LITR 201 Final Exam

Comparing Heroes

A major theme that we have discussed in this class has been the idea of the hero in different cultures, and how these different heroes compare to one another. In this first question, choose one hero from each of two different cultures. First, explain what each shows you about the definition of a hero in that culture. Then, compare and contrast the two heroes with one another: do the sort of “hero” each represents have more similarities or more differences, and what are these similarities or differences?

Your response should be 250-400 words long; use specific examples where possible. Please remember the requirement to use heroes from different cultures; you may not, for example, compare a hero from the Iliad with a hero from the Odyssey, or heroes from two African tales.

Comparing Form

We read many different kinds of literature during the class: epics, drama, essays, wise sayings, folk tales, narrative stories, and so forth. Choose two works that you saw as addressing the same theme, but through different forms. First, discuss the form. What form was each in? Did that form give you any particular difficulties when you read through that work? Next, explain how the form of the work influenced the way the theme came across in each. What sort of an effect did the way the work was shaped have on the theme itself?

Examples of themes include being a good ruler or leader, marriage, loyalty, parent/child relationships, ruler/subject relationships, choosing an appropriate spouse, war, justice, the role of God/the gods, etc. You may NOT address heroism as a theme for this question.

Your response should be 250-400 words long; use specific examples where possible. Please remember the requirement to use different kinds of works; you may not, for example, compare Sakuntala with Othello, or one of the Middle Eastern folk tales with ones of the African folk tales.

World Literature's Place in a College Education

For this question, think about what place this class has in your own experience as a student. How does a course like this factor into your overall education? What have you learned here in terms of skills or knowledge that you might take into other courses or your non-academic life? Were there any parts of the course that seemed less useful to you, or that you would recommend changing in some way?

Write this as though you are explaining to another student why they should or should not take this class. This response should also be 250-400 words long and should use specific examples where possible.