Attached you will find a pdf labeled Paper Topics, you can choose any that deem fit for you. I choose Antigone because it seems the easiest, if you want to do another - please let me know and I will provide you with what you need. You will also find the a

Paper Topics for Drama (Sophocles, Shakespeare, Edson) Basic idea: Write a paper on Antigone, Romeo and Juliet, or Wit, in which you prove a thesis through evidence and analysis of the text. Basic format: This paper should be 4–6 pages, in Times 12-point font, double-spaced (about 400 words per page), with one-inch margins all around. The file that you submit must be either a Word document (.docx), or a PDF document (.pdf). The name of your file must be your last name followed by “Drama.” For example, my file would be “MonteDrama.docx.” (Please do not put any spaces in your file’s name.) For more details about format, consult the “Format Guide,” which can be found under “Content” on blackboard. Basically, use MLA format, though you do NOT need a “Works Cited” page unless you consult works that are not provided in blackboard. Due date, and related information: This paper is due at noon on Monday, March 15 via blackboard. You can submit the assignment as many times as you would like before that time, but only your final submission will be graded. Please note that, when you submit your file, it might appear different on screen: don’t worry, it will come to me intact, just as you wrote it, as long as it is a .docx or .pdf file. More details: The most important things about this paper are your thesis and your proof of your thesis. It is also important that you write in complete sentences and paragraphs, and that your essay is organized, with appropriate transitions between paragraphs. If you are having trouble with your thesis, please consult the thesis guide (available under “Content” on blackboard). I will also give you advice with the paper topics below, and you should feel free to email me with ideas about your thesis, for feedback. As for proving your thesis, the key is to quote and analyze the text, and to explain why your thesis matters. (You want to prove something that is significant.) Give your paper a title that informs the reader what your paper is about! Do NOT title your paper “Paper topic 1.” If you want to give your paper a fancy title, that is OK, but with fancy titles it is often good to add a clear subtitle, to make it clear what your paper is about. The way to do this it to start with your fancy title, then add a colon (:), and then add your clear subtitle. Paper topics . . . 1. This topic can apply to any of the plays. Compare the play to a video or movie version of the play, with the aim of understanding the original play better. Please note that the aim is NOT to review the movie, or even to focus on the movie. And please do not merely compare the play and the movie for the sake of comparison—you must develop a thesis about the play based on the comparison. For example, suppose you watch the Zeferelli movie of Romeo and Juliet, and you observe that the movie is filmed in such a way as to highlight gay elements of the story. This is a good start, but your thesis should focus on Shakespeare’s play. So, you might want to argue that Zeferelli’s film is onto something important about the play, or you might want to argue that Zeferelli’s film misses the point of the play—and then go on to make a point about the play. In other words, think of the video or movie versions as interpretations, and measure those interpretations against the text. Possible exception: if you decide to compare Antigone in Ferguson to Antigone, you are allowed to spend equal time on both versions, and to develop a thesis that applies to both versions.

2. Topic for Antigone. Develop a thesis related to the character of Antigone and whether or not the play asks us to side with, side against, or otherwise judge her. In order to be successful with this topic, I recommend that you analyze Antigone’s motives, and how they change throughout the play. I would also recommend paying attention to the chorus, which often comments on her actions. Alternative topic: analyze how the choral odes relates to the action of the play. (In some ways, each choral ode is a separate poem, and it is often difficult to see how the poem relates to the action surrounding it. Pick one or two examples, and formulate a thesis about the role of the chorus.) 3. Topic for Romeo and Juliet. Read and respond to Gale Kern Paster’s essay “Romeo and Juliet: A Modern Perspective.” (https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/romeo-and- juliet/romeo-and-juliet-a-modern-perspective/) Paster’s essay places Shakespeare’s play in historical perspective, arguing (among other things) that Romeo and Juliet isn’t simply a celebration of young love, and that the secret marriage of the two lovers is key to understanding what is at stake. The essay also touches on male friendship in Shakespeare’s time and other historical specifics. To be successful with this topic, don’t try to take on every aspect of the essay—find some part of the essay that you disagree with, or that you feel does not capture precisely what is going on in Shakespeare’s play. Use that to develop your own thesis (interpretation) of the play. If you find yourself agreeing with almost everything that Paster says, you can still write on this topic, but you must add something of your own. Remember, you aren’t writing a review of Paster’s essay—you are using it to develop your own thesis. 4. Topic for Wit. Edson’s play not only features a character who knows a lot about John Donne’s poetry; it often quotes Donne’s poetry. Formulate a thesis about the use of Donne’s poetry in the play. Which poems are chosen? Why? We will discuss at least one of these poems in class, so if this topic doesn’t appeal to you right away, you may change your mind after we discuss Donne and the play in class. As the play makes clear, Donne is a difficult poet—more difficult than Shakespeare—and that is part of what makes the choice of Donne interesting. 5. Choose your own thesis. If none of the topics appeals to you, you can choose your own thesis, as long as it is focused on one of the three plays. If you choose this, option, please email me for guidance and permission.