Paper 2 - Instructions
Prompt: Analyze how Dionysus takes advantage of Pentheus's tragic flaws in order to
manipulate and destroy the king.
Successful writers will spend very little time paraphrasing the plot of The Bacchae. Instead, "A" papers
will: (1) quote specific passages in which Dionysus uses rhetoric (persuasive language) to manipulate
Pentheus; (2) identify two (2) of the rhetorical techniques that Dionysus uses ito manipulate Pentheus
(we talked about several in class); and (3) interpret the role of Dionysus's manipulative rhetoric in the
greater context of The Bacchae.
Please remember to write at least three (3) pages, as per the instructions on your syllabus. Second,
please also remember to properly cite all sources. Third, come to class this Sunday having read all
of Kalidasa's play Shakuntala and the Sanskrit poems. Finally, be certain to bring printed copies of
both Paper 2 and the paper-grading rubric (the evaluative template that I use to grade your work).
All documents are on BB.
Dear Xiujun,
If you have good ideas about a work of literature, but have trouble composing a thesis, try using
the following formula to write a thesis statement:
"In (x) text, (y) author suggests (z)."
Plug in relevant information to this equation, and you'll have a good thesis.
So, for example, I might write: "In "Young Goodman Brown," Nathaniel Hawthorne suggests
that the Puritans are the real "witches.""
Again, just use your best idea - one that is not obvious, and that you have to argue in order to
prove - and make this your thesis.
//
In terms of interpretation, there are many ways to interpret. In one classic method, an
interpreter looks for the "moral" of a story - or even the moral small passage within a story.
This is a time-tested method of interpretation.
In another method of interpretation, you might identify the text as proposing a certain set of
arguments (or championing a certain set of values) that you disagree with. You can then
criticize the author's work based on your critical analysis of his or her ideas.
These are just two ways to interpret. But try these two with Paper 2.
Also, see me after class if you don't understand what I've written here.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gray