one of your own ideas • This mimics the kind of assignment you may see in a college class or work environment

3. Topics?! • Begin by considering what you found the most interesting in our class discussion, or the questions that you had while reading.

4. Using Hamlet as our model… General Guidelines: You can write about the following topics when you discuss literature. • Theme • Symbolism • Character development • The author • The work in relation to other works • The literary period • The work’s place in the literary tradition • An interpretation • Structure • Adaptation Just to name a few

5. Theme Theme example: Hamlet characterizes a need to reconcile societal expectations and psychological peace demonstrating the dangers of finding neither.

6. Symbolism Symbolism example: Shakespeare includes the references to flowers and vegetation in the play; these create a hope for rebirth in the reader and make the tragic ending more palatable.

7. Character Development Character example: Ophelia and Hamlet’s plots are irrevocably tied; as Hamlet gains clarity and “sanity” in his resolve, Ophelia looses hers suggesting that decisions ending in bloodshed always have collateral damage.

8. Authorial Focus Author example: Although many critics argue that Shakespeare did not write his works, the evidence of broken father son relationships, the character’s names, and the thematic elements clearly prove Shakespeare the author.

9. Comparison Between Works Comparison example: Both Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet deal with issues of forbidden love; however, Hamlet’s later publishing date and pessimistic view of love suggests that the belief in optimistic love wanes with age.

10. Literary Period Time Period example: The plot details in Hamlet parallel the life of King Henry VIII suggesting that Shakespeare wrote the play as a stand against King James and for the then dead Tutor dynasty.

11. Literary Tradition Lit Tradition example: Because Hamlet’s plot includes traditional character archetypes and follows the Aristolin rules for tragedy, it has become a model for other humanist tragedies.

12. Adaptation Adaptation example: Because Zeffirelli’s movie adaptation delays the line “get thee to a nunnery”, the ambiguity of Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is removed displaying a man who is mad for love and not acting for vengeance.

13. Final Points • You cannot simply write what we have already discussed in class. You may begin with an idea from class but you must bring your own argument to it. • NO “SO WHAT?” THESIS STATEMENTS • Think about beginning your brainstorming with a list of elements of the novel that you liked or hated and go from there.