A question that has been brought up quite a few times in my literature classes is how to change the canon to include more diverse literature. First, we need to define what makes a "classic" a "classic." Is it that they were written so long ago and people still read them? Or does the novel hold something else entirely? Another aspect I have noticed when reading or browsing over deemed classic novels is how male dominated the canon is. Yes, we have Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters and Alcott and Harper Lee, but overall, female authors are few and far between in the original canon. White male authors dominate. Why is that? How does the dismantling begin? Does it need to happen or should we simply leave the canon well enough alone?
Another question to add to the list of why "classics" are dominated by white male authors might be: to what extent do the market forces acting on and created by a publishing "industry" leave the canon relatively untouched by anyone outside the DWM (dead white male) zone? – pjoshualaskey8 years ago
This topic calls for an analysis of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, specifically in regards to how both wealth and poverty are portrayed within the novel. How do the rich live in East and West Egg as opposed to the poor in the Valley of Ashes? What is implied by this portrayal? What can readers learn from Fitzgerald's portrayal about attitudes about class in the 1920s?
Wealth and poverty have always been tangled together in the landscape of the class struggles of the 1920s. The way they are depicted in the novel is a brutal, realistic representation of the realities of the time. – Kaya8 years ago
Analyze any presidential speech from a current nominee or former president. What made their speech successful and what could they of done better? Review their rhetoric and how it is relevant to the situation. What is being said, who are is the speaker's audience and what is their purpose? Are there specific events that have caused this speech? (Ex; Bush 9/11 Speech or Eisenhower's Little Rock Speech) use specific evidence to back up your claim with reasoning.
Lloyd Bitzer's "Rhetorical Situation" could be a useful reference for someone doing this kind of analysis. – Matt Sautman8 years ago
Edgar Allan Poe is widely known as the first, and the best horror story writer. The way he describes the tortures of his stories uses such a wide range of adjectives in a way that horror movies today just can't seem to recreate. Is there any proof or validity to the statement that he is the best at his craft?
I think this is an interesting topic but maybe a bit more of an argument for a topic.
He's given a lot of credit but there's a number of other writers that are thrown around as "best". Like Shelley, Lovecraft, Stoker, even King. Maybe an article detailing Poe's influence – ivanly8 years ago
Examination of the criteria for good horror might be different for some. Poe is not so much the master of gory details as he is a master of suspense. Many of the deaths in his stories are slow and anticipated. This, as least for his fans, is more horrific than a stranger in the bushes with a knife. It is also his use of first person narrator, where we are often trapped in the mind of the killer, that sets him apart, at least in his day, from others. Perhaps the idea that instead of being the victim, the reader feels like they are a helpless witness, is more terrifying, and therefore more powerful horror. Are there horror movies that utilize that device much? Even if there are, it's not as easy to slip into the killer's mind in a movie as it is in prose. What might make him "the best", is that the device doesn't translate to film well enough to rival him. – wtardieu8 years ago
I think we also have to take into account regionalism. Was Poe only known in America or did his influence span to Europe and other regions? Are we narrowing the scope to only America or broadening it to include other areas of the world? I, personally, wouldn't classify Poe as a horror writer, rather I would say he's a suspense, thriller, or psychological writer. His stories are not full of blood and gore, but the supernatural and the psyche. His works challenge readers to think beyond the comfort of their own mind, and a psychoanalytical reading would be a good fit here. There is also the question of how the 19th C. defined horror and how is that genre defined now? Does Poe still fit in with that genre, or have his works moved to another area of literature? – krae298 years ago
Edgar Allan Poe was a genius. But I feel like a lot of what he wrote wasn't so much 'fear inducing' as 'disturbia inducing'. Was he the best horror writer? Not to me, in as much as he wasn't strictly 'horror'. Was the first? Possibly, because he ALSO wrote horror in addition to much else. Are there other horror writers in the English language who surpass him? Perhaps, but they all DEFINITELY owe him a strong debt. – JayBird8 years ago
Shakespeare created so many words still used in English and he used language to build meanings behind words and sentences in a way that was revolutionary at its time. How did his manipulation of the English language shape modern speech, vocabulary or language norms? The focus would not be on the content of his plays, but how he used language within the plays.
Shakespeare has had a greater impact on the English language than most people are aware of. First of all, many of our modern idioms are derivative from Shakespeare's plays. For example, if you ever said there's a method to your madness, you were in fact quoting Hamlet,or if you've ever referred to jealousy as a "green-eyed monster" than you have quoted Othello, or perhaps your name is Jessica, your nomenclature is one of Shakespearian creation! Other sayings include, "in a pickle", "the mind's eye, "rhyme or reason", "woe is me" and many more. In addition to his common phrases that have withstood the sands of time, Shakespeare's heavy use of literary devices such as metaphor, alliteration, simile and personification have been incredibly influential to writers for the past 450 years. Shakespeare is the most iconic writer of all time and he is in no way overrated, he may even be underrated. Shakespeare is a catalyst for much of American language and culture and without him our language would perhaps be more dull not to mention The Lion King would never have been created, thus my childhood would have be deprived. – sastephens8 years ago
Shakespeare has had a greater impact on the English language than most people are aware of. First of all, many of our modern idioms are derivative from Shakespeare's plays. For example, if you ever said there's a method to your madness, you were in fact quoting Hamlet,or if you've ever referred to jealousy as a "green-eyed monster" than you have quoted Othello, or perhaps your name is Jessica, your nomenclature is one of Shakespearian creation! Other sayings include, "in a pickle", "the mind's eye, "rhyme or reason", "woe is me" and many more. In addition to his common phrases that have withstood the sands of time, Shakespeare's heavy use of literary devices such as metaphor, alliteration, simile and personification have been incredibly influential to writers for the past 450 years. Shakespeare is the most iconic writer of all time and he is in no way overrated, he may even be underrated. Shakespeare is a catalyst for much of American language and culture and without him our language would perhaps be more dull not to mention The Lion King would never have been created, thus my childhood would have be deprived. – sastephens8 years ago
Why do so many books and movies come in threes? Blade, Austin Powers, Scream, The Hunger Games Trilogy… the list goes on for ages, regardless of genre. Is this just the perfect number of books or movies that are needed to wrap something up?
Nice topic. The writer should also consider looking beyond the formal and technical aspects of trilogies and examine the historical antecedents of contemporary trilogies. There might even be some value in discussing ancient Greek plays that came in three and ancient Indian epics whose three-part structures were prototypical versions of modern books and films. – IsidoreIsou8 years ago
There's an opportunity to take this topic in a number of interesting directions. The writer may consider exploring "omne trium perfectum" or the "rule of three" used in writing, comedy, fairy tales, rhetoric, poems etc... Why is it that things that come in three are more satisfying? Does this have any connection with trilogies being as common as they are? On a different note, maybe trilogies are created by certain economic demands–maybe they represent the perfect balance between "maximum number of works required to generate maximum profit" and "artistic quality and integrity." These are just random ideas. – IsidoreIsou8 years ago
Three has been such a significant number throughout history (the 3 major gods, the holy trinity, etc), that I think we are hardwired to find appeal in the number 3. It's fascinating, and could be a very interesting psychological investigation – MHayman8 years ago
Would love to read about this. Three is used everywhere and sometimes we don't even realize it. Is it just visually or mentally appealing? Or [enter your question] is it just the perfect number? – madigoldman8 years ago
Historical and symbolic reasons aside, there also has to be a modern day marketing reason behind the rise of the YA trilogy in particular, at this point. Trilogies are hot, they sell, and they sell more than one book. I bet if you looked, you could find sources supporting the fact that publishers are looking for trilogies and pushing authors to use a three book format. – ealohr8 years ago
Could it be that it's rooted in three-act structure? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-act_structure — I've never thought about it before, but that comes to mind. – Benjamin Brandall8 years ago
Anyone who has read Pride and Prejudice has probably fallen in love with Mr. Darcy. But why do we love him so much? This could focus on why we may relate to him or what is it about his "standoffish" personality that we like.
Maybe the girls were touched by his change of heart at the end, it demonstrates sensitivity, a necessary element in any steamy romance. – RadosianStar8 years ago
The first thing this makes me think of is Jess from Gilmore Girls--what is it about the sulky, smart, utterly uninterested "dark" man with a heart of gold that remains timeless and timelessly attractive? – Sasha Kohan8 years ago
I believe that part of the answer to this question is rooted in what women find attractive in general. A man who is "standoffish" is intriguing, and his initial rudeness exciting. Hate is not the opposite of love, after all, indifference is. – C8lin8 years ago
I think part of appeal of Darcy relates to how Austen constructs her narrative. In the early parts of the novel, we are led to believe that Darcy is a standoffish, arrogant, individual based off Elizabeth's interactions with him. However, as the novel progesses,Elizabeth and the reader get to see a different side of the character and our opinions of him changes significantly. – SeanGadus8 years ago
Another idea to add to his character appeal is his letters to Elizabeth and the intimate effect they have on both her and the reader. – musaie8 years ago
I personally like Tilney, Brandon, and Wentworth better than Darcy (gasp)! But I definitely think Darcy has appeal. What draws me to him is the fact that he's mistaken for cold and arrogant when in truth, he's shy and has a painful past that makes him distrustful. That wins audience sympathy and empathy, even if said audience sometimes cringes at his choices. Personally, I see Darcy as a fairly realistic romantic hero, esp. when compared to what you'd find in say, Harlequin books. Then again, I'm an Austen fan and biased, so do with that what you like. – Stephanie M.8 years ago
We've read the Hunger Games, The Divergent Series, and The Maze Runner series, but what's next? What new adventures are in store for young adults? Essentially this will just be an article listing some recently published Young Adult novels that people can add to their reading lists. Preferably it'd be nice if the writer has read these books.
There are many similarities between these series, and I do believe that the next generation of Young Adult Books cannot come soon enough. I am a 20 year old who has a different taste in literature, and am working on some books that also are different from the trend of today. The differences are simple. Less focus on the romance, or a rinse and repeat story line, and more focus on what I can contribute as future inspiration for other aspiring authors. I am not writing a book, I am creating a universe. And I create this universe with the hope that it will inspire someone else to do the same. – Thomas8 years ago
