Unit 1 Essay: Great Expectations
Post date: Sep 26, 2013 11:58:17 AM
In this unit we read the novel Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. This novel appears on 8 of the last 20 AP English Literature Exams in the FRQ section. Look at the essay topics below and click the links if you want to see the full topic with a list of titles to choose from. Choose ONE of the following essay topics as your unit essay.
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 well-organized essay that analyzes how that single moment shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.
“And, after all, our surroundings influence our lives and characters as much as fate, destiny or any supernatural
agency.” Pauline Hopkins, Contending Forces
Choose a novel or play in which cultural, physical, or geographical surroundings shape psychological or moral traits in a character. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how surroundings affect this character and illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.
“You can leave home all you want, but home will never leave you.”
—Sonsyrea Tate
Sonsyrea Tate’s statement suggests that “home” may be conceived of as a dwelling, a place, or a state of mind. It
may have positive or negative associations, but in either case, it may have a considerable influence on an individual.
Choose a novel or play in which a central character leaves home yet finds that home remains significant. Write a well-developed essay in which you analyze the importance of “home” to this character and the reasons for its continuing influence. Explain how the character’s idea of home illuminates the larger meaning of the work.
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.
In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, 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 as a whole.
Works of literature often depict acts of betrayal. Friends and even family may betray a protagonist; main characters may likewise be guilty of treachery or may betray their own values.
Select a novel or play that includes such acts of betrayal. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the nature of the betrayal and show how it contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Write an essay in which you discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work.
Critic Roland Barthes has said, “Literature is the question minus the answer.” Choose a novel or play and, or considering Barthes’ observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers any answers. Explain how the author’s treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.