Reminders for the Open-ended Prompt

• Answer the question in the intro.o Start off with a philosophical inquiry into the issue (theme),

but then tie it back to the work. o If you’re asked to write about how cruelty impacts the work,

make sure the intro addresses the specific piece AND makes a statement (thesis) about the significance to the work. • In Wuthering Heights, cruelty functions as a lens through

which one can ascertain the motivation and virtues of a character.

• Tie EVERYTHING back to the meaning of the text (if you’ll do this as you go, you won’t forget or run out of time.)

Sample for Morality/Conscience

• The notion of right and wrong and what constitutes moral behavior is a lofty ideal which has plagued human history. To some degree, every society and every individual claims an interest in the concept of morality, and while there are some exceptions, most people want to be good (moral). However, as many works of literature reveal, morality is not an easily definable concept, often dependent on various and individual circumstances. In A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen underscores the question of moral behavior through the character of Nora whose crime, while serious, is committed in the interest of saving her family—which is surely a moral choice. Nora vacillates between guilt and empowerment—extremes which are guided on one hand by society’s rules, and on the other by her own assessment of the situation. Following Nora through the play, one begins to recognize how Ibsen is commenting on the impact of society’s blind enforcement of morality and the devastating impact it has on individual conscience.

Practice• First, complete the theme chart.

o Inner ring: two quotations for each themeo Outer ring: brief explanation connecting the passages to the

theme.

• In the space provided, choose one theme and use it as the stimulus for an essay over A Doll’s House.

• Be sure to:o Set up the discussion (philosophical inquiry)o Introduce the work/author/context (plot elements that are

relevant to theme)o End with a thesis statement (why is this significant?)