For Tuesday: Exam #1

If you missed class today, you missed a discussion on how all literature can be nationalistic and/or colonialist, meaning that it exhibits a distinct set of values unique to that culture...values that are often defined against an "other," be in a race, a group, or an idea.  We discussed this in relation to Jane Eyre, and I gave examples from widely divergent works such as The Lord of the Rings and Robinson Crusoe.  For your exam on Tuesday, I will give you a two part exam: Part One is in-class, followed by Part Two, which is a take-home essay question.  I let students begin writing on this question in class, which is pasted below:

Thinking about one of your favorite books or films, consider how it might be “national” or contain a national/racial point of view that defines itself against “others,” whatever those others might be.  Consider who it’s heroes are, where they live, how they act, and what world(s) they function in.  What is the “norm” in this world, and consider if this norm is universal or national in a way that would exclude or possibly leave out other “norms.” 

This essay question will be due on Thursday, either in-class or by 5pm via e-mail or my box (336C).  I will not accept late papers, so please get it in on time! 

For the In-Class portion of the exam, you MUST read one of the following essays in the back of Oroonoko or Wide Sargasso Sea:

Brown, The Romance of Empire: Oroonoko and the Trade in Slaves (Norton, 232-245)

OR

Rody, Burning Down the House: The Revisionary Paradigm of Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea (Norton, 217-225)

You will answer questions on ONE of the essays for your In-Class exam.  The In-Class portion will be a series of short essay questions that will challenge how you can analyze the two works from a different perspectives (colonial, feminist, etc.).  As long as you read the works, responded to the daily responses, and listened in class, you should do amazingly well.  If not, then...

Please e-mail me with questions or concerns.