HC 102H, Honors College World
Literature
Response papers guide
The idea behind the response papers is to treat a specific portion
of text in relation to a particular theme. Ideally, the response
papers will begin your work on the formal papers.
Note that you need write only THREE response papers, even though there
are five opportunities to do so in the syllabus. Response papers must be handed
in during the week they're assigned.
Sonnet response paper, due January 17
- Take one of the sonnets in La Vita Nuova and analyze it
(1) on the basis of its euphony, (2) on the relationship between
its sound and its meaning, (3) on its placement in Dante's text:
why is the sonnet placed where it is? You may choose ONE of these
three, so long as you treat the issue fully
- Alternatively, write your own sonnet in imitation of Dante and
explain its meaning.
Character response paper, due January 24
- At line 830, the Friar asserts that the Wife's prologue is a
"long preamble of a tale." What accounts for the length of the
Wife's preamble? How does its length make or affect our
assessment of the Wife's character?
Courtly society response paper, due February 12
- Choose one of the passages that describes an attribute of the
courtier and analyze how the speaker justifies the attribute's
importance. How effectively does the speaker make his point? Do
think about the speaker's character as affecting the reader's
evaluation of his point. Try, at the end of your paper, to
conclude with some thoughts about why the attribute is important
in the larger sphere of human interactions.
Colonialism response paper, due February 21
- Carefully read Graff and Phelan's outline of critical
controversy, pp. 91-108, and then Will's and Greenblatt's pieces
on the politics of Shakespeare (and yes, the Lynne Cheney
mentioned is the wife of the Vice-President--this controversy
isn't over). How do you assess the stakes involved in reading
The Tempest?
Novel love response paper, due March 7
- What differentiates the Princess of Cleves' dilemma from that
of Dante? What is the role of the imagination? How do love and
marriage fit together? What accounts for the enduring popularity
of romance?
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M. Bishop | Last updated 5 January 2002