Choice Novel Exam: World Literature
ESSAY QUESTIONS
Directions: Locate your novel title and the essay questions: Select ONE of the two essays. During the final exam period,
write your 5-paragraph essay. You should use the following format: an introduction; (3) body paragraphs,
each with a quote and analysis; a conclusion.
Reminders:
- All novel titles are underlined as you write during the exam
- The introduction must include the novel’s author, title, a brief summary. Its final sentence is the THESIS statement [RESTATES the essay question and list the three claims IN THE ORDER you will discuss them]
- Begin each body paragraph, begin with a transition phrase.
Then, give some background as to what is happening in the story at the time of your quote
Next, “lead into” your quote by stating which character is speaking/why/ to whom. We need the CONTEXT of the quote so we see how it connects to the THESIS
Put “ “ around your quote and cite it correctly ( Author’s last name Pg #).
Finally, ANALYZE how the quote proves/answers the essay question as written in the THESIS
Each of the three body paragraphs should be 4-5 sentences in length at a MINIMUM for a junior-level essay.
- The conclusion must summarize, in a “big picture” way, the importance to the reader of understanding your thesis and should end with a “take-away”: what do readers “learn” or “take away” from this novel?
- DO NOT use “I, me, my” pronouns – choose words which are academic and formal in tone.
The Alchemist
Option A: How does Santiago’s spiritual journey parallel the alchemist’s practice of
transforming metal into gold? [ Comparison essay - examples of both + analysis ]
Option B: What are the weaknesses that Santiago sees in his flock of sheep, and how do they
relate to the weaknesses of human beings who fail to pursue their Personal Legends?
[Comparison essay - examples of both + analysis ]
Option C: How does the novel The Alchemistfollow a “hero’s journey”? Be sure you include
evidence from all three key parts [ The Call/Departure, The Initiation, The Return ].
Fahrenheit 451:
Option A: Using Clarisse, Montag, and/or the war to prove your thesis, write an essay defending the
necessity to “ask why.”
Option B: Clarisse McClellan is a young woman who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Guy Montag, a friendship which causes Guy to question some of the assumptions and beliefs that he has followed blindly for much of his life. Analyze the role that Clarisse’s life and death play in Guy’s development of consciousness, as well as in the trajectory of the novel Fahrenheit 451as a whole. You may also choose to consider whether Clarisse’s character was necessary in order for Guy to undergo his transformation.
Option C: Guy Montag is, in the opening lines of Fahrenheit 451, clearly aligned with the “bad guys.” He is a firefighter who burns books simply because that is what is expected him, not necessarily because he holds the deep conviction that books are dangerous. Yet Guy undergoes a major transformation as a character, and ultimately attempts to revive lost pieces of civilization. As such, he might be considered a heroic figure. Write a persuasive essay in which you attempt to convince your reader that Guy Montag should or should not be considered a heroic figure, and substantiate your claim with evidence-based reasons. * In your intro, you will need to define what a “heroic figure” is with characteristics you can then find within the text.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
Option A: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyoffers many instances of parody of big government and bureaucracy. For this essay, find several examples of parody in the novel. You can choose to find examples that deal with government, bureaucracy or another aspect of society. What do you think the author is trying to say through his parody about our society? Do you think the author is right? Use examples from the novel to support your conclusions
Option B: TheHitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyfeatures a cast of characters from all over the galaxy with Arthur thrown in right in the middle. One of the side aspects of Arthur and his journey is the search for meaning within this massive greater existence that Arthur has now suddenly become aware of. For this essay, analyze Arthur’s (or another character’s) search for the meaning of life in the novel. What do you think the meaning of life is in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyuniverse? Use examples from the novel to support your assertions.
Option C: Choosing a theme from the novel, show how the theme helps to create “a novel of the absurd.” You will need three examples of the theme helping to create absurdness In your conclusion, analyze the overall purpose of the author’s “absurd novel”: what he is trying to point out or get the reader to see or believe?
The Life of Pi:
Option A: Pi argues that Mr. Okamoto and Mr. Chiba should take the “better story” as the true story. Argue that either the first or second story is the “trueand better story.”
Option B: Compare Life of Pi to the hero's journey. Is Pi a hero by the novel's completion? How is this comparison important to understanding the meaning of the story? Use your knowledge of thehero’s journey to make your decision. Be sure to show evidence of the hero’s journey from all three parts: The Call/Departure, The Initiation, and The Return.
Option C: Argue for each of the animals as a manifestation of Pi's psyche. What part of his psyche/personality is represented in the zebra? The orangutan?The hyena?And, most importantly, in the tiger? Consider what befalls each and by what means. Through the understanding, what does it then, allow us to understand about Pi?
1984:
Option A: 1984 is a presentation of Orwell's definition of dystopia and was meant as a warning to those of the modern era. Define/explain what a dystopia is -- what specifically is Orwell warning us against? Is the modern world [ or a specific country ]already like Oceania? Support your answer with comparisons/parallels between Oceania and the modern world [ or a specific country ].
Option B: Analyze the Party's level of power over its citizens, specifically through the lens of psychological manipulation. Discuss the various tools the Party uses to maintain this control and discuss their effectiveness. What is the takeaway lesson Orwell would like the reader to have?
Option C: At the end of the novel, why does Winston love Big Brother? Trace his feelings as they morph throughout the novel in chronological order, ending with an analysis of his final reactions. Ultimately, why does this character seem to “flip flop” at the end and how realistic would this be in a real-world Oceania?