The Open Question
In some works of literature, childhood and
adolescence are portrayed as times graced
by innocence and a sense of wonder; in other
works, they are depicted as times of
tribulation and terror. Focusing on a single
novel or play, explain how its representation
of childhood or adolescence shapes the
meaning of the work as a whole.
• Author, book, and specific topic (in this case the
presentation of childhood and adolescence) clearly
identified
• Any justification for your choice of topic (in other
words, why is Kathy’s childhood important, how is it
shown?)
• A short (2-3 sentence) plot summary covering
important events and usually helpful in justifying
your choice of topic!
• Some discussion or suggestion of the “meaning of
the work as a whole” or important themes from the
text
Morally ambiguous characters—characters whose
behavior discourages readers from identifying
them as purely evil or purely good—are at the
heart of many works of literature. Choose a novel
or play in which a morally ambiguous character
plays a pivotal role. Then write an essay in which
you explain how the character can be viewed as
morally ambiguous and why his or her moral
ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole.
Avoid mere plot summary.
Morally ambiguous characters—characters
whose behavior discourages readers from
identifying them as purely evil or purely
good—are at the heart of many works of
literature. Choose a novel or play in which a
morally ambiguous character plays a pivotal
role. Then write an essay in which you explain
how the character can be viewed as morally
ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity
is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid
mere plot summary.
BB
The morality of one character is defined by
one slight change. They can become either
good or bad. This decision is based on one
incident that can change the view of one person
greatly.
BB
The morality of one character is defined by
one slight change. They can become either
good or bad. This decision is based on one
incident that can change the view of one person
greatly.
3
JJJJ
Moral ambiguity in literature is essential to many
characters. Not being able to identify a character as good or
evil is frustrating to many readers: however, these characters
are essential to the works. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The
Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne plays the role of the morally
ambiguous character, central to the work because of her
contribution to plot and suspense.
JJJJ
Moral ambiguity in literature is essential to many
characters. Not being able to identify a character as good or
evil is frustrating to many readers: however, these characters
are essential to the works. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The
Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne plays the role of the morally
ambiguous character, central to the work because of her
contribution to plot and suspense.
5
U
In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a morally
ambiguous character, for the reader must judge Gatsby as a
morally corrupt and disillusioned character , a man obsessed
and fixated with a past lover that he so clearly admires and
idolizes. Although corrupt and indulgent, Jay Gatsby
demonstrates a profound commitment to restoring the past;
however, his misguided and immoral tactics to attract Daisy taint
this otherwise endearing tale of unrequited love.
U
In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a morally
ambiguous character, for the reader must judge Gatsby as a
morally corrupt and disillusioned character , a man obsessed
and fixated with a past lover that he so clearly admires and
idolizes. Although corrupt and indulgent, Jay Gatsby
demonstrates a profound commitment to restoring the past;
however, his misguided and immoral tactics to attract Daisy taint
this otherwise endearing tale of unrequited love.
7
UU
In the novel, Crime and Punishment, by Fydor Dostevesky,
the main character, Roskolnikov, is morally ambiguous. It is this
moral ambiguity which makes up the heart of the novel.
UU
In the novel, Crime and Punishment, by Fydor Dostevesky,
the main character, Roskolnikov, is morally ambiguous. It is this
moral ambiguity which makes up the heart of the novel.
4
DDD
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy is a
character of moral ambiguity. Although inclined by his good
looks and high income to think him benevolent and worthy of
their time, the Bennett sisters, especially Lizzie, vacillate on what
their true opinions of the man really are. Through this elusive
character, Austen achieves her aims of exposing shallow views
of marriage, forcing Elizabeth to examine her prejudices and
Mr. Darcy as well to examine his pride.
DDD
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy is a
character of moral ambiguity. Although inclined by his good
looks and high income to think him benevolent and worthy of
their time, the Bennett sisters, especially Lizzie, vacillate on what
their true opinions of the man really are. Through this elusive
character, Austen achieves her aims of exposing shallow views
of marriage, forcing Elizabeth to examine her prejudices and
Mr. Darcy as well to examine his pride.
9
• Author, book, and specific topic (in this case the
morally ambiguous character) clearly identified
• Any justification for your choice of topic (in other
words, if Hester is morally ambiguous, why?)
• A short (2-3 sentence) plot summary covering
important events and usually helpful in justifying
your choice of topic!
• Some discussion or suggestion of the “meaning of
the work as a whole” or important themes from the
text
2007
In many works of literature, past events can
affect, positively or negatively, the present
actions, attitudes, or values of a character.
Choose a novel or play in which a character
must contend with some aspect of the past,
either personal or societal. Then write an essay
in which you show how the character’s
relationship to the past contributes to the
meaning of the work.
H
The past can help define who a person is. Events in the
past influence choices and future events to the point of by habit.
The marks left by a past life are permanent and can greatly
determine what path a person will take in the future.
H
The past can help define who a person is. Events in the
past influence choices and future events to the point of by habit.
The marks left by a past life are permanent and can greatly
determine what path a person will take in the future.
3
C
In “The Great Gatsby”, Jay Gatsby falls in love with a girl
named Daisy while he is in the army and the rest of his actions
in the novel are motivated solely by his desire to obtain her.
Throughout the novel Gatsby does many things in order to gain
the love of Daisy which eventually lead to his death. Gatsby’s
love of Daisy in the past which leads to his later obsession
contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole by
emphasizing the novel’s theme that money cannot buy
happiness.
C
In “The Great Gatsby”, Jay Gatsby falls in love with a girl
named Daisy while he is in the army and the rest of his actions
in the novel are motivated solely by his desire to obtain her.
Throughout the novel Gatsby does many things in order to gain
the love of Daisy which eventually lead to his death. Gatsby’s
love of Daisy in the past which leads to his later obsession
contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole by
emphasizing the novel’s theme that money cannot buy
happiness.
5
U
The mistakes Willy Loman had made in the past effected
every aspect of his life up until his inevitable demise. In “Death
of a Salesman” the head of a family makes a mistake that
alters the path of his, and his families life for good. The failed
pursuit of the American Dream, his descent into madness, and
the seperation of his family are all due to Willy’s faults.
Without this climactic fault the play wouldn’t have the same
effect or demonstrate the statement about people that it makes
at all.
U
The mistakes Willy Loman had made in the past effected
every aspect of his life up until his inevitable demise. In “Death
of a Salesman” the head of a family makes a mistake that
alters the path of his, and his families life for good. The failed
pursuit of the American Dream, his descent into madness, and
the separation of his family are all due to Willy’s faults.
Without this climactic fault the play wouldn’t have the same
effect or demonstrate the statement about people that it makes
at all.
6
FFFF
Set in the first quarter of the 20th century, William
Faulkner’s The Sound and the fury caricatures the rise and fall
of the Old South in the allegorical decline of the Compson
family. The oldest son and heir of the Compson’s now destitute
fortune is personified as the South’s resistence to modernize, to
rejoin the world after the formerly glamorized way of life was
set in a waning morbundity in 1865. Quentin Compson’s
obsession with the past, most deftly exemplified in the incessant
presence of clocks, and Faulkner’s employment
FFFF
Set in the first quarter of the 20th century, William
Faulkner’s The Sound and the fury caricatures the rise and fall
of the Old South in the allegorical decline of the Compson
family. The oldest son and heir of the Compson’s now destitute
fortune is personified as the South’s resistence to modernize, to
rejoin the world after the formerly glamorized way of life was
set in a waning morbundity in 1865. Quentin Compson’s
obsession with the past, most deftly exemplified in the incessant
presence of clocks, and Faulkner’s employment
9