Three Paper 2 outlines (Spring break work)

Paper 2 Outline 1:

Show how in one or more works of literature you have studied a character’s isolation (physical, social, psychological) within the work’s setting plays an important part in the story. How does that isolation lead to either self-knowledge or self-destruction – or both?*

Thesis statement: In both the books I have studied, The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz, and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the authors characterize the protagonists akin to a lost kitten looking for their owner, but eventually just going even farther away from its owner.  All of them had objectives, but didn’t know how to get to them. Said, the protagonist in TTATD, wanted to avenge the loss of his relationship with his daughter, but ended up going even farther away from her and true love. In things fall apart, Okonkwo, the protagonist, started wanted to fit in with society as it was. He conformed to societal ideals at first, and earned a better place than his socially rejected and outcast father. However, after a certain point, things go awry, and Okonkwo finds himself isolated from his community and cultural ideals. These events that lead to isolation are the steps that the reader climbs to the goal of both the books: an accurate and purposely opinionated portrayal of society and conflict within their respective contexts. Ultimately, lead to the self-destruction and realization of self-knowledge by the protagonists along with the community they hail from. The authors construct these steps using the following tools: vivid imagery, sudden change in pace, and inclusion of context and fastidious detalis that legitimize the books and the story of the protagonists.

Topic sentence 1:

By using vivid imagery in appropriate situations, Mahfouz and Achebe develop the isolation, even from the very beginning of the book.

• Heat on Said
• The portrayal of the gathering of people outside the Sheik’s house
• By using vivid imagery in the stories, Achebe is able to establish an effective view of Okonkwo on certain aspects of his own identity such as femininity. Okonkwo would always associate stories with femininity (mosquito and ear story parallel to Okonkwo and Unoka), and hence would isolate himself from them. Hence, he indirectly began isolating himself from his own culture even though he didn't realize it.

Topic sentence 2:

The sudden changes in pace effectively allow the authors to depict plot twisting situations where the isolation of the protagonists start.

• The gun firing situation: setting is set, okonkwo is happy, everything is good, sudden twist in plot makes the isolation and downfall of the character apparent (physical isolation)
• The moment Said tries to steal from Rauf: setting, the complexity of Said as a protagonist is just starting to be explored. However, exploring his isolation in such a way allows for the exploration of bigger ideas such as the Nasserite regime. One of the major steps in the overall staircase. (psychological isolation begins from then since his best friend and mentor rejects him)

Topic sentence 3:

The fastidious details in both the novels allow for legitimization of the community around the protagonists, which enhances the effect of isolation, and builds toward it.

• Physical and social Isolation of Okonkwo from his motherland, setting converted to a lot
• The heat and people against Said enables Mahfouz to isolate him psychologically and leads to the classification of the book as psychological realism.

Paper 2 Outline 2

‘Novels and plays often tell the story of how human beings courageously attempt to survive, escape, or best of all transcend, their environment.’

Discuss such attempts in narrative texts you have studied, paying some attention to why the characters have wanted, or needed, to do that. Suggest how successful or otherwise they have been.

Thesis statement: In both the novels, the protagonists courageously attempt to survive in their community, escape from different situations, and ultimately try to transcend their physical boundaries by escaping into the metaphysical realm. This is achieved through a variety of narrative techniques such as the model stream of consciousness technique and direct and indirect narration, along with third person omniscient narration. It’s almost as if both the protagonists attempt to escape to the metaphysical realm in order to establish a moral high ground, which contribute to the novels’ purpose: to provide a viewpoint that is morally stable.

Topic sentence 1: By using narrative techniques such as stream of consciousness and third person omniscient narration, the authors are able to capture the multidimensional emotions of the protagonists.

• In TFA, the third person omniscient narrator allows for the observation of Okonkwo’s multidimensional personality and emotions. For example, the time when Okonkwo is following his daughter. His feelings of care for his daughter are clearly evident.
• In TTATD, the SOC helps to understand the Said’s emotions regarding his daughter, wife and his thoughts on revenge.

Topic sentence 2: The survival and escape of the protagonists and certain characters from their communities are a key example of the transcendence of conformity.

• TTAD: The escape of Said from his community of ‘thieves’, the escape of Rauf from the same community, and trascending their environment. This is portrayed through the fastidious inclusion of details such as Rauf’s workplace, and Said’s past.
• In TFA, the escape of Okonkwo from his fathers realm. He transcends this enviroment in order to make a name for himself, and expected his children to do the same.

Topic sentence 3: By escaping to the metaphysical world, the protagonists establish a  moral high ground for the exploration of several bigger ideas

• At the end of both novels, both the protagonists commit suicide, in order to convey the standpoint of the authors. At first, it might seem that the protagonists are thrown away just like useless objects. However, they transcend even the world of the novel in order to truly connect with the reader, which is the epitome of shared humanity in both the novels. (Go on to explain each individually)

Paper 2 Outline 3:

‘Although in poems, plays and novels we meet individual characters in a range of historical, social and cultural settings, their shared humanity allows us to engage with them, despite those differences in setting.’Explore the settings of literary texts you have studied, showing how the ‘shared humanity’ of their characters allows the writing to transcend the limitations of time and place.***

Thesis statement: In both the stories,the settings are established in such a way that they contribute to the authors’ agenda. By intricately weaving in the historical context along with the day to day interactions of the protagonists, the authors are able to let the protagonists decidedly weave their own path, just like the readers. Everyone is trying to find a purpose and meaning in life, and the authors’ portrayal of the protagonists such as this legitimizes the shared humanity of the protagonists with the readers. Inclusion of cultural objects such as tales and crowded cafes also ties in with the bigger idea of finding a purpose in life, as these are some of the ‘cultural objects’ that might help one find a meaning to life.

Topic sentence 1: The authors intricately weave in day to day to life situations and dialogues that help explore and enhance the shared humanity of the protagonists, and also help explore the social setting.

• The role of Nur as a foil in TTATD. At first, the readers think that Said is mentally unstable. However, as the novel progresses, the experiences Said has and had to endure come out through dialogue with Nur. The reader is also able to establish a contrast between Nur and Said, which may help them in relating to Said as there is probably a ‘Nur’ in their life as well.
• Okonkwo’s routine of life is very straightforward and bland, just as would be many of the readers of the books’. However, Okonkwo always wants more (yams, daughter marriage, Nwoye), just like the readers, enabling the reader to relate to Okonkwo, as a majority of the readers are experiencing the same feelings in life.

Topic sentence 2: Historical context enables the readers to establish meaningful connections with the characters.

• Sheikhs house and religion allows for the readers of TTATD to relate to Said. Shared humanity not only occurs over common situations, but also over common religions
• The familal situation of Okonkwo. He has many wives, however, he keeps to himself, which is typical of the modern independent man or woman

Topic sentence 3: The inclusion of cultural objects not only legitimizes the two books, but also provides for a medium of shared humanity and the bigger picture of a meaning to life.

• Stories in TFA provide for a relatable experience of Okonkwo: Mom telling him the mosquito and ear story in order to teach him morals can be equitable to the reader of the book. Other colorful stories such as tortoise and pigeons.
• The crowded cafe in TTATD can is something that can be extrapolated to everybody’s life. It is implicitly a metaphor for the journey of life: you can just eat the food and pass by happily, although you’ll have to ignore the ‘tarzans’ of the cafe.