Respond to ONE of the following questions. Your response should include the following to receive the points in parentheses:
Respond in a well-organized essay. Your answer should be written in complete sentences. (16 pts)
(a) Define the term conflict as it relates to literature and explain its importance in narrative writing. Briefly describe the different types of internal and external conflict. Then choose ONE short story or poem you read for this course. Explain how the author introduces, develops, and resolves a major conflict in this narrative.
(b) Recall what you have learned about different genres, or types, of narratives and how to analyze a narrative. Then choose ONE short story you read for this course. State the author’s purpose for writing the story (to inform or explain, to describe, to persuade, or to entertain) and summarize the main idea. Briefly discuss the techniques the author used (such as figurative language or metaphor). Evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques in achieving the author’s purpose.
(c) Identify a major theme in ONE of the stories or poems you read for this course. State the theme in a complete sentence. Then explain how the author develops this theme throughout the story or poem through plot events, character development, dialogue, and other story elements.
Select the link to access the English Essay Rubric.
(a) Conflict in literature refers to the struggle between two opposing forces or ideas that is essential in creating tension and driving the plot forward. It is a crucial element in narrative writing as it adds depth to the characters and their relationships, creates suspense, and allows for the exploration of different themes and ideas.
There are two types of conflict: internal conflict and external conflict. Internal conflict occurs within a character's mind and involves struggles with their own thoughts, emotions, or beliefs. It often reflects the character's moral or psychological growth throughout the story. External conflict, on the other hand, arises between a character and an outside force, which can be another character, society, nature, or fate. External conflict often serves as the main source of action and drama in a narrative.
In the short story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, the author introduces a major conflict when the protagonist, Mathilde Loisel, longs for a luxurious lifestyle she cannot afford. She is unhappy and dissatisfied with her current social standing, constantly yearning for something better. This internal conflict drives much of the story as Mathilde's desire for wealth and status leads her to borrow a diamond necklace for a high-class party. However, the necklace goes missing, and Mathilde spends the next ten years working tirelessly to repay the debt she had to incur to replace it.
Through the development of this conflict, Maupassant explores the theme of the pursuit of material possessions and its consequences. Mathilde's internal conflict reveals the dangers of excessive desire and the illusion of happiness that comes from the pursuit of wealth. The resolution of the conflict occurs when Mathilde discovers that the necklace she worked so hard to replace was actually a fake, rendering her sacrifices meaningless. This revelation serves as a twist ending and highlights the irony of Mathilde's pursuit of material wealth.
Overall, through the introduction, development, and resolution of the conflict, Maupassant effectively conveys the theme of the dangers of materialism. The conflict between Mathilde's desires and her reality laces the story with tension and drives the narrative forward, allowing for a deeper exploration of the human condition.