Essay Assignment
Choose any one of the following essay questions and write a 3 To 3.5 page essay.
1. From Swift's Gulliver's Travels, discuss the main character's self-image, how he sees himself in relation to both the Yahoos and his Houyhnhnm hosts. Is he self-deluded? Why?
2. Discuss the Swiftian creation, the Houyhnhnms, as a species or "race." What are the key characteristics of this species? What do you see as their particular strengths or weaknesses, from the human view? Make sure to add a definition and description of a Yahoo in your analysis.
3. Discuss Swift's "A Modest Proposal for Our Time." How does it reflect the history of the time, as it relates to England's treatment of Ireland? In what way(s) does it foreshadow the events of the 20th Century?
4. On Voltaire's Candide: Discuss the philosophical concept of "the best of all possible worlds" as propounded by Dr. Pangloss. How do the events of this anti-providential, anti-clerical satire strengthen or weaken a belief in this view? Does Pangloss himself still believe it in the end? Or does he believe in a closely related philosophy at that point?
5. Considering Candide again: How does the novel by Voltaire reinforce the conclusions of the New York Times columnist, Michael Johnson, in his op-ed from Jan. 23, 2010 "Voltaire the Survivor." Keep in mind what he and others see as Voltaire's central lesson, "Dare to think for yourself, outside of conformity and orthodoxy."
6. Discuss Sor Juana's quest to be accepted as an intellectual in the New World, circa the late 17th century. How does her Reply to Sister Filotea support this idea? If you like, include ideas from Judith Drake's "An Essay in Defense of the Female Sex," from 1696, to reinforce your argument. (Both women criticized the sexism in the society of their time, and the hypocrisy of men.)
7. Discuss Rousseau's Confessions. Is he an honest autobiographer? Or does he shift events to place himself in a more positive light? Provide specific examples of this.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.