What is Cather trying to tell us?

The central questions of this paper are:
1. What is Cather trying to tell us? and,
2. How do we know?
Acocella
tells us that Cather criticism gets carried away when scholars provide
claims with doubtful evidence. For this paper, make an argument about A
Lost Lady that you find particularly interesting. Use evidence from the
text as well as evidence from Cather’s biography and other criticism to
explain to your reader why you are defending your particular stance.
For
example, some students have argued that Cather reflects her own
thoughts when Marian says that money is more important than love. What
would naysayers claim about this argument? Why would they be wrong? What
do we know about Cather’s life that would indicate that she’d be
interested in presenting this view of love?
Other
students have argued that Cather wrote this book in the style of
modernists. Some have argued that Cather treats the marsh as a character
that can be either beautiful or useful, but not both. Some papers argue
that Niel is the central character, and his lessons are the central
lessons of the book, while others argue the same for Marian..
If you are uncertain about your idea for a topic, you can email me. Good luck!

Grading
Your final grade will be determined by the following:
• A clear thesis that is easily identified which will explain the purpose and
scope of the paper. 10 pts
• An analysis of the text itself, including a brief summary and direct quotes
from the text to support your arguments. 20 pts
• A brief exploration of Cather’s biography and why it may (or may not) be
relevant to your analysis of the work. 20 pts
• Well-documented evidence that backs up your claims, including other critical
analysis, biographical information, and the text itself. Use careful attention
differentiating your ideas from your sources’ ideas. 20 pts
• Evidence of a thorough understanding and consideration of alternative views
and counterarguments. 10 pts
• An easy-to-follow structure with clear transitions, and a summary of your
findings in your conclusion. 10 pts
• Few or no grammatical or mechanical errors. 1o pts

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