WL 1 Essay Proposal
Topic: Masculine traits in Bernarda and Lysistrata & how they contribute to
characters' power.
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Being a manly woman isn’t a bad thing when the woman holds the greatest
power.
B. “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes/“The House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico Garcia
Lorca
C. In “Lysistrata”, the main character Lysistrata leads the Athenian and Spartan
women on a boycott against sex. She also uses force to keep them in the Acropolis. In
“The House of Bernarda Alba”, Bernarda uses force to dictate her family.
D. Thesis: Lysistrata and Bernarda both are women placed in a masculine image
that “allows” them to hold the power their authors give them.
II. Topic Sentence: Lysistrata is built large and muscular, the normality for a man not a
women which makes it easy for her to be dominant.
A. CD 1
1. CM
2. CM
B. CD 2
1. CM
2. CM
III. Topic Sentence: Bernarda, without a husband, is left to take the paternal role of the
household and become the “Female Father” and control the power any other Father
would have.
A. CD 1
1. CM
2. CM
B. CD 2
1. CM
2. CM
IV. Topic Sentence: Lysistrata and Bernarda, the “Powerful Women", use what power
they have to be the boss and while Lysistrata uses her power for the good of others,
Bernarda uses hers for her own evil.
A. CD 1
1. CM
2. CM
B. CD 2
1. CM
2. CM
V. Topic Sentence: Lysistrata and Bernarda aren’t completely masculine and their
femininity influences how they use their masculine power.
A. CD 1
1.
2.
B. CD 2
1.
2.
CM
CM
CM
CM
VI. Conclusion
Wording is a bit awkward in the thesis, but your organization is logical, and your main
points for each topic sentence are insightful. Don’t forget to gather up some quotes, and
good luck!