Robert Butler’s “The Good Scent from a Strange Mountain” and Sue Monk Kidd’s “The Secret Life of Bee’s”
During the course of this semester, we have read works in which several
different authors have addressed elements of folk literature from a unique
cultural perspective. This paper will ask you to do two different things to
satisfy True Blue Core objectives. First, it asks you to select ONE of these
elements and compare the ways in which TWO authors (at least one of which
should be from texts read since the mid-term – Kidd, Dumas, or Gaines)
incorporate this element into their texts. Choose one element from the list
below:
– Gender roles (I wanted to pick Gender Roles)
For example, if you were to select “Courtship and Marriage,” you might
compare some of Butler’s characters’ experiences (e.g. the narrator from
Mid-Autumn, Miss Noi, etc., representing the Vietnamese culture), with those
shared in Firoozeh Dumas’ novel (representing the Iranian culture). Be sure
to identify the culture that the book/author represents, and include examples
from the texts. Correctly cited textual examples and quotes are
essential for a passing grade on this paper. It will also probably be
helpful for you to define the term/element you are discussing in your
introduction since this will help you to maintain the focus of your essay.
So, if you are writing about Foodways, be sure that YOU know what you mean
by this term and define it for your reader.
Your paper should be three to four pages in length, should be presented in
MLA style (including quotes/citations) and should be submitted to the D2L
Dropbox by 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 27th, unless you have an extension
mandated by the DAC. NO late papers will be accepted for this assignment,
so please don’t wait until the last minute to submit your paper.
True Blue Core Objectives
– Explore how literature reflects, informs, and shapes both personal and
collective experience;
– Articulate cogent responses to literature that demonstrates cultural
awareness and understanding;
– Reflect on how reading, writing, and interpreting literature initiates and
contributes to cultural and social conversations;
– Examine how the production and interpretation of literature is shaped
by historical, social, and cultural contexts,
– Analyze how literature from different cultures, movements, and time
periods employ narrative and stylistic strategies to convey complex
ideas and meanings;
– Compose projects (written, digital, or audio) that utilize critical
thinking, analysis, and research to situate literature within diverse
cultural and conceptual frameworks.
Hints for writing your paper
– Make sure you have a strong thesis;
– Make sure to refer to cultural context, and also define the
term/element you choose to write about;
– For the comparison/analysis part of your paper, use third person
and avoid the use of “I” or “You” unless they are part of a direct quote.
For the Reflection section, use first person.
– Use present tense when discussing literature (for example, instead of
saying, “Antonio witnessed the death of Lupito,” say “Antonio
witnesses the death of Lupito.”
– Always refer to authors by their last name, not their first name;
– Include relevant quotes that support your thesis and the point you
want to make. Fore example, instead of saying, “Antonio is conflicted
about what to believe,” you might say “Antonio’s conflict regarding
what to believe is demonstrated when he states ‘…I was still trying to
hold on to God. I didn’t want to give him up like Florence had’ (Anaya
207)”;
– After a quote, include the author’s name and page number the first
time you refer to his/her work; after that only the page number is
necessary, unless you change authors;
– If you are using a non-print source, at least identify the author’s name
after each quote, and whatever relevant information you have (section
number, title of short story, etc). Also, identify the fact that you are
using a non-print source on your Works Cited page;
– Proof read your paper carefully before submitting it. Spell Check and
Grammar Check (not Grammarly!)
