READ THE FOLLOWING:
Any use of AI for text generation of any sort, which includes content,
paraphrasing or bibliographical material, will result in an automatic grade of
0% on this assignment.
Instructions:
Your final paper for the course will give you the chance to demonstrate your understanding of
the concepts and ideas discussed over the course of the semester by applying them to the
analysis of a novel, play or film relevant to existentialism in the broad sense of the term. Many
works of the 20th and 21st century have existential content, so to help with your selection I
have listed some works below. You are not restricted to only these, but if you choose one that
is not on the list, please make sure that you get my approval via email before you start
writing.
Once you have chosen a work, you will write a critical analysis of it that takes into consideration
the following criteria. The work you choose will be unlikely to incorporate all of these, so you
must decide which are relevant.
There may also be others that you think are relevant, but are
not below; feel free to include these in your review where you think it important.
1. What is the main theme of the work
2. Explain how is this theme is developed
3. What points of connection are there between the work and the philosophical topics central
to existentialism,
eg:
i. essence versus existence
ii. alienation from the world
iii. fact versus interpretation
iv. meaning as determined or created
v. Human Being versus mere being
vi. reductionism versus holism
vii. identity and the self
KEY POINT:
This will be a work of reasoned and informed interpretation and perspective, so please do not
feel the need to be ‘right’ about it. I am interested in how well you explain the matter, how well
you support your views and how clearly you connect it to what we have been studying, not how
correct you are.
And please keep in mind that it is your knowledge of existentialism that should
be the focus. The work of literature or film you choose is the vehicle for the existentialism.
Your essay should be no longer than 2000 words. double spaced, 12 point font, MLA or APA
and it should include your reference list/bibliography.
The citation method you use is up to you, as long as it is consistent. Citation for films should
include the time stamp for the section of the film you are referring to.
READ THE ATTACHED PDF’S TO HELP YOU AND PROVE IN THE ESSAY YOU UNDERSTAND THE COURSE KEY POINTS/IDEAS
