Subject: Choosing your literary essay topic on Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee is the first step to writing your literary analysis paper. After reading the novel, you should be able to decide in which direc

Subject:

Choosing your literary essay topic on Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee is the first step to writing your literary analysis paper.

After reading the novel, you should be able to decide in which direction you’d like to take your paper.

Topics/ approaches (Focus on only one of the following, though some may overlap):

Analyze one of the minor characters, such as Petrus. Example: Analyze not only the chosen characters’ personality but also what role they played in advancing the overall theme of the novel.

The protagonist’s conflict, the hurdles to be overcome, and how he resolves it.Examples: It could be hope for change, both in South Africa and in David Lurie. OR: the disgrace David Lurie has suffered over the affair with a student and how that matches the disgrace South Africa has suffered through apartheid.

The function of setting to reinforce theme and characterization. Example: post-apartheid South Africa is a setting arguably more important than anything else in the novel. Your outside sources would be a bit of history concerning apartheid.The use of literary devices to communicate theme: imagery, metaphor, symbolism, foreshadowing, irony

Symbolism in the novel– Examples: Determine if David Lurie represents the old, white authorities of South Africa, while Lucy represents the new white people of South Africa. OR: Analyze what dogs symbolize in this story. Another example: What is symbolized by the opera David Lurie is writing on Byron?

Careful examination of one or more central scenes and its/their crucial role in plot development, resolution of conflict, and exposition of the theme.Example: Analyze one or more scenes in which hope that change for the better is possible through a character’s remorse and subsequent action, for example, the scene in which David Lurie apologizes to the parents OR the scene in which Lucy gets raped.

The possible issue to be addressed in introduction or conclusion:

Characteristics that make the work typical (or atypical) of the period, the setting, or the author that produced it. For this information, you must go to a library database (you must read “How to Access Miami Dade Databases” if you don’t know how) or a valid search site, such as Google Scholar (there is often a fee for this one).

Do not open or close with biographical material on the author. Biographical material is important as it influences the author’s writing only and should not be a focus of your paper.

Guidelines for Literary Essay

Be aware that you will be writing about a novel, which in its broadest sense is any extended fictional narrative almost always in prose, in which the representation of character is often the focus. Good authors use the elements of fiction, such as plot, theme, setting etc. purposefully, with a very clear goal in mind. One of the paths to literary analysis is to discover what the author’s purpose is with each of his choices. Avoid the problem that many students have, which is to hold the erroneous assumption that simply retelling what happened in detail is good enough (no, it is not). Plot summary is necessary, but not the intended goal in a literary essay.

Criteria:

In addition to being written at college level, your essay must meet the following criteria.

Include an introduction with a clear thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Use at least three quotes from the book.

When citing your sources, use MLA style for literary essays. It is helpful to keep your handbook open to the MLA tab as you write.

Minimum 850 words (more complex topics might require more)

Language: This is a composition class — your writing and grammar count.

Use specific supporting details from the book and at least two from outside sources.Go to the Miami Dade Databases (not Google) for your sources.

The following are not acceptable sources:

Class Lecture Notes

Textbooks

Study Guides (SparkNotes, Cliff Notes, BookRags etc.)

W…