Answer one (1) of the following questions by referring to theorists studied in Module One:

2.    What, according to Aristotle in Poetics, are the six constituent elements of a play?  Which of these is the most important?  Why?

3.    Drawing upon the views on 'plot' advanced in Aristotle's Poetics, discuss the plot-structure of a film of your choice which you find to be dramatically effective.

4.    Discuss the concept of the 'sublime' advanced by 'Longinus' in "On the Sublime."  How may we recognise it?  What are its five sources?  (You may illustrate your answer with reference to a lyric poem of your choice.)

5.    Discuss the concept of ‘symbolism’ and the approach to interpretation advanced by Augustine, Aquinas, and Dante. 

6.    On what grounds does Sidney defend poetry against Plato's indictment?  Is his argument successful, in your view?

7.    Referring closely to the work of one (1) theorist which you have studied and illustrating your answer with reference to one (1) literary work of your choice, carefully explain one (1) of the following approaches to criticism:

• the mimetic;
• the pragmatic;
• the objective;
• the expressive.

ADVICE

Deadline: 6 pm, Thursday October 30, 2003 (Late submissions will be penalised; all essays should be submitted to me in person)

Length: 1,500 - 2,500 words. (I will not read anything that exceeds this limit)

• the paper should be type-written
• the paper should be double-spaced
• pages should be numbered
• please insert a word count at the end

Bibliography: your essay must be accompanied by a correctly compiled List of Works Consulted according to the MLA Guidelines

General:

• Essays must be written according to the guidelines laid out in The MLA Handbook.  These guidelines are summarised in the Faculty of Humanities and Education Essay-Writing Guidelines and in my own Essay Writing Guide.  Poorly presented and documented essays will be penalised.

• Please do not submit your paper in any plastic folder or any other kind of covering: the paper itself is sufficient.

• For advice on essay writing in general, see my set of resources entitled Essay Writing, Marking, Reading, Etc.
• You should keep a copy of the term paper for yourself in case the one submitted gets lost.
• You should not merely regurgitate material drawn from my handouts: essays should demonstrate evidence of engagement with the primary texts listed as required reading.
• Since Module I is tested by this assignment, the final exam will test knowledge of the remaining two modules: Module II and Module III.