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? 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 25

• 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 13

• 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 22

• 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 8

• 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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This page created by Louise M. Bishop | Last updated 7 January 2001