Literature for Scholars

Final Exam Short Essay Topics

Pick one of the following prompts to respond to in a short reflection essay:

 

  1. Write a short reflection essay that evaluates any lessons you gained from the literature we have read this year. You can use To Kill A Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey, or any poetry to discuss. You must reflect on the themes that come out of these works of literature. You can discuss the lessons you gain from the characters’ experiences. Feel free to compare the works of literature as well.
  2. The play Romeo and Juliet is considered a Shakespearean tragedy. How would you characterize the play? What evidence from the play would justify its categorization as a tragedy? Write an essay discussing the tragic elements of the play, using specific scenes, character actions, etc to justify your answers.
  3. Decide whether or not Odysseus is a hero. First, you will need to define a hero and then determine whether or not heroes can have flaws or weaknesses. Discuss Odysseus’ specific actions, qualities, or decisions. Then explain to the class why you do or do not think Odysseus is a hero.
  4. Much of what you have read this year related to the experience of taking a journey, whether it was a literal or metaphorical journey. To Kill A Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet, and The Odyssey were all about taking some kind of journey and the lessons one learns from taking that journey. The journey played a large role in shaping characters’ identity. In your reflection, write about the journey experienced in the text you chose, provide specific examples to support your answer, and connect it to your own experiences and journeys you may have taken.
 

Format/ Essay Requirements:

·         At least 250 words/ 500 words at most

·         Give your essay a title of some sort

·         Use details from the text to support your claims