ENG 102
Literary Analysis
Length: 3-5 Pages
Rough Draft: April 27th
Final Draft: April 29th
For this assignment, you will write an analysis about Nella Larsen’s Passing. Use examples from the Larsen text/film to support your points. Do not use outside material. This should be from your own interpretations of the text/film.
Focus on either one or several implied arguments conveyed in the text/film in order to make your case for what you thought happened at the end of the text/film. Reflect upon points such as the context of this time in history in the 1920’s Harlem Renaissance, race relations in U.S history, class consciousness, politics, education, etc. Are the arguments conveyed directly or indirectly? How does the text/film convey these arguments?
Other examples of implied arguments:
1. “Passing presents two women, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, who make very different choices yet whose lives intertwine in startling ways. Compare the characters of each. What are each woman’s strengths? Her weaknesses? What are each woman’s attitude toward race? How do these attitudes influence the novel’s plot?” (205-206).
2. Discuss the novel’s ending. Do you think someone pushed Clare? What would someone have to gain by pushing Clare? Use examples from the text/film to support your interpretation.
3. “Certain critics have suggested that an erotic attachment exists between Irene and Clare. Do you agree with this reading?” (206). Provide evidence from the text/film to support your case for or against this interpretation.
Your objectives:
· Analysis of the text(s)
· Clear context of the part of the text that you are discussing
· Clear thesis of the author(s) portrayal of the issues and the significance on why the author(s) portrayed the issue(s) is such a way
· Sub-theses (topic sentences) clearly relate to the main thesis
· Logical organization is evident in the essay along with transitions
· Sentences are written clearly and lack grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors
· For each point you make, evidence from the text is used for support
· All examples in the essay are cited with the author’s name and page in an in-text citation
· A Works Cited is provided at the end for the text.
Other Requirements:
· 4-6 full pages in MLA style (one-inch margins, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point-font, standard information at the beginning – name, ENG 102H, Professor Ponack, and date)
· Catchy title is centered at the top
· Your analysis will highlight sections of the text and how the author conveys directly or indirectly his message during this time.
· Look at how the author portrays the time in history, the events, the people, the race relations, and the social institutions like religion and politics in the text and what is so significant about these portrayals. This will also help you to discover the implied argument(s) behind these portrayals.
· Use specific examples from the text/film to support the thesis and your analysis of the text/film.
· Do not give a plot summary of the text, so don’t just state what is going on in the text. We have read the text and watched the movie. Explain how the author uses these portrayals and what is significant about them.
· Do not argue with the author or the beliefs about the issues presented in the text/film. This is not your job in this assignment. Keep your focus on the author, the text/film, and the time when the text/film appeared.
Evaluation Criteria
· The states the implied argument that the author conveys in the text and the significance (20%)
· The author’s implied arguments are stated and evidence from the text and explanations are included for support. (20%)
· Specific examples from the text are included and the examples are cited with an in-text citation. Ex. (Larsen 60). A works cited is included at the end. (30%)
· The essay is close to free from grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, and the essay’s organization is clear throughout the essay. (15%)
· A peer review was completed and submitted with the final draft. (15%)
