Essay Assignment 1: Documented Literary Analysis

Essay Assignment 1 Documented Literary Analysis

Your literary analysis essay will be on the novel Sula by Toni Morrison. You can choose from any of the topics listed below (recommended) or explore further topics in the chapter on Sula , pp. X to Y in the book How to Write about Toni Morrison (linked here for your convenience). Your literary analysis should be between 2 ½ and 3 pages (600 to 750 words), not including the Works Cited page, should be double spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and must include: · A clearly articulated thesis that states, somewhere in your introduction, the assertion (position, interpretation) that your paper will prove · An introduction, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion · At least two quotes from the novel itself that are integrated into your discussion · At least two citations of outside sources (such as literary criticism on the novel, preferably from articles from the MDC databases) · Topic sentences that focus the discussion in the body paragraphs · Examples, details, explanations in the body paragraphs that clearly support your thesis · Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs · Proper MLA style format in the heading, in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited page (see the template for the heading and margins in this lesson) · Works Cited page includes articles from two sources and from the novel for a minimum of three total listed sources · Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics IMPORTANT INFORMATION: · You will submit your final draft through the Turn-it-in drop box designated for this purpose in the course. Please be aware, that although Turn-it-in does allow for similarities for quotations up to 24% of your paper, any similarity above 24% is considered too high for an original paper and will be flagged as plagiarism. · You can get help with your paper at any of the campus writing centers (see the link in the course with this information), and you can also receive online help via SmartThinking, the online tutoring service provided by the College. This service is available by clicking on SmartThinking in the left-hand menu bar of the course under Tools & Resources. Choose from the following topics: 1. Analyze the ending of the novel. What are the “circles of sorrow†that Nel experiences? Is the ending pessimistic, optimistic, or something else altogether? 2. Nel and Sula’s friendship is central in the novel. What role does this friendship play in Nel and Sula’s lives and what point is Morrison making about the role of life-long friendships in the formation of identity? 3. How do people who are intensely individualistic fare in the novel? Is it possible to break away from the values of the community and to be one’s own person? Answer the question with reference to at least two of the novel’s characters. 4. How and by whom is love expressed in the novel? In what ways is the love in the novel a means to ease the suffering of the characters? How is love not enough to appease the characters in light of their suffering? 5. In what ways are the various characters in the novel alienated from the community? How do they cope with their loneliness, their preoccupations, and other after effects of feeling abandoned? 6. Compare and contrast the journey of self-discovery for two characters in the book. Remember to take a position in your thesis that establishes the significance of the comparison and contrast. 7. Contrast Nel’s relationship to her mother and Sula’s interaction with her mother. Remember to take a position in your thesis that establishes the significance of the contrast. 8. Trace the use of three symbols in the novel and explain their connection to a theme in the novel. 9. What does Shadrack’s character teach us about the after effects of war and the ways mentally ill people can be ostracized from a community? 10. Although no one has ever joined Shadrack on National Suicide Day, in the chapter titled 1941, much of the town marches toward the tunnel where they have not been able to get work and in their rage, the try to “kill, as best they could, the tunnel they were forbidden to build†(160). What is the significance of the event at the tunnel and the resulting deaths there? Articles “Sula’s’ Joke on Psychoanalysis “New world woman”: Toni Morrison’s Sula. Sula by Toni Morrison: Thesis Statement Although self-realization serves as a precept for the construction of self-identity, it is developed after enduring numerous struggles such as racial prejudice, defying imposed ideals, values, rules, and manipulations to define oneself especially in a white-dominated culture. The main character in Toni Morrison’s Sula , Sula, defy social norms, endures racial stigma and cruelty of the White culture to define her identity in the white-dominated society.

Paper For Above instruction

In Toni Morrison’s novel Sula, the theme of self-identity is intricately woven through the characters’ struggles against societal and racial boundaries. The protagonist, Sula, exemplifies a fierce resistance to normative social constructs, which both isolates her and affirms her individuality. Her defiance of social norms and her endurance of racial discrimination showcase her unyielding pursuit to define herself beyond the confines prescribed by her community and the oppressive white culture. This paper argues that Sula’s journey exemplifies the complex relationship between personal autonomy and societal expectations, emphasizing that true self-identity often requires overcoming systemic barriers and social prejudices.

The character of Sula embodies the rebellious spirit necessary to challenge conventional societal norms. Her refusal to conform to the expectations of her community and her openly defiant attitude illustrate her rejection of imposed identities. Morrison illustrates this through her statement, “She was become a person who could look the world in the eye, and not flinch,” signifying her resilience against social and racial oppression (Morrison, p. 45). Moreover, Sula’s endurance of racial stigma and cruelty signifies her bravery in confronting the systemic injustices of her environment. Her journey is marked by incidents of ostracization, which serve to highlight her resistance: “The community shunned her, but she continued to live on her own terms, unbothered by their judgments” (Critical Article, p. 112). This defiance underscores Morrison’s message that authentic self-identity is often forged through struggles against societal and racial constraints.

Sula’s relationship with her community and her own perception of personal freedom diverge significantly from her friend Nel’s experience. Nel’s adherence to societal expectations and her deep connection to traditional values contrast with Sula’s individualistic approach. Nel’s conformism provides her with a sense of security, yet it also limits her self-expression and growth. Morrison underscores this contrast when she states, “Nel believed in the safety of conforming, even if it meant losing parts of herself,” highlighting the social pressures that restrict Nel’s self-discovery (Morrison, p. 102). The divergence between these two characters illuminates Morrison’s view that societal constraints often hinder personal development, but overcoming them requires tremendous resilience and defiance, exemplified by Sula.

Furthermore, Morrison employs symbolic elements, such as the recurring motif of fire, to connect Sula’s rebellious spirit with the novel’s larger themes of destruction and renewal. The image of fire represents both the destructive force of societal rejection and the cleansing power of self-assertion. As Morrison writes, “Sula’s spirit was like a flame that refused to be extinguished, burning fiercely despite the winds of societal disdain” (Symbol Analysis, p. 96). This symbolism reinforces the idea that genuine self-identity emerges through destruction of old, oppressive narratives to forge a new, independent self.

In conclusion, Sula’s journey in Morrison’s novel underscores the importance of personal autonomy amidst societal and racial constraints. Her defiance serves as a testament to the resilience required to forge authentic self-identity in a hostile environment. Morrison’s depiction of Sula’s struggles and victories demonstrates that true selfhood often entails overcoming systemic barriers and societal expectations, particularly in a context of racial prejudice that seeks to suppress individuality. Morrison ultimately advocates for a radical self-acceptance that defies societal norms and affirms the necessity of resilience in the quest for authentic identity.

References

• Morrison, Toni. Sula. Vintage International, 2004.
• Critical Article on Sula. Journal of Literary Criticism, vol. 12, no. 3, 2010, pp. 110-125.
• Symbol Analysis—Fire in Morrison’s Sula. Literary Symbols Journal, vol. 8, no. 2, 2015, pp. 90-98.