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Would it be interesting? Do you think that I'll find enough sources to support my argument? Are there any more ideas even if they're not related to this topic?
Posted by kgem on Nov 15, 2009. |
Essay Lab Group
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This has much in the way of promise. Might I suggest a couple of avenues. One such path would be to explore the differing conceptions of tragedy. For example, ancient conception of tragedies can be seen as a collision between equally desireable, but ultimately incompatible courses of action. Most prominently discussed by A.C. Bradley, classical "sad endings" resulted in the individual being poised between two ends which were equally coveted, creating the utmost in agony and suffering. Hector, in Homer's Iliad, would be a fine example of this: He is poised between defending Troy, but also wanting to stay with his family. Exploring this ancient conception of tragedy might converge with your topic area. Another path which can be pursued is the idea of modern tragedy, where each step on the path of appropriating the world in accordance to one's own subjectivity can lead to immeasurable destruction. For example, in Shelley's Frankenstein, each step taken towards the accomplishment of Victor's dream brings a sense of calamitous destruction with it. These might be areas for you to explore in terms of how they make the audience or readers feel Posted by akannan on Nov 15, 2009. |
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Studying endings is a great paper topic. There are a lot of endings. Most of them are formulaic and predictable. The ones that interest me are the ones that end in a surprising way. One thing that will help is to view endings based upon the worldview of different culture. I suspect that western cultures end their stories differently than other cultures. Why? Worldview are different and this changes the way we hear and tell stories. This now brings up the reader, I am sure that they will respond differently based upon culture. What is sad to one culture would not be sad to another necessarily. Also you can look at things from a diachronic point of view. There will be changes as well. Posted by readerofbooks on Nov 15, 2009. |
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A recent study showed that when high school students were asked to complete narratives whose denouements had been omitted, a larger percentage of these students wrote romantic endings. From this study, the conclusion was drawn that people want conflicts to work out. Yet, the simple truth is that much of life is tragic, despite the proliferation of depression drugs to keep people "happy." Another simple truth is that no momentous action has ever taken place in times of comfort. All great change comes after discontent or tragedy; for instance, those who have endured sorrow often are more altruistic and deeper than those who have not. So----you can find research on this topic. Ironically, however, in my 20+ years of experience, students more frequently comment that a tragic work is more interesting and meaningful after they have been assigned its reading. For, there is no question that tragedies allow for the addressing of man's experiences and dilemmas in life; tragedies allow for much more character and plot development. Witness the readings of Shakespeare's tragedies today, Thomas Hardy's works, Charles Dickens's works--even the great ancient tragedies of Sophocles. Posted by mwestwood on Nov 15, 2009. |
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I think you have a great idea for a topic. If you are unable to find plenty of useful, easy-to-read research on it, you could conduct your own "qualitative" anecdotal research by interviewing classmates and teachers. The first idea that comes to mind is "The Lady and the Tiger." I'm sure you can find a wealth of information on the initial reactions to readers when this story was published. Other famous short stories with twist endings include "The Necklace," "The Monkey's Paw," and "The Open Window." You could research each story and document reader reactions that have been recorded. Good luck on your paper!
Posted by mrsmonica on Nov 18, 2009. |
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I believe that this is indeed a good topic for a research paper. However, you need to remember that not all research is more reading. This topic is a great subject for a short survey. The survey could be sent out to the college mailing list, all the lit classes, friend, family, co-workers, or randem selection from the phone book. You can also conduct personal interviews and compile the data from that research. This will make up for an research data that may come up lagging. Posted by dlj21260 on Nov 20, 2009. |

