Possible Topics for the Essay

Now that you're well underway with your reading, it would be helpful for you to know what you'll have to write about for the essay.  Something to keep in mind as you're going along.  So here's what I've come up with.

The Essay

            This summer I am giving you two general options: one is the more traditional, “Formal Academic Essay”, and another more informal approach.  There are options available under each.

            Now, there are a couple of things that you should bear in mind, and they apply to either approach.

1)    A good essay is like an iceberg.  The final product that you turn in is only the tip of the iceberg.  It’s all that’s showing, but – like an iceberg – there’s more that you don’t see.  That’s the thought and preparation that went into the paper.  They say that three-quarters of the iceberg in unseen – underwater.  So think of your paper the same way.  For every hour you spend writing the paper, you should have spent three hours preparing -- thinking, planning, outlining.

2)    Organization is the key to good writing.  If you’re doing the Formal Academic Essay, you will be employing the basic five-paragraph essay format.  Introduction (with thesis), the Body (supporting evidence), Conclusion.  With the informal approach, things can get a little dicey.  You don’t have that nice built-in structure.  It’s easy to lose focus, and for the paper to become a jumbled mess of thoughts.  In that case, organizing prior to writing is essential.

Your Options

Formal

Option I – Compare (and Contrast) Hedda and Eustacia

            Both characters are women in male-dominated societies.  Eustacia is young, still a teen-ager.  Hedda is “old”, marriage-wise (in her thirties).  Both feel a bit superior to those around them.  Both try to take control of their lives, but are limited by the opportunities available to them (as women, and to a degree, financially).  Both are finally defeated (although Hedda night not see it that way).

Option II – Compare (and Contrast) Hedda and Thea.

            One is a bully, the other the victim.  One has status, and one has none.  One is weak and one is strong.  (Or let’s says they are both weak, and both strong, in different ways).

Option III – A Close Reading of the Hedda – Lovborg relationship.

            A lot of people get this wrong.  Only a bit of their relationship is on the page.  You have to look into what their relationship was like in the past.  (Hint: Hedda is not out to destroy Lovborg.  She’s trying to live vicariously through him, not being brave enough to live for herself.)

Informal

WARNING!  Be sure to make specific references to events of the novel and play.  I can easily foresee someone getting caught up with “the problem with men is. . .” and not tying those observations to the works/characters in question.

            What might make this easier is the fact that your characters have to explain things to another character who is totally unaware of her circumstances.  (This is always how you want to approach  your audience in a piece of critical analysis – which is what all these papers are.)

Option I – Two Strangers on a Train

            Hedda and Eustacia find themselves together on a train.  They begin chatting, comparing notes about their life stories.

Option II – Group Therapy Session

            This one gives you the benefit of a facilitator, which should make it easier to keep the paper from spinning out of control.  Change subjects, ask particular questions.

            Present of course are Eustacia and Hedda, discussing their issues with their lives (and the men in their lives).  But if you want to, invite in Thea, and Thomasin, and even that old bitty, Mrs. Yeobright.