ENG
215 Essay 3
Due
Tuesday April 7 (This is the only day drafts are accepted. If you do not hand
in a draft, hand in the final on April 14).
Drafts
that are handed in on April 7 will be given back on April 9. Final due April
14.
LATE
PAPERS DO NOT GET REVISION AND LOSE POINTS
USE
TWO OUTSIDE SOURCES (NOT INCLUDING THE TEXT!) AND QUOTE THE PRIMARY TEXTS AS WELL.
Refer
to the class blog for outside source info: eng215spring15.blogspot.com
ONLY
RELIABLE SOURCES!
Pick
ONE of the essay topics below for your paper.
3
pages
USE TWO OUTSIDE SOURCES (NOT
INCLUDING THE TEXT!) AND QUOTE THE PRIMARY TEXTS AS WELL.
1) A tragic hero is, by short
definition, someone who falls because of a tragic flaw and not necessarily
because he is a “bad” or evil person. For this essay, do a character analysis
of Okonkwo and map the ways he is a tragic character.
2) Throughout Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the
role of customs and traditions is incredibly important and decides the fate of
men, women, and children. Some of the customs practiced in this culture would
certainly be frowned upon in the West yet are perfectly acceptable. For this
essay, examine the role of customs and traditions in Things Fall Apart and
consider why these might be important to this culture (for instance, think
about how they all have to do with the natural world and natural
forces—appropriate since they live in the open and are prone to threats).
3) Throughout Things Fall Apart there is a tension
between what the supernatural world means and the differences in viewpoints on
this matter are the prime source of conflict outside of issues stemming from
Okonkwo's character flaws. For this essay, you will want to find examples of
differences in opinion on supernatural matters and how this tears the community
apart.
4) Explain the complicated role
of women in this novel (think about how they have limited roles in the
community but are often seen as gods in the supernatural sense).
5) We discussed the last
paragraph of the novel (also the last paragraph of chapter 22) and how it
defines the central issues with colonialism. For this essay, explain how we see
this at play in the novel.
6) Explain how religion plays a
role in “Heaven is Not Closed.” How does the colonists beliefs cause problems
with the tribe?
7) What does the fact that
there is a place for women who kill their husbands exist on “The Collector of
Treasures” say about the culture of that time?
8) Compare how the effects of
colonialism/imperialism is displayed in Things
Fall Apart, “The Collector of Treasures” and “Heaven is Not Closed.”