Witches and Ancients and Fools, Oh My!
WBHS Library… Destiny Library Catalog: Search for print materials held in the WBHS Library; the collection includes literary criticism and many items on Shakespeare and his works
Online Subscription Databases: Suggested databases for this project; please note that usernames and passwords are required when using these databases at home; a flyer with these passwords is available in the library
Literature Criticism Online Literature Resource Center Gale Virtual Reference Library/Literature: Electronic reference books, no check-out required
On the Web…
The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: Considered one of the most important works of literary history and criticism, this complete online version contains thousands of essays with topics on all aspects of literature and writing, from Bartleby.com
Internet Public Library Literary Criticism: IPL2 offers links to over 4500 critical and biographical websites about authors and their works.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: All of Shakespeare's works, searchable by keyword. Includes related articles and recommended links.
Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespearean material and also a vast collection of rare Renaissance books and manuscripts on all disciplines.
The Oxford Shakespeare: The 1914 Oxford edition of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare ranks among the most authoritative published this century. Search plays, sonnets and miscellaneous verse, which constitute the literary cornerstone of Western civilization. From Bartleby.com
Mr. Shakespeare and the Internet: A very user-friendly Shakespeare site that includes information on his life and times, including a timeline and genealogy, sources for his works, scholarly criticism, the theatre, the Renaissance, teacher materials, links to other good sites and more. Playbill Resources and links for drama and dramatists.
Name: Last 1
Mr. Blair
AP English Lit & Comp
Date:
Witches and Ancients and Fools, Oh My!
Directions: For this next essay, you will be required to write a comparison essay discussing a common motif, symbol, concept, characterization, etc. of the three Shakespearean plays covered in class this year: The Tragedy of King Lear, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. You may choose from a series of concepts from the plays. The following list of suggestions is NOT required; however, you are simply given a starting point to consider a topic for analysis.
Here are some possibilities: The role of women in the plays; the supernatural versus the natural; fools/foolish characters; the hamartia of the title characters; deception; power; King James I’s influences; and any other possible options.
The goal for this essay is to write a 5-6 page paper where you discuss Shakespeare’s technique and style (style underscores theme) for creating this image, symbol, concept, etc., and how these central ideas similarly interact and build upon one another to produce Shakespeare’s desired effect of his plays. You will also need to use two literary criticisms outside of the three plays.
Requirements for this essay:
1. You need have a 5-6 page essay with proper MLA spacing, citations and heading. 2. You should discuss the three plays equally and not in isolation. 3. You need a CORRECT MLA works cited page separate from the 5-6 page requirement. 4. You should use and underline four vocabulary words from any of the units covered thus far. 5. You should use at least two sources of literary criticism and all three of the plays to prove your analysis of Shakespeare’s motif, symbol, concept, style, etc. Do not just use one line of the criticism and not use the resource again. Make the resource relevant. 6. Avoid contractions and first/second person pronouns. 7. Integrate quotations accurately. 8. The District 88 Persuasive Rubric will be used for this essay.