Assignments
In this class, you will read the following texts:
A Doll's House
Written by Henrik Ibsen (1879)
This is regarded as one of the first
feminist works.
The play focuses on a mother during
Christmas time. She feels that she can
do more with her life, but will she act
on her instincts or do her motherly
duty to her family as she always has?
The Scarlet Letter
Written by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850)
After committing adultery, a woman has
to be labeled with the letter 'A' on all of
her clothing items. The 'A' stands for
adultery. However, there is a lot of
controversy around her adulterous acts,
such as who is the father of her child.
1984
Written by George Orwell (1949)
This dystopian novel focuses on Winston
Smith during a time of full governmental
control. The government controls history,
the news, your daily schedule, and
potentially even your thoughts!
After each, you will write a literary analysis. There is no page limit on these papers.
Along with the required texts, you will also write a 5-page research paper based on an argument of your choice. However, your topic has to be approved by me prior to beginning research.
1984 VS 2017 - Compare & Contrast
There is a reason that when Trump was elected in 2016, the novel 1984 started flying off the shelves. Students will be able to discuss why the book came to be relevant again by drawing parallels between the novel and today's news. The link to the assignment can be found here.
Recommended Readings
Two Boys Kissing
Written by David Levithan (2013)
Based on true events, Harry and Craig, two 17-year-old boys, participate in a 32-hour kissing marathon to break the world record. The novel is narrated by a Greek chorus of men who lost their lives to AIDS in the 1980's.
*Disclaimer: Due to the LGBTQ+ content, you might need a parent's permission prior to reading this novel
Dead to You
Written by LIsa McMann (2012)
The story focuses on a family who had their son kidnapped at a very young age. At 16, it appears that their son had found his way back home. They live happily ever after now, right?
