For this exam, as with the first, you have three questions to answer. You will choose one from Group A, one from Group B, and one from Group C – three total.
Each response should be between 400 – 600 words (two – three paragraphs – no single paragraph responses!). The question from Group C will likely be a bit longer since it asks you to compare and contrast both works.
Each response should have a main point that guides the question. Concentrate on formulating an argument using the primary text as evidence – this is crucial!
Use the primary text (i.e., brief quotations) to help support your case. However, do not use quotations to do the heavy lifting on their own merits. Rather, quotations should support an argument, a thesis, that you establish from the outset. Use quotations judiciously. Avoid excessive plot summary.
Avoid excessive plot summary. Again, focus on answering the prompt using specific textual evidence to support your claims. Be sure to have a clear, guiding thesis at the outset (likely the first paragraph) that guides each response. In addition to the word count, please be sure to follow APA or MLA formatting carefully.
Document all quotations carefully. No outside sources required (or desired) for this assignment. Since it is a significant component of your grade and a formal writing assignment, proofread and edit carefully.
Avoid using first person (“I”) or second person (“you”) pronouns with your examinations.
Do not use generative AI in any way for this assignment. Nor should you use any outside sources other than the primary texts.
Note: Consult APA Central or OWL Purdue (links in course menu) to accurately employ the style guide associated with your major: APA or MLA.
Clearly indicate which question you are answering from each group with an emboldened heading.
Group A: King Lear (32 points)
Appearance vs. Reality: Discuss the theme of appearance versus reality in King Lear. How do characters such as King Lear, Edgar, and Edmund use deception or disguise, and what are the consequences of these actions? Analyze how Shakespeare uses this theme to reveal deeper truths about the characters and the nature of their world.
The Theme of Madness: Discuss the theme of madness in King Lear. How does Shakespeare portray madness through the characters of King Lear and Edgar (as Poor Tom)? What is the significance of madness in the play, and how does it contribute to the overall tragedy?
Authority and Power: Discuss how Shakespeare explores the concept of authority and power in King Lear. How do characters like Lear, Goneril, and Regan use their positions of authority, and how does this power shift throughout the play? Analyze how Shakespeare critiques the dangers of absolute power and its effects on individuals and society.
Group B: Poetry (John Donne, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, and Maya Angelou) (32 points)
Exploration of Identity and Self-Expression: Discuss how Sylvia Plath and Maya Angelou explore identity and self-expression in their poetry. How do their personal experiences and cultural contexts influence their poetic voices? Provide examples from their works to support your analysis.
Themes of Loyalty and Perseverance: Examine the themes of empowerment and resilience in Maya Angelou’s poetry. How do her poems reflect her journey of overcoming adversity and asserting her identity? Use specific examples from her work to highlight these themes.
Exploration of Death and Immortality: Compare and contrast how Emily Dickinson and John Donne explore the themes of death and immortality in their poetry. How do their approaches differ, and what similarities can be found in their treatment of these profound subjects? Provide specific examples from their works to support your analysis.
Group C: King Lear & Poetry (36 points)
The Human Condition and the Existential Quest: Examine how King Lear and the selected poets (choose 2 – 3) explore existential questions and the human condition. How do these works address themes such as the meaning of life, the inevitability of death, and the search for purpose? Provide specific examples to support your analysis.
Exploration of Identity and Self-Discovery: Compare the exploration of identity and self-discovery in King Lear with those in the works of 2 – 3 poets. How do Shakespeare and the selected poets depict the characters’ or speakers’ journeys towards understanding themselves? Discuss the challenges and revelations that occur in their narratives or poems.
Suffering and Redemption: Examine the themes of suffering and redemption in King Lear and the poetry of John Donne and Emily Dickinson. How do these works portray the journey from suffering to spiritual redemption or resolution? Discuss how each author’s theological outlook influences his or her depiction of this journey.