Brit Lit:

We started our Victorian fiction paper assignment. 

You have 4 prompts to pick from.  These are due at the end of class Wed.  You will have 3 class days to work on/write these.  Please continue to use your time wisely. 

1. Compare and contrast the the theme of love in Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre

Throughout the novels 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte and 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte countless comparisons can be made. The two novels explore love, how this powerful emotion is able to overcome countless obstacles.

In a well written 5 paragraph essay, please compare and contrast the theme of love in the two novels.

2. Sequel
Imagine 10 years after either novel. Please write a 3 page sequel that is written in 1st person, and follows the outline that we discussed for a Victorian Novel.

3. Class Issues
Think about the role that social class plays in Jane Eyre. What social classes are represented in the novel? To what extent is each class depicted?

Are all the classes given equal representation? How do the classes shown in the novels relate to the classes that realistically existed in the time and place where the novel(s) take place? Please consider two important questions: how does the author feel about the different social classes, and how can you tell the author's opinion? Write a paper that explores the way that social class and class issues affect the characters and plot of your novel.

4. Positive/Negative Characters
In the novels Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, some of the characters are given positive, sympathetic portrayals. Others have negative, perhaps even villainous portrayals. Still others may begin with negative qualities and gradually become more and more positive. Rarely does an author rely on the reader's personal sense of morality to determine which characters are positive and which are negative.

Instead, there are details, actions, and characteristics that help define who is "good" and who is "bad." It's easy to know the difference in old westerns—goodguys wear white hats; bad guys wear black hats. But even then, there are other details that help you know what it going on, details that even help you construct hierarchies (e.g., slightly bad to fully evil). Think about your novel. How does the author indicate which characters are positive and which are negative? In your essay, explain how you can tell the difference.

Due Wed.