Honors World Literature Research Paper
Write a literary research paper about an aspect of one of the larger works we’ve done this
year.
Options:
To Kill a Mockingbird, Siddhartha, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar
In short, here is a summary of this paper. First, you figure out what aspect of the
novel/play most interests you. Next, you have a look at the list of questions below to see
which one most appeals to you based on the aspect(s) of the novel/play that interest you.
Once you have selected the question about which you would like to write, you will
formulate a thesis statement. A thesis statement states what your paper is going to prove.
In other words, your paper is going to prove something, not be about something. Once
you have decided on a thesis statement, you look for information supporting your
argument. Then, you write your paper, integrating your research.
Not a thesis statement:
My paper is going to be about racism in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Thesis statement:
Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is an accurate
representation of racism in the South during the 1930s.
Typed Thesis Statement Due
Typed Formal Outline Due
Secondary Source Check
Typed First Draft
Final Paper
Thursday, May 29
Thursday, June 12
Requirements:
 Must be between 4 and 4 1/2 pages
 Times New Roman, 12pt. type, double-spaced, 1 inch margins all the way around
 Include a minimum of three secondary sources (two sources MUST be literary
criticism)
 Include quotations from both your primary source (at least 4) and secondary
sources (your research – at least one from each source, but totaling 5)
 Include a Works Cited page
 No biographical interpretations are allowed – don’t talk about the author’s life.
 DO NOT consult any form of study-aides (This includes SparkNotes, Pink
Monkey, etc.).
 DO NOT work with a partner on ANY PART of this paper
 No late papers accepted without approved extension
**LATE PAPERS EQUAL A ZERO – A ZERO EQUALS A FAILURE FOR THE YEAR**
Questions/topics to lead you to a thesis statement:
To Kill a Mockingbird:
1. What makes Atticus a good father?
2. What does the novel have to say about “courage”? Who are the courageous
characters in the novel and how do they demonstrate their courage? What is Harper
Lee’s message about real courage?
3. Why do you think Harper Lee chose Scout to be the narrator of the novel? What
do we get from hearing things from Scout’s perspective that we wouldn’t have
gotten from another character’s perspective?
4. Examine the use of the mockingbird as a symbol in the novel. What does the
mockingbird symbolize? Which three characters can be considered
“mockingbirds”?
Siddhartha:
1. Discuss the thematic significance of water imagery in Siddhartha.
2. Analyze Hesse’s portrayal of woman in Siddhartha.
3. Identify the most significant symbol in the novel and justify your choice.
4. Appraise the role of teachers in Siddhartha.
Romeo and Juliet:
1. Is Romeo and Juliet’s downfall caused by fate, a tragic character flaw, or a
combination of both?
2. Identify the most significant theme in the novel. Discuss how Shakespeare
developed the theme and how the theme relates to the tragedy of the play.
3. Friar Laurence serves many dramatic purposes in the play. Examine the Friar and
his role in Romeo and Juliet.
4. Examine the role of women in Romeo and Juliet.
Julius Caesar:
1. Take two of the main characters and analyze their leadership qualities.
2. Is Brutus a villain or a hero? Is he a dishonorable man, or a mistaken one?
Why/why not? If you think he is a villain, consider discussing his villainous
aspects and how they contribute to the play.
3. Discuss the role of women in the play, comparing and contrasting Portia and
Calpurnia and/or comparing and contrasting their marriages to Brutus and Caesar,
respectively.
4. Does a single hero or villain exist in the play? If so, who, and why? Or why not?
(Or discuss who is the most admirable/sympathetic and/or the most despicable
character and why.)