Oak Meadow School

Los Angeles

HONORS AMERICAN LITERATURE

It is important for honors students to recognize that the key element making this class different from “standard” class work is the quality of the work. Thus, each and every assignment must be approached from this perspective: how can I produce exceptional work here? Answers to questions should demonstrate excellence of thought and presentation. If possible, work should be typed (this is not, however, required). In addition to the assignments given in the American Literature syllabus, the student will complete the following:

1. READ Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne is known for his use of allegory. For this assignment, you will need to go to the library and research allegory, and scholarly analysis of Hawthorne’s use of allegory. On the basis of your reading of the novel, and your research, prepare an 8-10 page paper on an allegorical interpretation of The Scarlet Letter. Be sure to properly document your sources. Include a bibliography.

This assignment will normally be due after Week 10 in the first semester.

2. T.S. Eliot was a giant in his time, awarded the Nobel Prize in 1948 for his poetry. In this assignment, you will read Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” This poem is the subject of one brief lesson in the American literature course material, but you will go into much greater detail in this honor’s assignment. You will need again to go to the library and research scholarly analysis of Eliot, and particularly of this poem. You will need to address style as well as meaning in the poem; this, be sure to interpret the poem, as well as to discuss the manner in which the meaning is communicated. Poets use words like painters use color and shape: the choice of words, their place on the page, their sound to the ear, and much more is significant in the poet’s art. Prepare an 8-10 page analysis of the poem, being sure to properly document your sources. Include a bibliography.

This assignment will normally be due after Week 24 of the second semester.

3. READ Madeleince L’Engle’s A Severed Wasp, and write a book report on this novel. L’Engle is known as a great story-teller. Your book report should be two pages long. The difficult part of this assignment will be to boil down your work! The report consists of four parts: (1) name of author and title (one line), (2) a ½ page summary of the story, (3) a ½ page discussion of the novel’s strengths and weaknesses, (4) a recommendation/non-recommendation of the book and briefly why.

This assignment will normally be due after lesson 30 of the second semester.

Please understand the significance of what you are doing when you study literature: literature is the way in which humans pass on culture to the next generation. From 1850 to 1980, these works of American literature do just exactly what we want them to do! As you wrestle with them, you are wrestling with all that makes us Americans. . .and humans. Enjoy your work, and do it well.