You will accomplish this task by choosing ONE of the following options:
Write about Wells’s The Time Machine (CHOOSE ONLY ONE):
Marxist: In what ways does the relationship between the Morlock and Eloi societies constitute a critique of capitalism, class society, classism, and/or the notion of economic prosperity? (Explore only those concepts you deem of interest.)
Deconstructive: How does the indefinite, unstable, undecidable nature of the Morlock and Eloi relationship complicate our reading of which of them is “oppressed” and which is “oppressor”?
If you’d like to write about Ballard’s High–Rise (CHOOSE ONLY ONE):
Marxist: How does the social arrangement and behavior of the tenants in the high–rise serve as a critique of capitalism, classism, competition, commodification, rugged individualism, and/or repressive economic ideologies? (Explore only those concepts you deem of interest.)
Feminist: As life in the high–rise evolves, what gender roles emerge among the men and women living there?
How do these roles change over time? By the novel’s end, does it offer a critique of traditional gender roles or does it reinforce them?
Write about Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness (CHOOSE ONLY ONE):
Feminist: How does the novel complicate traditional notions of “femininity” and “masculinity” for Genly Ai (and the reader) through the introduction of the Gethanian people?
How does this complication serve to critique the human understanding of gender and
patriarchy?
Deconstructive: The Left Hand of Darkness explores the nature and inherent contradictions of binary oppositions: male and female; self and other; light and darkness; ally and enemy; etc.
Over the course of the novel, how does Genly Ai’s relationship with Estraven lead him to a new understanding of these oppositions and his own complex, indefinite identity as a person?
Write about Russ’s The Female Man (CHOOSE ONLY ONE):
Feminist: Across its four different worlds and female protagonists, in what ways does the novel critique notions of patriarchy, traditional gender roles, the objectification of women, sexism, and/or the “cult of true womanhood”? (Explore only those concepts you deem of interest.)
Marxist: In what ways do the economic situations of characters like Joanna,
Jeannine, and/or Laura Rose serve to critique the traditional role of women within capitalist society?
Are women allowed to fulfill the “American Dream”? What role does one’s sex or gender play in determining one’s economic future? (Explore only those concepts you deem of interest.)
Write about Delany’s Babel–17 (CHOOSE ONLY ONE):
Deconstructive: Throughout the novel, Rydra Wong argues for the primary importance of spoken and written language for effective communication between people.
However, where and how does the novel explore the dynamic, ambiguous, and unstable nature of language?
Moreover, where does the novel present alternatives for effective communication between people beyond language?
After choosing your novel and critical perspective, do the following:
1. Read the related articles on the critical theories prepared by Lois Tyson, available under Resource’s “Research Essay Resources” on iLearn. (Note: there are two articles to consult for both Marxist and feminist theories and only one for deconstructive theory.)
2. Identify terms, concepts, and analytical perspectives from Tyson’s articles that appear as if they will be useful in helping you to answer the question(s) I’ve asked of you. Make notations for specific quotes you might use.
3. Draft a response to the question(s) I’ve provided that both:
i. Meaningfully quotes, paraphrases, and analyzes the novel you’ve chosen.
ii. Briefly but significantly quotes and/or paraphrases parts of Tyson’s articles that help you accurately present and employ the critical perspective you are using.
