Expert: Linda Sue Grimes - 1/15/2006

Question
I would use that suggestion, however, I haven't read any other books to compare it too. The assignment isn't to compare it with other books, it's to take what you can out of the books you read and use it. So it kind of has to be a general idea, not comparing it with any other books in particular.

I also, still need some help with the character arguement of my essay. I know what I said, but I'm not quite sure how to apply that to my novels. I am very stuck. Please, can you point me in the right direction?

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Followup To
Question -
hey! I really need some advice. I am a grade 11 high school student (in ontario, canada if that makes any difference) and for my Independant Study Unit for english I chose to read Ovid's The Metamorphoses, Virgil's The Aenied, and Homer's The Odyssey. I love the books themselves and I am a big fan of the classic stuff, more so the history, but back to my point. I am trying to write an essay. We are suposed to choose a common "thread" to write on. I couldn't find a common theme, so my thesis for my essay has turned out to be something like "Classic epics such as these provide the basic foundation for all literary works that would follow in later centuries." Or something like that, it's not totally perfected yet. My outline for my essay arguements looks something like this:

1) Characters
         - Character Development
         - Characterization
         - Protagonist vs. Antagonist
2) Plot
         - The Four Narrative Structures of Fiction and how they are shown in the text (Open Ending, Multiple Climaxs, Flashback, and Multiple Endings - i'm not sure about that last one though)
         - The use of the 5 main points on a "story line" - introduction, inciting incident, rising action, climax and resolution, as well as the quest/journey plotline
         - type of conlfict - internal vs external, as well as man vs. man, man vs. force, man vs. nature, and man vs. himself

3) Poetic/Lierary Devices
         - Imagery
         - Personification
         - Flashback
         - Foreshawdowing
         - Dramatic Monologues
         - Satire
         - Symbolism
     ... and how they are all demonstrated in the texts

** N.B. I read the prose versions of the three, not the actual poems, if that makes any difference

What do you think about my plan of attack for this essay? Any suggestions or comments would be amazing.

Also, I am having a fair amount of trouble with my first arugment - the characters. I'm not sure what kind of things I should explore or talk about. I know you don't give out straight answers, but if you could point me in the right direction that would be amazing.

I really just need a good opinion on everything. I am on a break from school right now otherwise I would ask my teacher, but she also hasn't read these books in a while, so I really hope you can help me :)

Thanks a million!

* Meg
Answer -
Dear Meg,

Your thesis, "Classic epics such as these provide the basic foundation for all literary works that would follow in later centuries," could be a useful one.  I'd make a minor change from "all literay works" to "many major literary works."

Otherwise I think that's an important focus.  You might want to limit it, however, to perhaps two or three works.  That is, show how two or three major literary works have been influenced by two or three of the classic epics.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,
Linda Sue Grimes
Classic Poetry Aide

Answer
Dear Meg,

Since your assignment is to write about a "common thread" running through your reading choices, you might frame your thesis on any qualities of humanity that are portrayed in those works: such as, how does each work treat human pride? how do they speak about death?  what is the nature of the desire for adventure? what can they tell us about the need for love? or how are women featured in the works?

Hope this helps.

Blessings,
Linda Sue Grimes
Classic Poetry Aide