Topic
For
the essay, I would like you to compare one character from A Moon for the
Misbegotten and one from In the Beauty of the Lilies.
Compare
Jim Tyrone to one of the male characters in Lilies: Clarence, Teddy, or
Clark. Or, compare Josie Hogan to one of
the following female characters in Lilies: Stella, Emily, Esther, or
Essie (Alma).
I
recommend reading A Moon for the Misbegotten first, to get a feel for
Jim and Josie. They are both wounded
individuals. Josie has an underlying
strength, which Jim no longer has. Then,
as you make your way through Lilies, begin to identify the character that you
can work with. Look for
similarities. (Note: you’re not looking
for identical matches. When you are
asked to “compare”, remember that “contrast” is always implied.)
Once
you’ve done all that, and before you write the essay, go back and skim through
each work. Re-read those particular
sections where you see similarities.
Then think about the examples you will use to support your thesis.
The Essay
Itself
Any
work of writing (any creative work of art, I suppose), is like an iceberg. The final product is only the top 20%. The remaining 80% is hidden, underwater if
you will. So for every hour you spend
writing the actual essay, there should be four hours of pre-writing.
The
final product should be a six-paragraph essay.
Paragraph
1 – Introduction and thesis. Give your
reader a brief introduction to the characters you have chosen, and tell us what
to be looking for: that is, the gist of the comparison you will be making
between the two characters you have chosen.
Paragraph
2 – First characteristic of character A.
It should be a significant aspect of his/her character, needless to
say. Explain where and how this
characteristic shows itself (and perhaps why).
Don’t try to do too much in a single paragraph.
Paragraph
3 – Two ways to go here. A) Corresponding characteristic of character B
(with supporting evidence). Or, B)
second characteristic of character A.
Paragraph
4 – Second characteristic of character A, or B) first characteristic of
character B. If you’re going with the
second approach – first one character, then the other – make sure that your
correspondences are apparent to your reader.
Paragraph
5 – One or the other.
Paragraph
6 – Review and recap your thesis and the connections that you have made between
your two characters.
How Long?
How
long is a bridge? Long enough to do the
job. In this case, thin three to five
pages. No more than five pages,
please. Concision is a virtue of good
writing.
