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Essay Instructions: Love in Shakespeare: Final (Comparative) Essay
Percentage of Grade: 30%
Due date: December 9, 2011 via LEA
Length: 1250 words
DOUBLE SPACED, stapled, no plastic folders of any kind (seriously).
Instruction: Choose one of the following nine (sub-)topics as the basis for a comparative analysis of two of the plays by Shakespeare we studied this term: King Lear, Troilus and Cressida, and/or The Winter?s Tale; the (sub)-topics are organized by more general categories ? imagery, character, scene?

Imagery Character Scene Analyses

sexual Female Figures ?The Trial? in
religious Fools (Rogues and Rascals) Lear &
*nature Winter?s Tale
*animal
disease/medicine

A ninth option for the final essay is a discussion of several of Shakespeare?s sonnets ? those posted on the Class Forum in LEA. No, three sonnets are not enough to compare. The discussion of sonnets needs to be based on a common theme or set of imagery/dominant metaphors in the sonnet sequence; the paper is NOT a ?sonnet analysis x 3 = 3 paragraphs? kind of thing, but rather a sophisticated and organized discussion of thematic/imagistic/symbolic aspects of some of the sonnets (not a detailed discussion of all sonnet features in every case). You?ll probably need to consider at least 6 sonnets to do a proper job with this topic. It is up to you to determine a basis of comparison: theme, imagery, ?character? ? but not form, since all Shakespeare?s sonnets are formally the same.

NOTEs:
*?Animal? imagery can be distinguished from ?nature? imagery in some plays in order to narrow your topic/thesis; in other plays, ?animal? can be included as ?nature? imagery.
The topics on imagery should include discussion of the function of such imagery in the play (i.e., to reveal themes) and involve detailed analyses of specific uses of imagery throughout the chosen plays.
The topics on character should involve a discussion (an argument) about the (thematic) function of the chosen characters. You will need to discuss two characters (from two plays) ? not all the females or ?fools/rogues/rascals?; that would not allow for detailed analysis of texts.
?The Trial? scene analyses is an exceptional topic in which you are required to discuss the various aspects of specific scenes in King Lear and The Winter?s Tale. You should discuss such things as character (function), theme(s), imagery (function) and irony in both scenes. While Lear and Winter?s Tale involve different issues, the ?trials? are comparable in the sense that both are supposed quests for justice and truth.


It has to be from the books and less the net, and the teacher likes to hahve a lot of quotes fro the book with the page and line number. its demanding a comparative essay and it has to be a normal essay not too complicated because its not a university essay it is for a english College class !! Also english is my 2nd language but i still get help for my essays..
thanks!

Essay Instructions: Explore the differences between Chaucer??s Troilus
and Criseyde and Shakespeare??s Troilus and Cressida, and explain how Shakespeare??s rendition functions as an interpretation of and commentary on both Chaucer and Homer

Essay Instructions: Discuss the issue of insanity (psychological impairment, senility, madness, feigned madness, criminal insanity, mental instability, lunacy, etc.) in at least two characters from each of the following plays: Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, and either A Midsummer Night's Dream or Troilus and Cressida. Discuss each characters purpose in his or her play, how their disorder manifestation, and analyze Shakespeare's purpose in including characters with such mental illnesses. (Why are there so many mad people in his plays?)

The essay needs to include at least 6 scholastic sources to substantiate ideas raised in the paper. Although, not every idea needs to be cited (original conclusions and interpretations should be made as well).

The paper needs to be well organized with a strong, clear thesis.

Essay Instructions: The paper is to be on one Greek myth and one post-classical (after 400 AD to current day) reuse of it. This paper has two parts, part one focuses on the myth as the Greeks knew it. Be concise in the synopsis of what the ancient''s production of this myth was.
Part two is the more important part, the discussion of the post-classical reuse of the original Greek myth. The reuse may be of any later period: Mediaeval, Renaissance, Seventeenth Century, Eighteenth Century, Romantic Victorian, Modern. It may be a reuse in literature, drama, painting, film etc. THE ONLY TOPIC NOT ALLOWED IS A COMPARISSON OF HOMER?S ILIAD WITH SHAKESPEARE?S TROILUS AND CRESSIDA. Give an interpretive analysis of the reuse, including a comparison and contrast with the ancient version of the myth.
Be sure to start of your paper with an introduction that fully identifies your topic: the ancient myth and the reuse of choice. For the reuse, give her the date of composition, production, place of origin, name of artist, etc. Don''t be vague. Also, end your paper with a paragraph of conclusion, one that restates your topic and summarizes your development.