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 FOUR 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 18

• 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?

Character response paper, due January 25

• The two most intriguing characters in Troilus and Cressida are Cressida and Pandarus. Choose one of them, and evaluate the character's "agency" in the plot. In other words, how much choice does Cressida have? Be sure to evaluate "negative evidence" and to look at all sides of the issue. As for Pandarus, why does he insinuate himself into the lovers' game? What is his relationship to love?

Courtly society response paper, due February 8

• Choose one of the passages that describes an attribute of the courtier and analyze how the speaker justifies the attribute's importance. How does this attribute fit with courtly society as encountered in other texts?

Honor response paper, due February 15

• How would a Utopian deal with challenges to honor as outlined in Shakespeare's play? How much is honor superficial? How much does it reflect character? Why does Shakespeare end his play with the Pandarus bequeathing his diseases?

Writing and individuality response paper, due February 29

• Choose a passage from Teresa of Avila in which she writes about writing and language, and compare it with Castiglione's Introduction or something from Troilus and Cressida (Book I, stanza 57; II,4; II, 147-8; III, 71 are all possibilities). What do these texts tell us is the connection between writing and the self?

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This page created by Louise M. Bishop | Last updated 4 January 2000