Writing Prompts / Just an Idea!

Here is a more general list of 5 essay prompts I had tucked away (probably need to get them out!) – adapted from what I think was a high school English teacher’s class site.  OHS?  If you search Google for literary prompts you will find a lot of documents that you can then simple cut and paste in to one document to use as your “teacher’s guide to writing prompts” …. that’s what I do.  Colleges have great “intro English” class prompts too.  I think it is important for the student to be able to take a general prompt and apply it to their reading versus giving them detailed character names etc. to start.  Of course you can discuss that orally, and that’s where IMHO lots of learning takes place.  That way you will not need so specific a prompt for a written upper grade narration/composition assignments.  A lot of great lessons on writing can come from just prepping for these essay assignements too.  Going over terms, discussing and reading examples of different methods in writing, etc.

Writing Prompts for Literary Analysis – Choose one of the following prompts and compose a five paragraph essay based on the novel you read.

One of the most revealing types of conflict occurs when a character’s inner struggles are resolved at great personal price.  Often, the character learns a lesson, but too late to help himself or another character.  Explain how, in the work that you read, a character struggles but fails to learn a lesson in time, and thus, serves as an example for the reader.  In your essay, focus on the conflict within the character.  Be sure to include the price paid as part of the resolution and the lesson to be learned.

Often in literary works, authors choose a physical object which takes on a special significance in the work and becomes a symbol of something beyond itself.  Show how, in the work that you read, the author uses a symbol to convey an important meaning.  In your essay, focus on the symbol and what it symbolizes.  Be sure to discuss how the author uses it to convey a message to readers.  You may choose three important symbols from the novel, or you may choose to elaborate on one symbol in all three body paragraphs.

Authors often use descriptive details to develop a setting for several purposes.  In an essay, explain how the setting of your book related to events from the plot, related to characters, or built suspense.  You may write one body paragraph about each aspect of setting, or you may chose to elaborate on one particular aspect (plot, character, suspense) in all three body paragraphs.

What is the theme of the novel? In your introduction, state the theme of the novel. In your thesis, explain how the theme is developed.  In your body paragraphs, give specific examples of scenes from the novel in which the author developed the theme.

Discuss the author’s use of figurative language.  Identify three examples of figurative language from the novel.  Why did the author use these examples?  What impact does the figurative language have on characterization, description of setting, mood, foreshadowing, theme, or the novel overall?  In your essay, use a different example in each body paragraph.  Be sure to explain the significance of each use of figurative language.