The Art of Literature
THE OPEN QUESTION
by Joan Nichols
The Open Question
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Focus on the artist/ focus on the craft!
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THESE ESSAYS ARE ABOUT WHAT THE AUTHOR
IS DOING!!
( Focusing on the author will keep you from just
summarizing the plot- a major cause of the lower
level essays)
THE UNIVERSAL
( ABSTRACT) IN
LITERATURE
Novels and Plays focus on
deeply human experiences:
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Shame
Silence
Redemption
Loyalty
Cruelty
Trust
Friendship
Home
Courage
Guilt
Resilience
Discrimination
Fear
Family ties
Power
Awakenings
Universal topics con’t
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Change versus
tradition
Chaos and order
Character in the face
of outside forces – or
impending destruction,
Circle of life
Coming of age
Conformity to societal
expectations
More Universal topics
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Illusion vs reality
Immortality
Individual versus society
Injustice vs justice
Isolation-Isolationism –
Knowledge versus
ignorance
Loneliness as destructive
force
Losing hope
Loss of innocence
Lost honor
The AP prompt 2013find the topic!
A bildungsroman, or coming- of – age novel,
recounts the psychological or moral
development of its protagonist from youth
to maturity, when this character recognizes
his or her place in the world. Select a
single pivotal moment in the psychological
or moral development of the protagonist
of a bildungsroman. Then write a wellorganized essay that analyzes how that
single moment shapes the meaning of the
work as a whole.
BOOKS/ DRAMAS /EPIC POEMS
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Prepare in advance!!! A major advantage on
this exam!
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Choose from the list provided or have
several major works in mind. A rich text
will cover many universal themes!
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Know the names of the characters and the
authors? Know how to spell them! Know
the themes and how they are traced through
the text. Major works data sheet!!!!!
Step 2- Match the text with the topic!
Jot down a few in the margin.
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What is this author doing with the
topic of a coming of age in The
POISONWOOD BIBLE Runner? What
is the reader supposed to
understand?
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What is this author doing with the
topic of a coming of age in Hamlet?
What is the audience supposed to
recognize in the end?
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What is this author doing with the
topic of a coming of age in
Huckleberry Finn? What reaction is
sought from the reader?
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What is this author doing with the
topic of a coming of age in To Kill a
Mockingbird . What are we to learn in
the end through the eyes of the Scout?
STEP 3-
ANSWER THE PROMPT (AP)
by turning it into questions!
You must identify the protagonist Who? Why?
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WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR WANT TO SAY?
(MEANING OF THE WORK AS A WHOLE)
Formulate answers to these questions before you
ever begin writing! It is ok to take time to plan!
MAKE A PLAN
GATHER YOUR DATA!
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FOR THE OPEN ESSAY - You
must know which specific
incidents or scenes from the text
that can demonstrate your
claims.
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You must know the sequence of
the significant scenes.
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You must know some significant
quotes that reflect the “meaning
of the work as a whole.” ( This
means theme!)
Novel Sequence
First significant
scene
Second
significant scene
Shift in plot or character
Third significant
scene
PIVOTAL
MOMENT!!
Epiphany
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NO DATA? = NO UPPER
LEVEL SCORE
Fifth significant
scene
Sixth significant
scene
COVER THE BASICS
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The Introduction: Begin with the universal idea - move to the contextand thesis ( what the author is doing! ) THIS PART MUST ANSWER THE
QUESTION!
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The Body Paragraphs: these should be fully developed – this means
multiple examples that trace a progression through the text
Claims- convince me that you know what the author is doing
Data- discuss the scenes in the novel or play ( IN ORDER) which best
demonstrate the progression ( beginning, middle, end) or shifts in the
character’s understanding. Have some theme or character based quotes
ready to use that will support your essay well and advance your
argument.
Commentaries- tell me the effect of the scenes- how do they change the
reader’s perspective or reinforce our understanding.
CONCLUSIONS? YES OR NO?
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YES - IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING FRESH
TO SAY- something insightful that you want
to leave the reader thinking about.
NO- IF YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO
RESTATE YOUR THREE MAINS POINTS
AND BORE ME( this kind of repetition is the sign of a weaker
writer)
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