English essay
Description
Essay 1: Applying Theories to Literature Theorists & Course Readings: Aristotle’s Poetics & Rhetoric Horace’s “The Art of Poetry” Longinus’s On the Sublime Dante’s “Letter to Can Grande” Assignment: Select a piece of literature. Write a paper in which you respond to a piece of literature by applying the literary theories to explain the writing. Apply the works of three of our figures—from Aristotle, Horace, Longinus, and Dante—to respond to the literature. Use their words and concepts to critically and interpretively respond to the literature. Write at least one paragraph for each theorist. Use quotations from their work. Thinking about the assignment: Choose a piece of literary fiction. A poem or short story will work best. It can be one we’ve used in class (such as McCrae’s poem, “Flanders Fields,” or Chopin’s short story, “Story of an Hour”) or one of your own choosing. Use the work of Aristotle, Horace, Longinus, and Dante to critically respond to the piece of literature. According to their writing, how would three of these figures approach the literature? What would they have to say about the poem or story? Using their theories, what claims could you make about the piece of literature? Demonstrate and explain your ideas. Writing: For the opening of the paper, announce the poem or story and briefly explain the writing. Make claims about the theoretical responses to the piece of literature (your poem or story). Connect these into an overall argument. (Approx. one thesis paragraph). Next, in the body paragraphs, apply the theorist’s work in a response to and an interpretation of the literature. Be sure to use quotations. (At least one paragraph for each theorist) Finally, offer a conclusion that restates the topic and finishes your overall argument. Use MLA format. Page length requirement: 3-5 MLA pages
