“This Could Be Heaven and This Could Be Hell”
The question of what happens to us after we die has plagued humanity throughout
history. There are many different ideas, many different theories, about “what comes
next” for us.
This assignment asks you to imagine that Heaven and Hell are not only real, but
individual to each of us. In this expository essay, your task is describe how your own
personal Heaven OR your own unique Hell would look, feel, and function.
The description of your Heaven or Hell should detail how this place would appeal to (or,
in the case of Hell, how it would assault) your senses – what would it look, sound,
smell, taste, feel like? How would it engage (or dull/torment) your emotions? How
would it stimulate (or dull/frustrate) your intellect and satisfy (or offend) your morals
and values? How would you spend your days there? What people, objects and
activities would be central in your Heaven or Hell, and which would be forbidden? Most
importantly, what about this place would make it uniquely yours – why would it not
have the same value or impact on or for other people?
The point of this piece of expository writing is to see how vividly you can
imagine
and describe your own ideas of absolute perfection, and complete and
utter torture, in a relatively short amount of space.
These assignments must be 2-3 typed pages* long and are due in class on:
Periods 1 & 8
Tuesday, October 13th
Period 4
Wednesday, October 14th.
Please see Mr.Blum or Ms. Lambert early and often with questions.
*I prefer Times New Roman, size 12, one-and-a-half or double spaced, please.
A Few Hints & Suggestions:
1.
Rely on Nouns and Verbs to paint your pictureYou’ve learned that adjectives are used to modify and describe
people, places, things and ideas. This is true. You’ve also learned
that adverbs typically modify and describe actions, which is also true.
Still, if you want to be clear, specific, vivid, and engaging (all
adjectives, btw), you should try to rely on the nouns you use to
populate your Heaven and Hell, and the verbs you use to describe
what goes on there.
2.
Be Specific and Precise
Saying that “My Heaven would be full of good music” tells us nothing.
Saying “My Heaven would feature Top 40 Country and Speed Metal
music” would tell us a bit more (Incidentally, sounds like my version of
Hell). Saying “I’d wake up every morning in my Heaven to the sound
of ELO’s ‘Mr. Blue Sky’” is better still.
The more clear, concrete examples you include, the better we’ll be
able to see, hear, feel, know the details of your Heaven or Hell, and
the more successful your piece will be.
3.
Remember that it’s all about YOU
I’ll be looking for things that are present or happening in your Heaven
and your Hell that are not there (at least, not in the same way) in
anyone else’s. To put it simply:
If your Heaven and Hell aren’t unique to you in meaningful
ways, then your pieces will not be completely successful.
As a way of getting started on the piece, please spend 30 minutes
taking notes on the pages below. Even if you think you know which
place you want to describe, I’d suggest taking notes for both Heaven
and Hell; you may be surprised with what you find.
My Own Personal Heaven
What appeals to My Senses:
What appeals to my Emotions:
What engages my Mind and satisfies my Morals:
Qualities of a Typical Day:
Essential People, Objects & Activities:
Forbidden People Objects & Activities:
Other Features and Qualities that make this place Ideal and Unique to/for ME:
My Own Unique Hell
What tortures to My Senses:
What afflicts to my Emotions:
What dulls my Mind and offends my Morals:
Qualities of a Typical Day:
Essential (in a bad way!) People, Objects & Activities:
Forbidden (to my regret!) People Objects & Activities:
Other Features that make this Hell Unique to me: