R Writing and Literature Co-op 10 (POC Mrs. Ingalls)

[JodyI]

Co-op 10 will be a combined Lit/Writing session on The Death of Ivan Illych.

The assignment is correct as listed on the syllabus, copied below as well:

Please note, the Ivan essay due for writing is ROUGH DRAFT only. This assignment is a pretty significant step having not gone through first semester instruction in detail, so be sure you understand the info you've read in your WEAL book (how to analyze fiction, particularly).

Final, full and polished draft will be due co-op 11.

Literature:
Read the following in Poetics: (use actual page numbers on the document, not the Preview pages)

p. 252-253, no. 9. ("Westernizers, Slavophiles, and Russian Literature After the Crimean War")
p. 460 Leo Tolstoy, alphabetical author info section

Read The Death of Ivan Ilyich, by Leo Tolstoy. It's not extremely long, but it is a full book, so be sure to plan ahead so you can write your essay in good time.

Writing:
In a full-length essay (5-6 paragraphs or longer as needed, not to exceed 4-5 pages), create and defend a thesis developed from the following question:

How does Tolstoy use characters, setting, diction, and/or plot (and other as you would like to add...use at least three elements) to portray the theme of The Death of Ivan Ilych? (The essay will necessarily include your opinion of what the theme of the book is.) Your knowledge of his life and this period of Russia's history should inform your observations (and may be worked into your thesis if you like).

If you aren't sure you've come up with a good thesis, please e-mail it to me for approval. Be sure you use quoted material, not just summary, from the work to support your case. We will look at this in class on co-op 10 as well.

ROUGH DRAFT only.