I have to write a 1000 essay in which I must connect two books together. Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" and Tim O'Briens "The Things They Carried" The thing is, I have no idea where to even start. Any ideas for premises, thesis statement etc.?
To me, and all of us read different meanings into stories, but to me, both tell a story about how humans cope to survive. I am thinking of mental coping, not just physical.
What would be some premises for that. Like, examples in both books?
Go back and reread both books, and look for examples of mental coping.
Ok I reread both books, but I'm still unsure. I understand what both books are getting at, but I have no idea on what my thesis should be. It has to be have 3 arguments supporting it and and i'm hopelessly lost. And ideas?
Connecting two books together in an essay requires careful analysis and finding common themes, symbols, or literary devices that bridge the two works. To get started, I suggest following these steps:
1. Read and understand both books thoroughly: Before attempting to connect the books, read Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" and Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" to familiarize yourself with their plots, characters, settings, and overall themes. Take notes on important events, symbols, and motifs.
2. Identify common themes: Begin by looking for common themes that exist in both books. Consider themes such as survival, the power of storytelling, truth, identity, or the human condition. Look for similar ideas, conflicts, or character development that can be compared and contrasted.
3. Analyze literary devices: Pay attention to the authors' use of literary devices such as symbolism, imagery, foreshadowing, or characterization. Look for instances where similar devices are employed in both books, as these can create connections.
4. Think about character development: Compare and contrast the main characters in both books. Consider their journeys, growth, and the challenges they face. Explore how their experiences or internal struggles can be connected in your essay.
5. Develop a thesis statement: Once you've identified common themes, symbols, or character developments, craft a strong thesis statement. This statement should indicate the main idea you will explore in your essay, connecting the two books in a meaningful way. For example, your thesis could be something like: "Through the exploration of survival, storytelling, and the blurred boundaries of truth, Martel's 'Life of Pi' and O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried' both portray the transformative power of human resilience and the search for meaning in the face of adversity."
6. Plan your essay structure: Organize your essay by dividing it into coherent sections that highlight different points of comparison and connection between the books. Each section should have a clear topic sentence, supporting evidence, and analysis that relates back to your thesis statement.
Remember, the key to successfully connecting two books is to provide specific examples, textual evidence, and analyses that demonstrate the similarities and differences between the works. Good luck with your essay!