Question Description
For this essay, you will conduct an in-depth analysis of one work of fiction that we have read. You may come up with your own idea for the essay, or you may choose from one of the following prompts:
1. Apply mythological criticism to “The Masque of the Red Death,” “Technicolor,” or Dracula. What does this exploration of myth, allegory, and symbol reveal about the universal themes of the work?
2. Apply a feminist reading to “The Yellow Wallpaper” or “The Eight People Who Murdered Me (Excerpt from Lucy Westenra’s Diary).” What does a feminist reading of the text reveal about gender dynamics and power relations, either historically or through a contemporary lens?
3. What role does the occult play in “The Horror at Red Hook” or “Nethescurial”? Examine the significance of the occult and the particular philosophy invoked by its use in the text.
4. Examine what it means for a house to be haunted using “The Spider,” “Four Haunted Houses,” or “The Yellow Wallpaper.” How can an external haunting reflect a character’s internal experience?
Though your main goal should be an in-depth examination of one text, you may also draw comparisons between other stories we’ve read to aid in the development of your analysis (for instance, you may want to reference Dracula when analyzing “The Eight People Who Murdered Me,” or you may want to discuss “The Masque of the Red Death” in an exploration of “Technicolor”).
Assignment Requirements
*Your essay should be 5-6 full double-spaced pages with 1” side margins, 1” header and footer margins, Times New Roman, 12 pt font.
*Your introduction should offer a thesis that gives your readers a main claim or guiding idea which will be developed throughout.
*Your essay must include direction quotations from the text and should include summary where relevant, to provide context about the story/poem.
*Though you are not required to use outside sources for this essay (the only required source is the text you are analyzing), you are encouraged to consult reference materials and scholarly works and refer to them where necessary. If you do so, you must cite all sources in MLA format.
*Cite all sources in MLA format (in text), in addition to a Works Cited page. Use Purdue OWL (linked on Canvas) to look up proper MLA in-text citations and Works Cited formatting.
*Proofread for mistakes and edit for clarity. Consider paragraph organization and appropriate transitions to lead your reader through your discussion.
