World Literature Paper Topics
IBS English 2012 Session
Topics
• Min Sik Choi: Women’s role and treatment towards
them in Oedipus the Rex and a Doll’s House
– Who are the women?
– What is the role that they play? Positive or negative?
– Women’s role as a wife---maintain the family
• Tom Lee: How forms of plays, tragedy and comedy,
apply to real life.
• Robert Lee: How does the self consciousness of main
characters of the plays influence ending?
Topic
• Tom Lee: How forms of plays, tragedy and
comedy, apply to real life.
– Which plays?
– Though the situations are exaggerated, the
characters’ reactions to suffering are realistic
– How are the messages applicable to real life?
Robert
• How does the self consciousness of main
characters of the plays influence ending?
– Oedipus Rex & A Doll’s House
– Characters are unaware of their identity
– Both are in search of their identity
– Knowing oneself is important because…
Jessica Lee
• Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac v.
Henrik Ibsen’s Nora Helmer: the sacrifices of
one-sided love
– Nora sacrifices herself; Cyrano sacrifices himself
– Compare their sacrifices to show that …
– What is the fruit of the sacrifice
– What is the message of the writers
Aaron
• Why did Henrik Ibsen choose Christmas week
as a setting for the play “A Doll House”, and
how does this effect Nora in the story?
Bing
• The importance of minor characters in
Oedipus Rex, A Doll’s House
• Reveal information—messenger and shepherd reveal
Oedipus’s past; maid tells Nora that children will be
cared for
• What does the use of minor characters suggest?
• Explain the significant role of minor characters.
Kwang Eun
• How do the female characters affect the
outcome of the plays (Oedipus Rex, A Doll’s
House, and Cyrano de Bergerac)
– Influential role---to advance plot
– Creates conflict
– How they support the male characters?
– Are they positive or negative portrayals?
Ryota:
• How does plot structure develop a character’s
identity.
– A Doll’s House and Oedipus Rex
– Plot---conflicts reveal the true identities of the
characters---actions of the character reveal their
true nature
– Characters: Oedipus and Nora
Allen
• Symbolism in “A Doll’s House” and “Cyrano de
Bergerac”
– White plume: bravery, honor, pride, passion
– Doll house: not real, lived as a “plaything”,
puppet, under another’s control
– Symbols reflect character
Tommy
• How does the writer use tragedy to affect the
character?
Aaron
• What is the role and the influence of Duenna
and the maid (A Doll’s House)?
– Explain the significance of each character to the
plot, character development, or conflict
– Relationship with the main characters
Danny
• Transition of love ---A Doll’s House and Cyrano
de Bergerac
– The changing nature of love
– Revelations of truth of character
Daniel
• How does the time period of the play affect
the severity of the oppression of women?
– Nora
– Oedipus? ---How is Iocasta oppressed?