Critical/Analytical #3

INSTRUCTIONS Critical Paper #3 Write a critical/analytical essay of about 5-6 pages (1250-1500 words) in length.

• Formatting should be double spaced, using a 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1" margins on all sides.

• Supply your identifying information in the upper left corner of the paper [single spaced] as shown below:

Last name, First Name Student ID # Engl 3302 Critical Essay 3, topic #___

Date

• Document all sources using the MLA Documentation style--whether from the primary texts, secondary print and electronic sources, or online materials.

• Consult the "Writing Guide" under Paper #1 for advice about improving your argument by employing the most effective kinds of supporting details.

• In the interest of achieving more depth, you should focus your discussion as narrowly as possible. When in doubt, be as specific as possible.

• Underline your thesis statement. • Give your essay a descriptive title that identifies its approach to the topic and includes

the title(s) of the texts you will be covering. [Avoid generic titles like “Silence”or "Paper 3"]

• Identify the film scenes or passages discussed clearly. If you are writing about an incident in Silence II.5, say so; make sure to be explicit.

• When analyzing the text, identify and quote the specific language that supports your interpretation. If you are doing a close reading of a passage of 10 lines or so, block quote the entire passage and italicize or bold the specific words you are concentrating on for your interpretation.

• If you are employing any of the assigned or extra credit theoretical or critical readings (Sedgwick on homosocial triangulation, Cohen on Monster Theory, etc. critical essays on Silence), be sure to quote from and cite the pertinent passages and properly cite the article using MLA documentation.

• Proofread for grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, agreement between subject and verb in number, spelling, verb tense etc. If a particular sentence structure problem you have was identified in paper #1 or #2, be sure to be mindful about not practicing that again.

• Before uploading your paper to Turnitin, you should check to make sure the paper has a title, a clear and underlined thesis statement, a development of your thesis grounded in the words of the text or criticism, and a conclusion.

1. Objective Correlatives: Using T. S. Eliot’s definition of the “Objective Correlative”--“the artistic and literary technique of representing or evoking a particular emotion by means of symbols or objects that objectify that emotion and are associated with it”-- discuss THREE of the following from THREE

different texts ONE of which must be Silence, as an “objective correlative” revealing the deeper meaning of that literary text. In choosing your combination of OCs, try to set up a cohesive topic and thesis, not just random OCs. For example, combine objects that can be related/compared/contrasted within an overall theme (examples of armor or weapons; examples of clothing; examples of members animal kingdom; aspects of architecture or buildings, or landscape etc. DO NOT REPEAT A TOPIC YOU WROTE ABOUT IN A PREVIOUS PAPER!

• the painted mural depicting Guenevere’s and Lancelot’s affair in Morgan’s castle in L-G Reader

• the Holy Grail in L-G Reader • The sword (sometimes Excalibur) returned to the Lady of the Lake at Arthur’s death in

the L-G Reader • The clothing worn by Richard Gere as Lancelot in First Knight. • The nightingale in Marie’s Laustic • the cloth and jeweled casket that encloses the dead bird in Marie’s Laustic • the window in Marie’s Laustic • the tent of the faery mistress in Marie’s Lanval • the dark stone mounting block at the end of Marie’s Lanval • the Bird-man in Marie’s Yonec • The barred windows and/or the tower in Marie’s Yonec • The clothes of Baron Bisclavret in Marie’s Bisclavret • The king’s bed in Marie’s Bisclavret • the holly bob and/or the axe carried by the Green Knight in SGGK • Gawain’s “Pentangle” shield and/or armor in SGGK • the Green Knight’s costume (aspects present and absent) in SGGK • the deer, boar, and fox in SGGK • the green girdle in SGGK • the kisses exchanged between the Lady, Gawain, and Bertilak in SGGK • Castle Hautdesert in SGGK • the Green Chapel in SGGK • The dragon in Silence • The forest of Malroi in Silence • Significant naming in Silence • The kiss bestowed upon Silence by the King of France in Silence • The letter to the King of France delivered by Silence in Silence • The armor bestowed upon Silence by the King of France when he dubs Silence a knight • The unnamed old man who appears several times in Silence • The cooked and processed food and drink used to lure Merlin in Silence • Queen Eufeme’s private chamber in Silence • If you think of another OC that you would like to analyze, consult me.

Silence topics: 2. Using Cohen's "Monster Theory," discuss the significance of the dragon that afflicts first

King Ebain and then Cador in Silence. How do the reactions of Ebain and Cador to the dragon define their masculinity?

3.Using any of Cohen's 7 Theses of "Monster Theory" that are appropriate, discuss the "monstrosity" and the function of that monstrosity of two other characters (besides the obviously monstrous dragon) in Silence—for example Silence, Queen Eufeme, Ebain, or Merlin as monsters.

4.Using Eve Sedgwick's ideas about male homosocial relations in Between Men as a theoretical context and/or the various articles by Callahan and Kinoshita about medieval inheritance laws as historical contexts, assess the relations depicted in Silence between TWO pairs of men such as: Ebain and King Begon of Norway; or Cador and Ebain; or Silence and the minstrels; or Ebain and the King of France; or Silence and the King of France; or Ebain and Silence (as male or female) or any other pairing of males of your choice. You are encouraged to discuss 2 pairs that are contrasted to each other.

5.The author/narrator of Silence, Heldris of Cornwall, reveals a great deal about himself/herself in the course of his/her narration of the story of Silence. Basing your analysis on a close reading of 2-4 (number would depend on length) such revelatory passages by the narrator, define the attitudes and even possibly the sex of the otherwise unknown narrator.

6.Grounding your analysis on a knowledge of Merlin based on his appearance and behavior in other Arthurian texts such as the Lancelot-Grail Reader or SGGK and their film adaptations, evaluate the depiction of Merlin in Silence compared to his role in ONE other text. (If you wrote about Merlin in paper #1, choose another topic)

7.Using any of the various critical essays that deal with Queen Eufeme's character in Silence as a context, evaluate several passages from Silence that present the character of Eufeme. Is she a victim of male antifeminism and medieval misogyny or a villainess, or both?

8.Using any of the relevant various critical essays as a context, contrast the similarly named Eufeme and Eufemie in Silence. How does Heldris present different aspects of medieval womanhood in these characters? Are they more different from each other than alike? More alike than different?

9.Heldris of Cornwall's romance Silence seems to deliberately invite a discussion of sex and gender constructions in his/her presentation of the various characters. Using a continuum of gendered behavior as depicted in the text, evaluate the masculinity or femininity of TWO of the following: King Ebain; Cador; Eufeme; Eufemie; Silence; Merlin. You can discuss the femininity of male characters and masculinity of female characters.

10. Silence presents an array of medieval political rulers that can be compared interestingly to each other (or to such models as King Arthur or Alexander the Great). Using any of the critical essays that deal with feudal politics as a context, analyze appropriate passages in Silence that

evaluate or reveal the political strengths or weaknesses of any TWO of the following medieval rulers: King Ebain; Count Cador, the King of France; the Duke of Chester.

11.Silence presents several overarching themes—the conflict between Nature and Nurture, the conflict between Nature and Civilization; the theme of Avarice and the detrimental effects of the excessive desire for money; the theme of food preparation and consumption--that thread their way throughout the text, presenting a context in which to view many of the situations of the plot. Choose one of these themes and discuss 2-3 junctures in the text where the theme is repeated and how the theme complicates or clarifies the audience's understanding of the plot and characters.

12.Every character, whether male or female, in the romance Silence seems to be attracted to or "love" Silence. Using an appropriate critical essay as context, discuss the possibilities for Heldris's expression of the theme of same-sex love between Silence and any of the following characters: Eufeme; the minstrels; the French King; Ebain.

13.From the opening of the plot to near the end, the text of Silence provides many occasions for Heldris to comment on the institution of medieval warfare. Using 2-3 passages from the text as your basis for analysis of this theme, explore Heldris's presentation of the theme of war. Does this author glorify war as part of the medieval chivalric enterprise? Does this author undermine the ubiquity of mortal warfare?

14.At the end of Silence, the narrator indicates that, after knowing Silence for over 16 years as a male, after her cosmetic transformation by Nature, King Evan marries Silence. Using the appropriate critical essays as a context, discuss the reasons for the marriage and evaluate its potential for success.