A Comparative Study of The Grapes of Wrath and The Great Gatsby
Guidelines:
1. Choice of Topic:
• Focus solely on one of the topics provided.
2. Resources:
• You can access all literary and other relevant texts.
• Ensure any outside sources are credible. Be cautious with internet sources; their reliability is as good as the author behind them.
3. Length and Format:
• Your essay should be between 1500 - 2000 words, excluding quotations and references.
• Adhere to APA conventions throughout your essay.
4. Content:
• Discuss not only the texts but also the contexts in which they were written.
• Mention other relevant books, whether read by you or your classmates, that relate to the topic.
• Utilize the writing tips provided on Canvas.
5. Rubric:
• Argumentation (70%): Ensure your content relates to the question and the literary texts. Properly introduce and integrate quotations and titles (APA). Support your points with relevant quotations. Place the works accurately in their historical context and describe them in terms of the prevalent genres of their period. Make original arguments and connections between American (literary) history, cultural contexts, and the literary works being analyzed.
• Organization and Writing (30%): Your essay should be of CI level proficiency. Ensure a clear introduction, thesis, and well-structured body paragraphs. Use transitions for clarity and maintain correct word choice.
6. General Writing Tips:
• Introduction: Justify your choice of the two books by linking them to the essay topic.
• Thesis Writing: Ensure your thesis is concrete, direct, and relevant to the prompt. Limit your thesis to points that are fully discussed and illustrated.
• Body Paragraphs: Begin with well-chosen topic sentences that refer back to the thesis.
• Making Claims: Double-check historical facts, ensure claims are supported by scenes and quotations from the book, and comment extensively on longer quotes.
• Other Tips: Use the present tense for literary characters. Underline or italicize novel titles. Place quotation marks around titles of essays and poems.
7. Aspects to Highlight for Better Scoring:
• Originality of the argument.
• Content relevance to the question and literary texts.
• Connections between American (literary) history, cultural contexts, and the analyzed literary works.
• Support from the text, such as paraphrasing and naming events in the plot.
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Final Note: Aim for originality in your content, structure, and wording. Consider the narrative technique, unexpected contrasts, nuanced wording, and insights into the novel's art for a more original approach.
The TEXAS-structure is really important.
So:
1) Introduction that ends with thesis statement
2) Body paragraphs that begin with a clear topic sentence. The topic sentence refers to elements of the thesis statement.
3) The conclusion starts with a thesis restatement
If possible and appropriate make mention of one of these books which also apply to this topic:
Unit 3 (From Romanticism to Realism)
A choice of:
Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening
Langhorne Clemens, Samuel (a.k.a. Mark Twain). Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Howells, William Dean. The Rise of Silas Lapham
Unit 4 (The Roaring Twenties and Modernism)
A choice of:
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby
Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises
Cather, Willa. My Àntonia
Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury
Unit 5 (Hope and Disillusionment between the Wars)
A choice of:
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath
McCullers, Carson. The Member of the Wedding and The Ballad of the Sad Café
Wright, Richard. Native Son
Larsen, Nella. Passing and Quicksand
Unit 6 (Post-War Discontent and the Beat Generation)
A choice of:
Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse-Five
Kerouac, Jack. On the Road
Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar
Kesey, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Unit 7 (Postmodernism and Diversity)
A choice of:
Walker, Alice. The Color Purple
Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club
Alexie, Sherman. Reservation Blues or (recommended) Tommy Orange. There, There.
Castillo, Ana. So Far from God
For clarity, please make sure the outline is the following (could be less or more body paragraphs)
Introduction
Ends with thesis with elements A, B, C, D.
Body paragraph 1: Topic sentence with element A + argumentation (TEXAS structure)
Body paragraph 2: Topic sentence with element B + argumentation (TEXAS structure)
Body paragraph 3: Topic sentence with element C + argumentation (TEXAS structure)
Body paragraph 4: Topic sentence with element D + argumentation (TEXAS structure)
Restatement of the thesis with element A,B,C,D
Conclusion
Don't forget the quotations from the 2 books and possibly external sources or mentioning from books from the reading list.
Geography's Role in Shaping Resilience and the American Dream: A Comparative Study of The Grapes of Wrath and The Great Gatsby
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The juxtaposed portrayals of the Western United States in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby elucidate the intricate and multifaceted nature of the American psyche during the early twentieth century. The selection of these texts leads to a meandering analysis of the complicated social and existential forces that define the narratives, driven by their profound use of location and the theme concept of the American West. This rich tapestry depicts a setting in which the protagonists’ hopes and desolation are wonderfully highlighted and obscured by the terrible realities of their surroundings. By navigating this intricate terrain, it explores the complicated and frequently contradictory relationship between setting and topic, character and fate, and idealism and realism. This paper will analyze John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, illustrating these iconic literary works' profound contrasts and connections. The Grapes of Wrath and The Great Gatsby are narrative tools that intricately employ geography to symbolize human resilience amidst adversity and utilize the Western landscape as a rich tapestry, encapsulating the intricate layers of the American dream entwining stories of hope and disillusionment; in addition, they illuminate complex social and class dynamics.
Firstly, the two novels employ geography to symbolize human resiliency amidst all trials. In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck vividly portrays the Dust Bowl’s environment as a powerful symbol of human resilience and survival. Steinbeck eloquently shows the Dust Bowl’s suffocating atmosphere as a poignant emblem of human perseverance and survival. It represents a striking junction between human perseverance and geographical adversity through this passage: “They crawled up the slopes, and the low twisted trees covered the slopes. Holbrook, Joseph City, Winslow. And then the tall trees began, and the cars spouted steam and labored up the slopes” (Steinbeck, 1939, p.161). However, the Joad family exhibits unflinching tenacity and an unbreakable kinship, which are beacons of hope in a cruel and merciless world. As they go out west, propelled by economic hardship and the devastation of the Dust Bowl, their migration goes beyond physical displacement. It evolves into a group effort, a joint mission to battle the societal injustices and natural disasters that plague their existence. The novel depicts how the Joads’ suffering pulls them unknowingly closer to other migrant families, building deep and genuine bonds. As they find refuge and strength in one another, the displaced develop a shared identity because of their experiences. This sense of oneness and solidarity becomes a driving force in their life, shattering the myth that geographical barriers should hinder interpersonal relationships. Steinbeck’s story demonstrates the human spirit's tenacity in the face of great odds. It highlights how adversity can catalyze genuine human connections, demonstrating that even in the most challenging circumstances, individuals can join and support one another, eventually triumphing over the adversities that threaten to tear them apart.
Similarly, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, geography is a striking emblem of human persistence in the face of misfortune. For instance, the green light at the end of Daisy's dock across the harbor from Gatsby's estate becomes a recurring symbol throughout the novel. It symbolizes Gatsby's unwavering faith and determination in pursuing the elusive American Dream and Daisy's love. The geographical distance between Gatsby and the green light emphasizes