Instructions

For this essay, respond to one of the prompts below. Your essay should be a well-thought out examination of the topics we have been discussing in class and should be your own response to the work. That means this is not a research paper. Your essay should be based on your thoughts alone.

Requirements

Each essay should be about 700-900 words long, and should be written in MLA format (which means you must document any quotes from the text and include a works cited page). For your response, be sure to discuss at least three works of literature, unless otherwise stated. All essays should be typed and double spaced. Be sure to include specific examples from each text.

Make sure that your paper is attached as a .doc or .rtf file. I cannot open and grade .pages files.

Prompts (Note: These questions should be used as a jumping off point, not necessarily as an outline, and the certainly should not limit your discussion of the general topic in any way.)

1) One of the major themes we have seen emerge this semester has been Man’s struggle against his environment. Why does this become such a prominent theme? Is it simply that nature and the world is hard, or are these writers trying to say something else? Does the environment become a metaphor for something larger? How does fate play into this struggle? (Your discussion should include either Hemingway's or Fitzgerald's story.)

2) Many of the works we have read so far have reflected a theme of isolation. What is it about this period in American Literature that pushes writers to reflect on isolation? Is this isolation always seen as a bad thing (are these meditations or laments)? What are these writers trying to say about isolation? About the individual? Are there any who attempt to resist isolation? How so? (Be sure to discuss at least one Modernist writer as part of this response.)