Hijole

ENGLISH 2220
Paper Assignment # 1

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze a short story. A textual analysis needs an arguable thesis statement and well-selected lines from the story youare analyzing to illustrate your points. Also, when writing about literature, use the present tense and use summary sparingly. Your paper should have a title that specifies the topic, a well-definedthesis asserting an argument you wish to conduct in your paper, organization that flows, and a conclusion that restates or illuminates your subject. The length should be a minimum of approximatelythree pages (1200 words), and although there is no maximum length, for manageability I recommend not exceeding seven pages. Please type your paper using a double-spaced format and one-inch margins.Listed below are possible paper topics. Choose one paper topic from the list, or, if you would like to pursue an alternative topic, please check with me.

DUE DATE: Thursday, February 17, 2011 at thebeginning of class.

1. What attitudes about gender are expressed in any one or two of the following stories: “The Story of an Hour,” "The Yellow Wallpaper," “I Stand Here Ironing,” “Girl,” "A &P," “Araby," “Job History," “Who’s Irish?” or "Shiloh"? What roles are men and women supposed to play within the world of the story? How does the time period or setting affect or limit the optionsavailable to the characters? How does the point of view or narrator affect the response of the reader? (For example, are we inclined to sympathize with the protagonist?) If two of the above storiesseem similar in theme, character or setting, you may also wish to compare and contrast the stories.

2. Explore in depth one short story, which is not assigned during the first half of thesemester. What seems to be the main point or the theme of the story, and what literary strategies does the author draw on to accomplish his or her main point? Look for symbolism, irony (verbal, dramatic...