Thesis Essay on a work of Literature
English 110.02
Fall 2008
Ann Hostetler
ASSIGNMENT:
Write a 3-5 page thesis essay about one of the two novels we have read in this class: All
Quiet on the Western Front or Dreamer. The essay should develop a specific thesis, as
suggested in the list below, using evidence from the novel itself. The purpose of the
paper should be to help us understand what the novel has to teach us about the issues of
war and peace, and how it does so.
DUE DATES:
Fully developed thesis paragraph, with an outline of three supporting points, and
evidence you will use, is due Friday November 21.
Full rough draft, ready for peer critique, is due Monday December 1, in class.
Final paper is due Monday December 9, in class.
Failure to meet any of the above deadlines will result in your losing one half of a full
letter grade from your paper.
FRAMING QUESTIONS:
What can we learn from a work of fiction about war, peace, conflict, and personal
growth as it unfolds in a particular historical moment?
How does a novel help us to imagine such moments from the inside out?
These larger questions should inform your specific thesis. The tools for your
analysis will come from the elements of fiction section, below.
ELEMENTS OF FICTION:
The elements of fiction include character, plot, structure, setting, theme, and
symbolic or figurative components. In writing about fiction, these elements are our
tools for our analysis.
Complex (or “rounded”) characters that show some sort of growth or change are
probably the most important focal points in a novel. Simple (or “flat”) characters help
to illustrate themes in the story, but don’t undergo much change in their fundamental
understandings of themselves or their world.
For instance, in All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul Baumer “records” his experience in
the trenches of WWI and how it changed him and other men. We see elements of his
“before” and “after” self in his narration. In particular, his encounters with two men are
significant in showing the impact of warfare on him. One of these is his forced encounter
with the dying French soldier who is his first kill. The other is his encounters with Kat,
or Katczinski, the older soldier who has experienced much and who “takes care” of the
others in his unit by finding food for them.
In this novel, Paul is the complex character who registers and observes change.
The structure of the novel is very important to the ways in which we vicariously learn
about Paul’s experiences as a soldier.
First person narration means that we have the sense of getting the story directly
from someone who experienced it.
The alternation of peaceful scenes and combat scenes helps us to develop
connections with the characters, to understand their needs as human beings, so that we
can sympathize with them when the battle heats up.
The setting of WWI and the trenches, as well as Paul’s visits home, draw on
accurate details of the historical period. This adds credibility to the narrative. It is one of
the most obvious ways that history enters the novel.
Symbolism and theme are more subtle and complex. For instance, the contrast
between the patriotic “love of the fatherland” and the soldier’s connection to the earth
helps us to explore the ironies of warfare, in which certain human beings give their lives
for abstract and symbolic reasons. Scenes in which food—so precious, scarce, and
necessary for life in this novel—is shared, evoke a sense of communion. The living eat at
the expense of the dead.
In Dreamer, Matthew Bishop and Chaym Smith are the characters who undergo change.
Bishop is more of a traditional complex character in that he is on a journey of growth and
development. Smith is more elusive, as we only see him through Bishop’s eyes.
The structure of Dreamer involves alternating narration: third person
explorations of King’s consciousness, and first person narrative from the point of view of
Matthew Bishop, an ordinary volunteer in King’s campaign.
The setting of Dreamer is the Civil Rights Movement in Illinois, moving back
and forth from Chicago and rural Southern Illinois. Details from King’s campaigns,
quotes from his speeches, and references to historical facts from his life (and veiled
biographical references to Johnson’s life) add authenticity and interest.
Symbolism and theme in this novel are made more obvious by the inclusion of
philosophy and theology and references to Biblical stories and passages. Sites such as
churches naturally become places to explore these themes, as do political rallies, racist
restaurants, and libraries. Imagery from world religions, the arts, books, and
philosophical and religious thinkers abounds in this novel, as do biblical quotes and
snippets of King’s sermons. We also have the possibility of relating the story of Cain and
Abel to the brotherhood theme in Dreamer.
POSSIBLE TOPICS
In order to write effectively about the novel, develop a thesis based on one or more
elements of the novel. Here are some ideas—
1. Choose one scene and show how it develops a theme in the novel.
The scene with the French soldier is a pivotal one in All Quiet, with plenty to discuss
concerning war, peace, the encounter with the “other” and the encounter with the self in
war time. The scenes of Chaym in the church and his healing work there could also
prove fruitful for a further exploration of character and theme in Dreamer.
2. Examine a pattern of imagery in the novel and show how it relates to a major
theme.
You might look at nature imagery in All Quiet. Or food imagery. Or explore why bodily
needs are so prominent in a soldier’s life, and the significance of this in the novel. Or,
explore the Beloved Community in Dreamer and the ways in which it is represented in
the novel. Examine the symbolic “journey south” in Dreamer, and how this comments
on the themes of African American culture and resources.
3. Examine a historical event or circumstance that is reflected in the novel and show
how the novel interprets it.
Discuss a factual element of World War I, such as the proximity of France and Germany,
and then explore the ways in which it plays out in the book—as in the encounter with the
French women.
Explore an element of King’s campaign, or one of his speeches, or Johnson’s portrayal of
a historical moment.
4. Discuss the development or growth of one of the novel’s complex characters in
relation to a particular event or encounter in the novel.
Discuss the stages of the soldier’s life as they are encountered and experienced by Paul
Baumer. Or explore the stages of the Peace Activist’s life as they are encountered by
Matthew Bishop. Or compare key moments of growth in both characters’ lives.
5. Show how one of the complex characters affects or is impacted by an encounter
or interaction with one of the other characters. What does this interaction reveal
about the value of personal relationships in this novel? In particular, how does it
explore the basis of conflict and the challenge of peacemaking in these
relationships?
In All Quiet, you could examine the relationship of Himmelstoss to Tjaden and the other
men in the second company. What does this (changing) relationship tell us about the
ways in which the war impacts people and relationships?
In Dreamer, you could explore the relationship between Chaym and Matthew, or between
Amy and Matthew, or between Amy and Chaym. How do these relationships illuminate
some of the deeper themes of the novel?
6. Write about an epigraph to the book, or a quoted passage in the book, from
another source. How does the book illuminate this passage?
For instance, you might take Remarque’s opening statement about his goal of telling
the story objectively. Do you think he achieved his aim? Why or why not? Use
evidence from the book to support your answer.
Or, you could take the quoted passage from the Drum Major speech in Dreamer.
How does the Drum Major speech help to illuminate a thematic element in the novel?
There are many possibilities, but the above list should give you an idea of the kind of
topic and focus that would be most suitable for this assignment.
While your thesis and support should be specific to your topic, you should
remember your larger purpose is to address the framing questions, above, through
this specific topic.