HL2022 South Asian Literature Essay Questions
• Length: 1500 words (at most 1650 words)
• Deadline: Friday 22 October
1) ‘A polluting person is always in the wrong. He [or she] has developed some wrong condition or simply crossed some line which should not have been crossed and this displacement unleashes danger for someone.’ (Mary Douglas)
Discuss the significance of transgression and/or the abject in Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand
Abject (adj.) –
1. Cast off, rejected.
2. Brought low in position,
condition, or status.
3. In low repute; lacking courage;
despicable; self-abasing.
Slides 8-11 of Untouchable Notes 1 touch on abject in Untouchable
Introduction: Make it interesting. introduce the text untouchable (brief historical and social context) and the significance of transgression and/or the abject in the story. Have a clear thesis statement as the last line of the introduction.
Each paragraph should begin with a clear argument related to the significance of transgression or the abject in Untouchable which is then explained by close reading of the text. Textual evidence and clear analysis of the text untouchable is very important and should be present in each paragraph. Always make sure the analysis/close reading links back to the significance of transgression or the abject in Untouchable.
Use 2 secondary sources. 1 secondary source that suggests an interpretation of a text that you can then build on or expand yourself, and a 2nd secondary source that provides you with something to argue against, an interpretation that will focus your own argument by making it clear to you what you don’t agree with. In either case, whatever your argument, remember to provide evidence to support it from the text and do close reading. The rest should be all original content and explanations.
The bibliography should only have 3 sources (Untouchable and 2 secondary sources)
Try to offer an original and interesting argument and always base your argument on examples from the text you are analysing.
Clarity and coherence are very important.
