In the Time of the Butterflies Paper

In the Time of the Butterflies Essay Topics

Choose one of the essay topics below. You are to write a 2-4 page essay. Your essay should be written in MLA format. Your essay should include direct quotations from the novel to support your argument. In doing this, you must include in-text citations and a works cited page. If you chose option 1, I can provide you with the correct citation information for the movie.

1. Compare and contrast the novel version of In the Time of the Butterflies to the movie version. What similarities and differences did you notice? What affect did these differences have on the movie? Why do you think Mariano Barroso, the director, chose to implement these differences in his movie?

· You may write this option as a persuasive. You can persuade readers why the book or novel was better based off of the differences between them. (You do not have to include a rational for the director’s changes in this writing option.)

· You may write this as an informative paper given both positive and negative similarities and differences between the movie and novel. In doing this, you will leave it up to the reader to decide which they think is better. (You do not have to include a rational for the director’s changes in this writing option.)

· You may discuss the similarities and differences (or just the differences) between the novel and movie, while pointing out possible rational as to why the director may have made those changes or kept those parts the same.

2. The portions of the book written from Patria Mirabal's point of view deal with religious themes and include many biblical allusions (references to something else). How does Patria develop from an idealistic young Catholic girl to a woman who doubts? When does this change occur? Can it be argued that her faith is stronger in the end, even though she has some serious religious doubts?

3. Why might Alvarez have chosen not to write from the point of view of any of the men? For this essay, explore two of the male characters—whether Señor Mirabal or the Mirabal sisters' husbands—and discover how important they are to the underground rebellion.