Format and Length: MLA format, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1” margins all the way around, 5-7 double-spaced pages
The Assignment:
Please write an analytical essay, exploring some aspect of the myths we’ve read this semester, written in support of a central thesis statement. Remember, this is not a report; this is analysis. Merely summarizing the content of several works will not be enough to achieve a passing grade. You must have your own insight into the work or works’ meaning, derivation, etc. Please make sure that you choose a work or works that fits into the classical Greek or Roman mythology category. You may do a comparative analysis of a classical myth with a myth from another culture, you may do an analysis of the work of one author, or you may explore a recurring theme in several myths but essays must treat at least some of the content we’ve studied in class.
Choosing a Topic:
For many students, choosing a suitable topic proves to be the most difficult part of the assignment. In order to help you choose a topic, it’s helpful to focus on a text or texts you enjoy. Ask yourself which myths or stories you have enjoyed reading thus far. Why did you enjoy this particular work (or works)? What stands out about the story, characters, or themes? What makes it unique? Does the story speak to a specific theme or social issue? Where do you see its resonances in culture today? Often such questions can lead you to interesting topics. You may also want to review the essay questions from previous midterms. Many of them can easily be worked into longer critical essays. The following topics may yield interesting thesis statements and papers, but they by no means represent a complete list of what is possible:
Manliness, manhood, or masculinity in mythology
Women and/or gender roles in myth
Non-gendered or non-binary gods and myths
Parental figures (with, if you choose, a focus on a specific type of parent, for example, mothers, absent parents [a big theme in mythology!], or surrogate parents)
Figures of desire or romantic love
Loss (and perhaps redemption)
A comparative analysis between myths in different cultures
A study of what a myth says about the society that created and whether and/or how the myth still has relevance today
A study of a single mythological archetype or story, and how it appears in contemporary culture.
