This Book Analysis Paper assignment will specifically cover Shaunna McCovey’s module on selected poems from her book of poetry, The Smokehouse Boys, as well recorded lectures, other course content (such as Yurok history from the Yurok Tribe’s official website) and Shaunna’s online workshop on Poetry and Healing.
Please review the rubric carefully. Revised Book Analysis Paper Rubric Download Revised Book Analysis Paper Rubric
Examples of topics for literary analysis papers are: Examining specific writing strategies in one or more of McCovey’s poems, such as point of view, tone, word choice, rhyme, form/structure, theme, imagery, etc.
Examples of topics for historical/political context papers are: Examining Yurok/Native/American history in one or more of McCovey’s poems, such as the court case the poem “Religious Freedom?” was based on, the influx of drugs on reservations and in many Native communities; and the attending epidemics of substance abuse; revitalizing traditional ceremonies, cultural practices and language, loss of culture due to colonization, etc.
Examples of topics for theoretical concepts are: Intersecting identities; modes of consciousness (Anzaldua); Borderlands (Anzaldua); imperial trauma/intergenerational trauma (“Maria Clara is Dead Indeed” & “Death of Maria Clara”: Alfonso; Incidents); colonization; assimilation; postcolonial theory; postcolonial studies; decolonization, Doctrine of Discovery, etc.
