Category: Midterm Essay (Page 1 of 2)

Introduction:

1.) Introduce the concept of gothic fiction, then explain the 2 elements (Spirit of Perverseness, Central Gothic Irony) used for the essay.

2.) Introduce the 2 stories used for the essay (Young Goodman Brown, The Lottery) and the 2 characters that are being compared.

3.) State the thesis statement.

Body #1:

1.) Brief analysis of “Young Goodman Brown.”

2.) Discuss how Central Gothic Irony is used in the story.

3.) Discuss how the Spirit of Perverseness is used in the story.

4.) Provide evidence from the text

Body #2:

1.) Brief analysis of “The Lottery.”

2.) Discuss how Central Gothic Irony is used in the story.

3.) Discuss how the Spirit of Perverseness is used in the story.

4.) Provide evidence from the text.

Body #3:

1.) Compare the 2 characters used for the essay.

2.) The similarity between the 2 characters in the ending for their respective stories.

3.) Provide evidence from the respective stories for support.

4.) Connection to thesis statement.

Body #4:

1.) Contrast the 2 characters used for the essay.

2.) State the differences in both stories.

3.) Provide evidence from the respective stories for support.

Conclusion:

1.) Conclude how the elements of gothic fiction are used in both stories.

2.) Restate the thesis statement, connection of both stories.

3.) Wrap up the essay.

Introduction

• Intro the premise of on the gothic genre and the elements included
  
• Introduce both short stories, the enormous radio and the yellow wallpaper
  
• Define the key terms and elements used (gothic emotions and actions)
  
• Present thesis for essay

Body 1

• Describe the events present in the yellow wallpaper
  
• Discuss the main character and what takes place
  
• Expand on the gothic elements present in the story such as her mania and the reason that causes it.

Body 2

• Events in the enormous radio
  
• Gothic elements implemented in the story that are present
  
• Gothic emotions/actions/ settings that occur
  

Conclusion

• Describe how both stories and characters are similar.(Both main characters)
  
• Conclude thesis
  
• Talk about both elements in the selected stories

• End essay with closing sentence

Introduction

1. The establishment of the gothic fiction, perhaps providing a short definition and example in about two sentences.
2. The introduction of at least two stories.
   1. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.
   1. Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
   1. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce.
3. Thesis as to how gothic fictions apply to the above-mentioned works of fiction.
   1. Notably how all these stories have a historical background and that their characters experience some short of change.

Body Paragraph One

1. A relatively brief summary of The Lottery.
2. Focus on how gothic fiction is related to Tessie Hutchinson.
   1. How she approves of the lottery in the beginning of the story.
   1. How she changes over time when she finds out that her family is chosen.
   1. Her ultimate, untimely end towards the end of the story.

Body Paragraph Two

1. A relatively brief summary of Young Goodman Brown.
2. Focus on how gothic fiction is related to Goodman Brown.
   1. How he is a devout Christian that believes everyone else is just like him, based on what he has seen on the ‘surface’.
   1. How he changes to grow to distrust everyone else towards the end of the story.

Body Paragraph Three

1. A relatively brief summary of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.
2. Focus on how gothic fiction is related to Peyton Farquhar.
   1. How he is living ‘normally’ in the South.
   1. How his ending takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

Body Paragraph Four/Five

1. The comparison of the similarity of Tessie Hutchinson and Peyton Farquhar.
2. The difference of Goodman Brown, in relation to the above two characters.

Conclusion

1. The restatement of the thesis.
   1. How these characters do indeed prove the thesis.
2. Add a closing statement.

Introduction:

• Introduce the gothic fiction genre and elements of it that I will apply in my essay.
• Introduce my two selected stories, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Lottery.”
• Give my thesis according to my selected stories.

Body 1:

• Give a summary of “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
• Highlight the central gothic irony in the story.
• Explain how Todorov’s three terms correlate to the selected story and thesis.
• Explain how the spirit of perverseness correlates to the selected story and thesis.
• Provide evidence from the story.

Body 2:

• Give a summary of “The Lottery.”
• Highlight the central gothic irony in the story.
• Explain how Todorov’s three terms correlate to the selected story and thesis.
• Explain how the spirit of perverseness correlates to the selected story and thesis.
• Provide evidence from the story.

Body 3:

• Compare the two stories and their elements regarding gothic fiction based on body paragraphs 1 and 2.
• Provide supporting evidence.

Body 4:

• Contrast the two stories and their elements regarding gothic fiction based on body paragraphs 1 and 2.
• Provide supporting evidence.

Conclusion:

• Restate information from my introduction.
• Reinforce my thesis.
• Conclude my essay.

Outline for my essay: “The Yellow Wallpaper” Charlotte Gilman and “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”

Intro:

• Introduce the genre of Gothic Fiction.
• Incorporate the specific aspects of Gothic Fiction that I will use to prove my thesis.
• Add my thesis according to the stories I’ve chosen.
• Define terror and its significance to my thesis.
• Define horror and its significance to my thesis as well.

Body: The Yellow Wallpaper

• A brief summary of the story The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Bring in the gothic terms of terror and horror and how they work into the story to prove thesis.
• Talk about the terror aspect that is shown in the story.
• Give evidence from the text.
• Connect back to thesis

Body: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

• Give a brief summary of the Story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.
• Bring in the gothic terms of terror and horror and incorporate how they work into the story to prove thesis.
• Talk more about how the aspects of terror and horror are shown within the story with provided evidence from the text.
• Connect back to thesis.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the stories and how they connect with my thesis.
• Bring back the points I made to further prove my thesis once more.
• Then conclude with a brief summary on how terror and horror were key factors in both stories.

Title: The Art of Battling Yourself 

Introduction 

Hook: If you dislike the situation presented, you can either take action to change it or change the way you think about it.

Thesis Statement: The mental constraints forcibly placed upon the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and the voluntary isolation of the hunger artist in “A Hunger Artist” made their purist of happiness unattainable.

Body Paragraph One 

Summary of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Insert quote that adds substances and aids to understanding the personality of the narrator as well as her husband John.

Explain the spirit of perverseness exhibited in the narrator. 

Body Paragraph Two

Summary of the “A Hunger Artist” by Franz Kafka

Insert quote that adds substance and aids to understanding the personality of the hunger artist character. Explain the spirit of perverseness exhibited in the hunger artist. 

Body Paragraph Three

An in-depth comparison of self-sabotage forced upon the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and the critical difference in understanding society in “A Hunger Artist” made it impossible for a return to normalcy. 

Body Paragraph Four 

Expanding on the comparisons previously made and support with evidence cited from both stories. 

Conclusion 

Summarization of thesis statement 

Reinstate connection to “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “A Hunger Artist” 

Final closing statement. 

Introduction

1. Introduce the two stories I’ll talk about and the two main characters from said stories.
2. Incorparate my thesis according to the stories.
3. Define central gothic iorny in relevancle to my thesis.
4. Define the spirit of perverseness in relevancle to my thesis.

Body 1

1. Short summary of the story The Black Cat.
2. Talk about the central gothic iorny in the story.
3. Talk about the spirit of perverseness.
4. Talk about Todorov’s three terms: uncanny, fantastic, or marvelous.
5. Provide evidence from the text.

Body 2

1. Short summary of the story The Lottery.
2. Talk about the spirit of perverseness.
3. Talk about the central gothic iorny in the story.
4. Talk about Todorov’s three terms: uncanny, fantastic, or marvelous.
5. Provide evidence from the text.

Body 3

1. Compare the two stories to each other.
2. Expand on thesis with story knowledge.
3. Provide evidence from text.
4. Conclude body 3 and then transtion into body 4.

Body 4

1. Contrast the two stories from each other.
2. Expand on thesis with story knowledge.
3. Provide evidence from text.
4. Conclude body 4 and then transtion into conclusion.

Conclusion

1. Summarize my thesis and connect it to both stories.
2. Restate points I have made thus far.
3. Then conclude it with signs that the spirit of perverseness influenced both stories.

Introduction/thesis:
-Common concept of violence in gothic writing as shown in The Lottery and The Black Cat.
-While the actions taken by the townspeople to hurt each other in “The Lottery” are seen as a way to uphold a tradition, the actions taken by the man in “The Black Cat” cannot be justified in any way other than to hurt for the sole purpose of doing wrong to others.

Body #1:
-Violence in The Lottery from the town, as well as from Tessie.
-Spirit of perversity: people willingly stone another, relieved it was not them to uphold a tradition.
-The people may not fully agree with it, but they rather go along with it than go against it.
-Reasoning: it was a tradition

Body #2:
-Violence in The Black Cat from the man towards everyone/everything.
-Spirit of perversity: the actions the man takes towards his wife, the actions he takes towards his cat, for no reason whatsoever.
-Reasoning: none/ the man acts on impulse, without thinking about the outcome on anyone or anything.

Conclusion:
-Sum up thesis in both stories
-Sum up violence in gothic writing as shown in both stories
-Connection from the stories to today’s world.

Midterm Essay Outline: “The Yellow Wallpaper” Charlotte P Gilman

                                           “Black Cat” Edger Allen Poe

Intro (Thesis): How are the main characters in both stories relatable in relations to Gothic Action and Gothic Emotions.

• Both main character in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Black Cat” have many gothic similarities even though the main character in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• Both characters show many Gothic Actions such as dwelling in negativity, acting chaotic and irrationally.
• Both characters show Gothic Emotions towards their spouse. The suspense and shock of the aftermath of their actions show they are pushing the limits of normal life.
• Both stories are told in first person narration.

Body 1: Characters and Setting of each story

• Narrator from “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about a woman who is unnamed. She is on prescriptions and is told to rest and relax by her husband John because she has not been doing well. The setting is a big house in a village that her husband has rented for three months so the main character does not fantasize and write. In the house she finds a room that was once a nursery with an ugly yellow wallpaper that she begins to obsess about.  
• Narrator from “Black Cat” is about an unnamed man who is married and owns a black cat name Pluto among other animals. The man becomes abusive to his wife and pets including his beloved Pluto. He lives in a house with his wife where he kills Pluto and then his house burns down. His wife and him moves to an apartment where he kills his wife after meeting another black cat.

Body 2: Spirit of Perverseness. How each character continues to vex themselves throughout the story.

• The Yellow Wallpaper: She starts a secret journal where she knows she shouldn’t because she is supposed to rest. She starts to think the yellow wallpaper is talking to her and there is a women trapped within the wallpaper. She continues to write about the wallpaper hiding it from John and Jennie. As she continues to vex herself with the wallpaper, she begins acting irrational thinking John and Jennie are not to be trusted. Finally, she cannot take the wallpaper anymore. She rips the yellow wallpaper down and locks herself inside the nursery until she gets every piece off freeing the women from within.
  • Add quote from story referencing above
• “The Black Cat”: The man loves his black cat but suddenly become abusive towards his wife and pets. He hangs Pluto in his yard even though he knew it was wrong and he felt wrong for harming the cat. He felt bad for being abusive to his wife. He knew it was all wrong and regrets his actions.
  • His wife and him move to their new apartment. He befriends another black cat but again he begins to love the cat then grows to hate him. He tries to kill the cat, but his wife intervenes, and he kills her with an axe over the head.
  • He is in jail for the death of his wife writing about his actions and knows he has changed in a bad way.
    • Add quote from story referencing above

Conclusion:

In both stories the narrators pen their actions on a piece of paper. While both writing down their actions and how they have changed throughout the story they continue to vex themselves and dwelling in negativity. Both of their spouses loved them but both narrators pushed the limits of doing wrong.

Intro: Summary of stories

• Talking about and summaries “A very old man with enormous wings ” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce
• Start Introducing the old man with enormous wings and the gothic characteristics and central gothic irony and also introduce Peyton Farquahar and the gothic actions and setting

Body#1:

• Talk about the central gothic irony of the old man with enormous wings and the gothic characteristics he possesses
• Evidence  of the central gothic when coming back from reality, gothic characteristics like the huge wings
• Summarize the paragraph

Body #2:

• Talking about Peyton and the gothic setting and emotions
• Start talking about his execution and how he’s in the civil war
• word choice and description of the war
• summarize the paragraph

Conclusion:

• Summarize my thesis
• Connect the gothic emotions and characteristics
• Explain and conclude it