I have mentioned VALE in class before as a good place for outside sources and here is the link:
valenj.org
Once you click the link, click on "subscribed databases". Then click on Essex County College Only and the user identification is :
essexecc
and the password is:
door42
More outside sources for A Lesson Before Dying:
http://departments.mercer.edu/fys/files/coretexts/gaines.html
http://www.laguardia.edu/lesson/students.html
http://alessonbeforedyingalfonzo.weebly.com/literary-criticism.html
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_lm_ER2003_152518_7.pdf
ESSAY DUE FEB 26 (NO LATE PAPERS)
Use
2 OUTSIDE SOURCES (NO OUTSIDE
SOURCES=FAIL)
3 PAGES, DOUBLE SPACED, SIZE 12
TIMES NEW ROMAN
Huck Finn
1) Argue that the character of
Jim is the only righteous and honest character in a sea of white characters who
are all greatly flawed proves that Twain wanted to show that despite the
“civilized” nature of white society, it is not perfect and slavery, which
denies human rights, is a hypocritical institution. Defend your thesis with outside
sources and examples from the text.
2)
We
discussed the river as being symbolical to Huck and Jim throughout the novel;
explain what the river could have symbolic meant to each of them. Defend your
thesis with outside sources and examples from the text.
3) Lying
occurs frequently in this novel. Curiously, some lies, like those Huck tells to
save Jim, seem to be “good” lies, while others, like the cons of the duke and
the dauphin, seem to be “bad.” What is the difference? Are both “wrong”? Why
does so much lying go on in Huckleberry Finn? Explain in your essay what
the difference is between the types of lies with examples from the text. Defend your thesis with outside
sources and examples from the text.
4)
Using
the articles on the class blog and other reliable sources, discuss the issue of
the “n” word in this novel. Why it should stay or why it should go?
A Lesson Before Dying
1)
Education is very important in this novel, both its attainment and the lack
of it. Tante Lou continually refers to Grant as “the teacher.” The other men
call him “Professor.” Yet Grant hates teaching, echoing the feelings of his own
teacher, Matthew Antoine. Contrast the opinions of education presented in this
novel. Why do some seek it and others consider it a burden? What role does it
play in the characters’ lives and the life of the community?
2)
Reread the description of Vivian from Chapter 4 and the passage in Chapter
15 about Vivian’s marriage. What was the cause of conflict between Vivian and
her family over her marriage? What causes the conflict between Vivian and Tante
Lou over her relationship with Grant?
3)
Paul earns Grant’s respect through his treatment of Jefferson and his
visitors. How is Paul different from the other jail keepers? How do his actions
at the end of Jefferson’s life demonstrate Paul’s goodness? Why might he have
chosen to attend the execution even though it was not part of his job/
4)
Symbolism
is important in this story as it is in many stories. Pick two or three symbols
from the novel and explain the role it plays and its significance. Defend
your thesis with outside sources and examples from the text.
5)
Compare
Rev. Ambrose and Grant’s approach to helping Jefferson. What did they disagree
about? How did each man defend his beliefs? Defend your thesis with
outside sources and examples from the text.
