Description
Choose ANY ONE TOPIC from the long list below and develop a ‘reading response’
A response paper is an analysis of a literary reading. It is similar to an essay in that you need an introduction, but that introduction is NOT a retelling of the story, it is instead a brief paragraph that introduces your thoughts on the prompt topic you choose. The remainder of your response uses examples from the readings, with exposition of why that example works in answering the question.
Reading Response Assignment
What is a reading response?
A Reading Response is not a summary of your reading.
A Reading Response is a way of writing about your thinking about the reading, or your reaction(s) to a reading.
A Reading Response is not a formal paper, but should be well thought-out, fully developed, and carefully written, nevertheless. It should demonstrate not only that you have carefully read the text (or more than one time), but also that you have thought carefully about the text and engaged with it in some way.
Think about not only the text overall, but also smaller sections of it. How does one incident or phrase or symbol echo the larger meaning of the work?
An effective Reading Response will demonstrate that you have thoroughly read and understood the reading (or that you ask questions that reveal thorough reading).
It might develop connections between the reading and the themes of the course or discussions posts and power points / lecture and demonstrate that you have considered the implications of the readings.
Be specific about the parts of the questions you’re discussing, provide details from the text to back up any assertions you may make by quoting directly from the text, and finally, pay attention to grammar and mechanics.
Length and format: Your response needs to be at least two and one-half to three pages. This is not a ‘paper’ no cover page required. Citations: . Please follow the MLA guidelines noted in the Module “MLA Citation Guidelines” . FORMAT Arial 11 pt. with 1 ½ spacing between lines. You will use the Turnitin assignment link on CANVAS to submit the paper.
Beowulf Essay Questions
How do you see a blending of Christianity and Paganism in the poem? How does that inform us regarding Viking/Nordic culture of the time?
Is Beowulf representative of a savior archetype as he rids the world of an ancient evil with human like form
Is much of the representation from the Old Testament?
Why is evil associated with Cain
Why are curses so powerful?
Discuss the nature and importance of Heroic Speech in Beowulf. In your essay discuss these aspects:
Why does association between Beowulf and Hrothgar matter?
How are famous heroes “introduced”
How are the deeds of Beowulf presented in the great Mead-Hall?
How does he answer challenges?
- How do you interpret the Heroic Speeches (aka when/why is it okay to ‘brag’ in Epic stories)
- Discuss the nature and importance of ‘monsters’ in the story of Beowulf. For example sea monsters, dragons and of course, Grendel. Feel free to get creative in your response.
Discuss why the nature of gifts and honors works to hold Warrior society together. What type of gifts are exchanged and what is their importance? How might you interpret such ‘gifts’ in contemporary society?
- Hamlet Essay Questions
- How should the ghost scenes be staged in the first act and later in Gertrude’s closet? How can modern staging practices and new technologies solve potential staging problems? Whom would you cast in the major roles, and why?
Read aloud the first part of the grave digger scene (5.1). Is it funny? Can
you find the rhythms of the joke structure embedded in the lines?
Examine Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy (3.1.56– 89), and identify
the problem that the speech considers. The thesis or action statement comes
near the end. After locating it, see if a similar structural pattern holds true in the at least one other soliloquies.
What is the dramatic climax of the play? How do you justify this
choice? What remains after this moment in the final resolution or
denouement?
- Discuss Polonius’s parenting techniques. How does he help create ripe
circumstances for tragedy? How might you contrast this with Oedipus/Laius? - How would you address the role gender plays in the text? Discuss the place of religion with the play’s dramatic action. Would the
play make sense in an atheistic society? - Discuss the role and impact of madness in the play. Is Hamlet culpable
for the death of Polonius? In playing madness, does Hamlet, in fact,
become mad? - Discuss the role of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. To what extent does
their goal to pluck out Hamlet’s mystery equate to the aims of literary
criticism?
