This is one of the largest finals I’ve had to do so far, which is strange because this is a first-year course. This take-home exam consisted of four small essays all on different genres of literature – that is a lot of work.
The first essay looks at short fiction. I chose to dissect Ernest Hemingway’s short story “A Clean Well-Lighted Place.” This short fiction has made me think a lot about my place in the world and gratitude. Beauty and happiness can be found simply in a clean and well-lit place. The ageism is also hella strong in this one, something I also think about as I crawl nearer and nearer to my grave (I am now an old twenty-one – what?!).
The second essay is on Margaret Atwood’s poem “The animals in that country.” In my essay, I talk about the themes of animal cruelty and industrial agriculture as well as the literary devices Atwood uses to create a deeper interpretation.
The third mini-essay is on Shakespeare’s play Henry IV Part I. Unfortunately, this play was my least favourite by Shakespeare. I much prefer A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth or The Tempest. I explore the theme of honour in this play through Prince Hal’s character.
The last mini-essay is on The Great Gatsby. For some reason, I have read this book like four times even though I don’t particularly care for it. The only thing I like is whenever I read this book, I can visualize it so well and start romanticizing the 1920s lol. In this essay, I argue that Nick Carraway is not just the narrator but also the main character and protagonist of this story. Even though Gatsby is not my favourite book, it holds a special place in my heart. It’s also so ridiculously Lana Del Rey-coded and vice-versa.
