Essay 3: Literary Criticism
1 For the final major assignment, choose a work of fiction to analyze and a critical lens to use as the basis of your analysis. Conduct a close reading of the book and compose an essay using techniques from the literary critics we read in class (Morrision, Sehgal, Hopper, Pfeiffer, or the New Yorker fiction podcasts).
Your critical lens should be a theory or perspective that resonates with you in some way, and that you think would be interesting to use for your analysis. For example, you might choose to read your book from a feminist perspective, or through the lens of queer theory, or you may want to evaluate how immigrants are represented, you could apply a Marxist lens, assess a plot for implicit capitalist values, analyze how characters with disabilities show up, how particular religions are characterized, and so on.
Your close reading of the novel should include a summary of major plot points and a description of characters and scenes that are significant to your analysis. Your initial summary should be delivered as objectively as possible, giving your readers a sense of the book before you begin your analysis.
In order to effectively conduct your analysis, you will need to provide an overview of your lens. For example, if you choose feminism, select an article from a prominent feminist scholar that you can draw on for your essay. You don’t need to conduct a comprehensive study of feminism, but find two or three respected thinkers in the field, and use their texts to help you define key terms and ideas.
Requirements
• A novel of your choice (minimum 100 pages)
• A lens from which you’ll conduct your analysis
• Essay: 1500-1700 words
• Two sources from prominent scholars in the field (at least one source should be a peer-reviewed journal article)
• MLA Format
• Draft note describing your revision process
*****FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT I HAVE CHOSEN THE BOOK UGLY LOVE BY COLLEEN HOOVER. ******
