- Write a paper comparing and contrasting a scene, character, motif, image, or theme in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations (1860-61), David Lean's Great Expectations (1946), and Alfonso Cuarón's Great Expectations (1997). The scene or other element does not have to appear in all three texts, but its absence from one or two of the texts must be accounted for as part of your argument. The object of this assignment is not to discuss whether a movie is "faithful" to its original. Rather you should work to develop a thesis about aspects of the three texts that illuminate one another in suggestive ways. You might consider issues of gender, social class, attitudes toward money, urban life, violence, justice, or generational differences. Alternatively, you might consider formal questions--issues of style, development of scene, genre, point of view, imagery, or narrative sequence. Whatever aspects of the three texts you discuss, be sure to illustrate your thesis by focusing closely on a particular element from each work.
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This topic is a variant of the first. Write a paper
comparing and contrasting a scene, character, motif, image, or theme in
Jane Austen's Persuasion (1818), Douglas McGrath's Emma (1996),
and Amy Heckerling's Clueless (1995). The same advice as above
applies to this topic. If you want to compare characters, however,
you will have to focus on traits that are shared on the basis of age, class,
gender, etc., since the characters are not versions of the same person.
- Write a critique of Henry Churchill's "Jane Austen Information Page," focusing on the material found in one or more of the following links (found toward the bottom of Churchill's Longer Table of Contents). Approximately half of your paper should be devoted to discussing how some aspect of Austen's Persuasion is illuminated (or not) by the information located on Churchill's web site.
- Education, Women's Education, and "Accomplishments".
- "Accomplishments".
- Marriage and the Alternatives: The Status of Women.
- Emma on Old-Maidhood.
- The plight of governesses, from Charlotte Brontë's Shirley
- Jane Austen's opinion on the infidelities of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
- The wedding ceremony ("Form of Solemnization of Matrimony") from the Church of England Book of Common Prayer
- Money and Marriage.
- Other historical notes:
- Illustrations of Regency clothing styles
- Other Regency illustrations
- Jane Austen's literary classification, and definitions of chronological periods
- Jane Austen's declarations on her own art.
- Jane Austen's correspondence with Mr. Clarke.
- Advice to her niece Anna on Novel-Writing.
- December 16th 1816, to James Edward Austen.
- Diagram of Jane Austen's literary influences
- The "Defense of the Novel".
- Jane Austen's Limitations.
- Feminism in Jane Austen.
- Jane Austen quotes on gender differences
- Jane Austen's literary reputation.
- Notes on Jane Austen's relationship to the society of her day.
- The ideal and the improbable vs. the real.
- Quotes from Jane Austen on the "heroic" (i.e. falsely idealized) vs. the "natural".
- Coincidences in Austen's Novels?
- Trollope.
Notes on the society of Jane Austen's time (especially with respect to Pride and Prejudice).
Jane Austen's Art and her Literary Reputation.
Charlotte Brontë's Letters
Write a critique of George Landow's "Great Expectations Page," focusing on the material found in one or more of the links on this page. Approximately half of your paper should be devoted to discussing how some aspect of Dickens's Great Expectations is illuminated (or not) by the information located on Landow's web site. Further directions for topics 3 and 4.
Second Paper (5-7 pages):
Directions for submitting papers via email attachments.Write a paper comparing two of our authors--Charlotte
Bronte, Collins, and Trollope--on one of the following issues:
- anti-semitism
class differences
colonialism (i.e. India, the Caribbean)
the English country house
friendship
the gentleman
governesses
physical appearance, beauty, or the body
power or mastery
horses and riding
law and legal procedure
love
lying or deception
marriage
nature
private property (diamonds, jewelry, clothes, etc.)
professions
servants
sexuality
| Jay Clayton |
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