Final Literary Essay~ The Kite Runner
English 11- Advanced Sir John A. Macdonald High
Now that you have finished reading The Kite Runner, write a literary essay as a way to discuss some of the major themes as a whole. A literary essay should be written with great sensitivity and reflection- it is a way to tie things together and draw some conclusions about the novel as a whole. The writing should be scholarly, strong, mature, and skillfully constructed.
The objective of this essay is to make a strong point, an informed thesis, about a major aspect of the book. It is your position on a particular topic related to a major theme in the novel. Below are some possible theses:
· Amir is a cowardly character with real flaws that affect his life and the lives of those around him.
· Amir is a victim of real life circumstances and through life experience and insight, he is able to find redemption.
· Baba is a weak father and negatively influences the decisions that his son, Amir, makes.
· Baba is a father that parents to the best of his ability despite his flaws.
· The bond between Amir and Hassan is similar to that of brothers, yet they are unable to fully make this bond strong enough because of their respective classes.
· War and conflict in Afghanistan influenced all of the characters and their lives in the novel.
· The image of the kite in the novel serves as a symbol of the freedom that redemption can bring.
These are just a few ideas~ you may form one of your own if desired. The point is that the essay must have a major theme around which all of your discussions revolve. Make sure that you discuss several areas of the book; do not just use examples from one or two areas of the book. Remember, the objective is to tie everything together. The essay should serve to bring all of the aspects of the novel to a conclusion in a well-formed literary discussion.
The following is NOT a thesis: “Amir is the son of a wealthy Afghan business man.” This is a fact, not an opinionated thesis. This, on the other hand, might be a thesis: “Amir is a boy who has a difficult time pleasing his father, and the pain that this causes makes it difficult for him to develop bonds with others.” While this may also be considered a fact to a certain extent, the difference is that in the second statement, you have offered some insight and conclusions that are not directly stated by the author. You have formed an opinion beyond the factual information in the novel.
Do not do any additional research for this essay. A literary essay is your own discussion and conclusions about a literary work, not a discussion of research and others’ ideas on a literary work. I am looking for your own informed and insightful ideas on the major themes and/or characters in the book.
Some important reminders about writing essays:
· The length should be 2-4 pages, typed, single-spaced. Use 12-font. Typing is strongly recommended if possible. Use the classroom computers if you don’t have one at home.
· All rough work is required in addition to the final copy. Rough work must be hand written and completed during allotted class time (in place to ensure that you have demonstrated good use of class time).
· Make sure your introductory paragraph is well crafted and clearly states your thesis (the main point of the essay) somewhere in the paragraph. Often the thesis is powerful as the last statement in that first, introductory paragraph. Spend a lot of time on the introduction- it’s the most important part of an essay! Avoid things like “In this essay, I will show…” Just jump right in and SAY what your topic is. Don’t tell me WHAT you will explore- just go ahead and explore it! For example, instead of saying “In this essay I will explain how Amir is a weak and cowardly character,” say “Amir is a weak and cowardly character.” See how much stronger that sounds?!
· NO contractions or abbreviations!
· Avoid short, choppy sentences, but also keep things simple and clear. Find a happy medium. The tone of a formal essay should be mature and scholarly, not casual. Never use slang.
· Use paragraphs to organize your thoughts. Create a “flow” with your writing. Completely deal with one point before moving on to the next.
· Avoid overuse of words of phrases.
· Avoid run-on sentences. Watch comma use! Don’t use a comma where a period or semicolon should be.
· Write in the third person. This means, do not use the pronoun “I” in the essay. Instead of saying “I think Amir is a strong character,” say “Amir is a strong character.” Again, this sounds much more scholarly, mature and confident.
· Include a title page (not included in the 3-4 page requirement) with an original title in the centre, and your name, date, and class on the bottom right corner.