1. Discuss and analyze Melville’s use of point of view in Benito Cereno.
2. Analyze the function of ‘race’ in Benito Cereno
3. Discuss the meanings attached to the name of Benito and Babo’s ship in Benito Cereno
4. Analyze Melville’s use of symbol in Benito Cereno
5. Discuss the reasons Melville changes the “real” date of the incidents narrated in Benito Cereno to 1799; discuss whatever other changes Melville made to Delano’s original narrative.
6. Analyze how Melville makes meaning in the “barber scene” in Benito Cereno, with special emphasis on the various points of view (Babo’s, Cereno’s Delano’s) and the idea of performance
7. Explain what Cereno means when he answers Delano’s question by saying “the Negro” and what Melville’s readers (1855) were meant to read that answer
8. Explain the critique Melville intends by his use of the phrase “follow your leader”
9. Compare racial performance in Benito Cereno and Pudd’nhead Wilson
10. Analyze the trope of appearance in Pudd’nhead Wilson, regarding clothes, language, and race
11. Discuss the trope of doubleness in Pudd’nhead Wilson
12. Discuss the problem of sexuality in Pudd’nhead Wilson
13. Analyze the problem of nature vs. nature as presented in Pudd’nhead Wilson
14. Analyze the satire and tragedy of legalism as critiqued in Pudd’nhead Wilson
15. Discuss the problem of “identity” in Pudd’nhead Wilson
16. Compare Roxana to Homer Plessy
17. Analyze the ramifications of “the second slavery” in Pudd’nhead Wilson
18. Pudd’nhead Wilson: hero or villain? Roxana: hero or villain?
19. Discuss Pudd’nhead Wilson as nightmare
20. Analyze the double theme in Douglass’s Narrative
21. Citing examples, discuss Doglass’s writing style in his Narrative
22. Analyze the theme of Douglass and violence
People: A question arose about additional Douglass secondary/critical sources beyond the chapter in Sundquist, “Douglass’s Revisions”. Below are three:
1. Critical Essays on Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of 1845, William L Andrews, ed. Several excellent essays; this volume can be found on JStor
2. “Psychoanalytic Literary Criticisms of American Romanticism in Literature as Reflected in The Narrative …” Didik Maiwantono
3. Kwame Dawes on Frederick Douglass’s Narrative…” This evaluative essay can be found at Lit Hub
People: A question arose about additional Douglass secondary/critical sources beyond the chapter in Sundquist, “Douglass’s Revisions”. Below are three:
1. Critical Essays on Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of 1845, William L Andrews, ed. Several excellent essays; this volume can be found on JStor
2. “Psychoanalytic Literary Criticisms of American Romanticism in Literature as Reflected in The Narrative …” Didik Maiwantono
3. Kwame Dawes on Frederick Douglass’s Narrative…” This evaluative essay can be found at Lit Hub
1. Critical Essays on Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of 1845, William L Andrews, ed. Several excellent essays; this volume can be found on JStor
2. “Psychoanalytic Literary Criticisms of American Romanticism in Literature as Reflected in The Narrative …” Didik Maiwantono
3. Kwame Dawes on Frederick Douglass’s Narrative…” This evaluative essay can be found at Lit Hub
23. Discuss how the beating of Aunt Hester reverberates throughout Douglass’s Narrative
24. Analyze the ways in which Douglass finds himself both inside and outside slavery as recounted in his Narrative
People: Please find below the topics for the second paper. Be mindful of the specific requests, e.g., Analyze, compare, discuss, &c. Again, you MUST use the critical essays that have been discussed or assigned in class as support in your paper. The usual grammar restrictions apply. The papers should be at least 6-10 pages, using MLA conventions. Choose only one topic
1. Discuss and analyze Melville’s use of point of view in Benito Cereno
2. Analyze the function of ‘race’ in Benito Cereno
3. Discuss the meanings attached to the name of Benito and Babo’s ship in Benito Cereno
4. Analyze Melville’s use of symbol in Benito Cereno
5. Discuss the reasons Melville changes the “real” date of the incidents narrated in Benito Cereno to 1799; discuss whatever other changes Melville made to Delano’s original narrative.
6. Analyze how Melville makes meaning in the “barber scene” in Benito Cereno, with special emphasis on the various points of view (Babo’s, Cereno’s Delano’s) and the idea of performance
7. Explain what Cereno means when he answers Delano’s question by saying “the Negro” and what Melville’s readers (1855) were meant to read that answer
8. Explain the critique Melville intends by his use of the phrase “follow your leader”
9. Compare racial performance in Benito Cereno and Pudd’nhead Wilson
10. Analyze the trope of appearance in Pudd’nhead Wilson, regarding clothes, language, and race
11. Discuss the trope of doubleness in Pudd’nhead Wilson
12. Discuss the problem of sexuality in Pudd’nhead Wilson
13. Analyze the problem of nature vs. nature as presented in Pudd’nhead Wilson
14. Analyze the satire and tragedy of legalism as critiqued in Pudd’nhead Wilson
15. Discuss the problem of “identity” in Pudd’nhead Wilson
16. Compare Roxana to Homer Plessy
17. Analyze the ramifications of “the second slavery” in Pudd’nhead Wilson
18. Pudd’nhead Wilson: hero or villain? Roxana: hero or villain?
19. Discuss Pudd’nhead Wilson as nightmare
20. Analyze the double theme in Douglass’s Narrative
21. Citing examples, discuss Doglass’s writing style in his Narrative
22. Analyze the theme of Douglass and violence
23. Discuss how the beating of Aunt Hester reverberates throughout Douglass’s Narrative
24. Analyze the ways in which Douglass finds himself both inside and outside slavery as recounted in his Narrative
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