Write a three-to-five-page paper in which you attempt to answer a thought-provoking question about a work of literature. Thought-provoking questions, such as the following, are often raised in class discussions: What is the significance of blindness in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex? In what ways does James Joyce’s "The Dead" confront traditions of love and romance? How does street language function in Gwendolyn Brooks’s "We Real Cool"? (For guidelines on asking questions about literature, see the chart in section L1-b of Writing about Literature [link].) The goal of your paper will be to address such a question with a meaningful interpretation of the literary work.

You will use at least one primary source—the work of literature—to write your paper. Check with your instructor before using secondary sources such as the commentary of critics and scholars; if you use such sources, document the paper using MLA style.