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Welcome to the School House Books Online Services Public Recommended List of Plays with The Open Question Essay Prompts and Links |
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A Midsummer Night's Dream This play uses contratsting places (for example, two countries, two cities or towns, two houses, or the land and the sea) to represent opposed forces or ideas that arecentral to the meaning of the work. Write an essay explaining how the places differ, what each place represents, and how their contrast contributes to the overall meaning of the work. Anthony and Cleopatra Analyze the recurring theme seen in this play of the classic war between passion and responsibility. For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive that may conflict with moral duty. Then, in a well-written essay, show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work. This play uses contratsting places (for example, two countries, two cities or towns, two houses, or the land and the sea) to represent opposed forces or ideas that arecentral to the meaning of the work. Write an essay explaining how the places differ, what each place represents, and how their contrast contributes to the overall meaning of the work. As You Like It In this play, a confidant (male) or a confidante (female) is used to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently, as Henry James puts it, this friend or relative of the protagonist can be as much "the reader's friend as the protagonist's." Write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. 2005 Essay Prompt: In Kate Chopin's The Awakening(1899), protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess "that outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions." In Identify a character in this play who conforms outwardly while questioning inwardly. Then write an essay in which you analyze how this tension between outward conformity and inward questioning contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid mere plot summary. Hamlet Some of the most significant events in this work is mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. In a well-organized essay, describe how the author manages to gives these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external events. Do not merely summarize the plot. In this play, a confidant (male) or a confidante (female) is used to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently, as Henry James puts it, this friend or relative of the protagonist can be as much "the reader's friend as the protagonist's." Write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. In this play, a character who appears briefly, or does not apppear at all, is a significant presence. Write an essay that shows how this character functions in this work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. This play includes a scene of social occasionófor example, weddings, funerals, partiesówhich reveals the values of the characters and the society in which they live. In a focused essay, discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole. In this play, a characterónot necessarily the protagonistóis pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences. Write a well-organized essay that identifies each conflicting force and explain how this plaguing conflict within one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. Although not usually identified with the detective story genre, this work does involve the investigation of a mystery. Write an essay which identifies the mystery, explaining how the knowledge gained from the investigation illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. Henry IV, Part 1; This play depicts a conflict between a parent or parental figure and a son or daughter. Write a well-organized essay that analyzes the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid plot summary. Julius Caesur Write a well-organized essay that analyzes how this play confronts the reader with a scene or scenes of violence. Be sure to explain how these scenes contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid plot summary. This play includes a scene of social occasionófor example, weddings, funerals, partiesówhich reveals the values of the characters and the society in which they live. In a focused essay, discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole. King Lear Describe the major differences and similarites in a sequence of parallel or recurring events that occur in this play and discuss the significance of such events. Do not merely summarize the plot. Write a well-organized essay that analyzes how this play confronts the reader with a scene or scenes of violence. Be sure to explain how these scenes contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid plot summary. Some of the most significant events in this work is mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. In a well-organized essay, describe how the author manages to gives these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external events. Do not merely summarize the plot. In questioning the value of literary realism, Flannery O'Connor has written, "I am interested in making a good case for distortion because I am coming to believe that it is the only way to make people see." Write an essay in which you "make a good case for distortion," as distinct from literary realism. Analyze how important elements of this novel are "distorted" and explain how these distortions contribute to the effectiveness of this novel. Avoid plot summary. This play depicts a conflict between a parent or parental figure and a son or daughter. Write a well-organized essay that analyzes the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid plot summary. This work offers a happy ending through moral development. Write a well-organized essay that identifies the moral reconciliation evident on the ending and analyze its significance in the work as a whole. In this play, a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Write a well-organized essay in which you explain what this eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the madness to the work as a whole. Critic Roland Barthes has said, "Literature is the question minus the answer." Choose a novel or play and, and considering Barthes' observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers any answers. Explain how the author's treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. Macbeth Select an important character in this novel who is a villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of ther character's villainy and show how it enhances the meaning of the work . Avoid plot summary. Do not base your essay on a work that you know about only from having seen a television or movie production of it. In this play, a character--not necessarily the protagonist--is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences. Write a well-organized essay that identifies each conflicting force and explain how this plaguing conflict within one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. The Merchant of Venice This play uses contratsting places (for example, two countries, two cities or towns, two houses, or the land and the sea) to represent opposed forces or ideas that arecentral to the meaning of the work. Write an essay explaining how the places differ, what each place represents, and how their contrast contributes to the overall meaning of the work. This work highlights the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed. Write a well-organized essay that analyzes how the alienation of one character reveals the surrounding society's assumptions and moral values. Much Ado About Nothing This play includes a scene of social occasion--for example, weddings, funerals, parties--which reveals the values of the characters and the society in which they live. In a focused essay, discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Othello Choose a complex character from this play who mightóon the bisis of the character's actions aloneóbe considered evil or immoral. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how and why the full presentation of the character in the play makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary. Some of the most significant events in this work is mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. In a well-organized essay, describe how the author manages to gives these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external events. Do not merely summarize the plot. In this play, a confidant (male) or a confidante (female) is used to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently, as Henry James puts it, this friend or relative of the protagonist can be as much "the reader's friend as the protagonist's." Write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. This work highlights the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed. Write a well-organized essay that analyzes how the alienation of one character reveals the surrounding society's assumptions and moral values. Richard III Choose a complex character from this play who mightóon the bisis of the character's actions aloneóbe considered evil or immoral. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how and why the full presentation of the character in the play makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary. Romeo and Juliet This play depicts a conflict between a parent or parental figure and a son or daughter. Write a well-organized essay that analyzes the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid plot summary. In this play, a confidant (male) or a confidante (female) is used to be present when the hero or heroine needs a sympathetic listener to confide in. Frequently, as Henry James puts it, this friend or relative of the protagonist can be as much "the reader's friend as the protagonist's." Write an essay in which you discuss the various ways this character functions in the work. This play includes a scene of social occasionófor example, weddings, funerals, partiesówhich reveals the values of the characters and the society in which they live. In a focused essay, discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Twelfth Night In this play, a character who appears briefly, or does not apppear at all, is a significant presence. Write an essay that shows how this character functions in this work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. This work offers a happy ending through moral development. Write a well-organized essay that identifies the moral reconciliation evident on the ending and analyze its significance in the work as a whole. The Winter's Tale In questioning the value of literary realism, Flannery O'Connor has written, "I am interested in making a good case for distortion because I am coming to believe that it is the only way to make people see." Write an essay in which you "make a good case for distortion," as distinct from literary realism. Analyze how important elements of this novel are "distorted" and explain how these distortions contribute to the effectiveness of this novel. Avoid plot summary. |