Short Fiction Unit Take-Home Essay Exam 2003

English 2202

Summer 2003

Short Fiction Unit: Take-Home Essay Exam

Pick one (1) of the following topics:

1. Stories set in New York City:

Katherine Anne Porter: “Theft” (458-463)
James Baldwin: “Sonny’s Blues” (67-91)
Edwidge Danticat: “New York Day Woman” (156-161)
Is the setting of New York City really that important to each of these three stories? Why or why not? For example, does the “greater” city affect the characters or plot? (Consider NYC as a very large city, with a very diverse population, very tall buildings built very close together, an immense network of subways, ever-present traffic with cabs, buses, and private cars, crowds of people, the continual “hustle-and-bustle,” etc.) Are the different “parts” of the greater city important (e.g. Harlem, Greenwich Village, Madison Avenue, etc.)? Are certain elements of the city symbolic in relation to each story?

2. Stories written in the minimalist style:

Ernest Hemingway: “Hills Like White Elephants” (232-237)
Raymond Carver: “The Bath” (109-114) / “A Small, Good Thing” (114-131)
Amy Hempel: “In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried” (237-244)
I mentioned in class that some literary critics see the Raymond Carver story (or stories) as being about “communication” (a word with different connotations and shades of meaning). Could we say, in fact, that each of these stories is actually about communication? And, if so, what kind(s) of communication is happening or not happening in each story? Is the communication successful or unsuccessful in each case? Furthermore, if we agree that these stories are about communication, how does the “minimalist” style of writing affect these stories and their “messages” about “communication”?

3. Stories written by Native American writers:

Leslie Marmon Silko: “The Man to Send Rain Clouds” (464-467)
Louise Erdrich: “The Red Convertible” (172-180)
Sherman Alexie: “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” (55-60)
Some literary critics have suggested that “Sherman Alexie is making a career by manipulating white Americans’ guilt over the destruction of the Native American people.” Based on reading this one story by him, do you tend to agree or disagree with this assertion? Do you think the same assertion applies to Silko and Erdrich as well? If not, or if you feel that this assertion is too specific to Alexie, broaden your scope a bit and examine the ways the three writers explore the “intersections” and blending of the Native American culture and characters with the “white” culture and characters in their stories. Is there a common view?

Evaluation: Your essay will be graded on (1) the clarity of your main ideas and structure, (2) the clarity and strength of your explanations and evidence/support—the “depth” of your critical thinking, and (3) your use of language—reasonable “correctness” in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics. In other words, your ideas and how you present and explain them are most important; “grammar” is only taken into account to the degree that it detracts from your presentation. In addition, I am interested in your ideas, not in a regurgitation of my ideas or in a guessing-game as to what you think I want to read. A final word of warning: you are able to use your text and notes as you write your essay, so be careful that you are accurate with your use of authors’ names, quotations, and factual details from the texts.

Formatting Requirements: Your essay should be no longer than two (2) pages – double-spaced and word-processed – with 1.0” margins, and a 12, 11, or 10-point “normal” font (e.g. Times New Roman or Arial). No title page is needed: simply put your name, the exam title, and the date in the upper-left-hand corner of the first page.

Due Date: Tuesday, August 12. The remaining chapters of Staggerford are also assigned for that evening, so plan your work accordingly so that both are completed by the beginning of class at 6:00 p.m.