Paper Topics | Fall 2019 | Paper 1
Due Saturday, September 21, 5:00 p.m., in your conference leader’s Eliot Hall mailbox.
Target length: 1,500 words
In “The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant,” the title character makes no less than nine separate appeals for justice. Write an essay that focuses on any two appeals and explain in what ways they contribute to the overarching claim(s) of the poem. Use any passages from two different appeals other than the passages Nathalia King lectured on ("If you go down to the Sea of Truth..." p. 61 and "Speak not falsehood, for you are great..." p. 66).
In this paper, and in all papers for this course, you will be practicing the skills of “close reading.” As you analyze the passages, pay careful attention to the language, examining details such as imagery, diction (word choice), and the use of repetition. Structure your discussion around a strong central argument by using explicit textual evidence (specific words or phrases) to reach a conclusion. (You should consult the online guide to close reading.)