Appreciation of Literature, fall 2007
Essay #3
Due in class Nov. 19

Possible topics for the third essay:

1. In The Darker Face of the Earth, Rita Dove rewrites Oedipus the King by setting it in the pre-Civil War south. In a short story or in dramatic form, adapt the Oedipus story to another setting of your choosing.
2. Imagine that you were going to stage Oedipus the King, or to make a movie version. What choices would you make in doing so? For instance, what would the actors wear? What would the setting be like? How would you handle the chorus? What actors would you cast?
3. Compare and contrast Oedipus the King and The Darker Face of the Earth. (Aristotle’s Poetics may help to give you an angle on this – which of his guidelines does Sophocles exemplify and Dove disregard? – but it is not required that you use Aristotle here.)
4. The art of Oedipus the King depends not only on plot and character, but also on diction, as Aristotle points out. However, we are reading the play in English rather than the original Greek, and thus depend on the translator for diction. Compare and contrast two or more translations of Oedipus the King, considering what important differences exist between the translations, which strikes you as most effective, and why that translation seems the strongest to you.
5. I am also open to the possibility of other topics related to any aspect of our discussion of Oedipus, if you consult with me well in advance of the due date.

Ground rules:

Whichever topic you choose, the essay should be 3-4 full pages long, double-spaced, with normal margins and font (12 point Times New Roman is standard). Be sure to number the pages, and give your essay a title. Do document everything according to MLA style, but don’t do any additional research beyond the texts read in class or mentioned in the assignment. I want to see your original thinking about the texts themselves.

As you choose a topic, keep in mind that I would like to see at least one “creative” and at least one “critical” essay from each of you over the course of the semester – even if you have a preference for one, you should have some experience with both.

As you write, keep in mind that I do not accept late papers. Please plan ahead for emergencies.