Fiction Analysis – Rough Draft
Compose an essay of 750 words in which you offer your interpretation of a literary element (such as character, theme, imagery, or symbolism) in one of the assigned short stories.
Peer Response Questions
By the end of the week, respond to two classmates’ essays, using the following questions:
Does the introduction have an attention-getting opener? Does the introduction give the author and title of the story? Does the introduction have a thesis statement as its final sentence? Does the thesis offer an interpretation that is clear and specific? What are your suggestions for the introduction and thesis?
Is each body paragraph organized around a key point? Do the paragraphs offer support with direct quotations from the story? Are the quotes and examples analyzed and explained? Do you disagree with any parts of the analysis? What aspects of the story are left unexplained? Do you have any suggestions for improving the body paragraphs?
Does the conclusion summarize the main points? Does it have a strong ending that leaves the reader satisfied? Do you have suggestions for improving the conclusion?
Short Stories:
Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”
Scherting, J. (1980). Emily Grierson’s Oedipus Complex: Motif, Motive, and Meaning in Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily.” Studies in Short Fiction, 17(4), 397. https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=7134648&site=eds-live
Gaiman’s “How to Talk to Girls at Parties”
Horton, J. T. (2018). Panic on the Streets of London: Masculine Identity and Homosexual Panic in Neil Gaimans “How to Talk to Girls at Parties.” Midwest Quarterly, 59(2), 217–231. https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hus&AN=127683958&site=eds-live
Kincaid’s “Girl”
Rabea, R. A., & Almahameed, N. A. (2018). Genre Crossing in Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl”: From Short Fiction to Poetry. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 9(3), 157–165. https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1185919&site=eds-live
Updike’s “A&P”
Bezdoode, Z., & Bezdoode, E. (2020). Heroism in the Age of Consumerism: The Emergence of a Moral Don Quixote in John Updike’s “A & P.” Khazar Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, 23(3), 75–85. https://doi-org.su.idm.oclc.org/10.5782/2223-2621.2020.23.3.75
https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hus&AN=150097986&site=eds-live
Walker’s “Everyday Use”
Munir, S. (2017). The Defence Mechanisms and the Core Issues of Dee in Alice Walker’s Everyday Use. Language in India, 17(5), 289–295.
