question 002

           ENGLISH 123 —
MYTHOLOGY

Choose TWO of the following questions, and
respond to each in an essay of not more than 600 words
(approximately two typewritten pages for each question). Be specific in your
responses and work beyond generalities into a discussion that shows your
familiarity with our texts.  ESSENTIAL
NOTE:  You are not simply reporting on a myth, but making sense of
it through your own, careful analysis.

Please label each question

Special Note:  Read the questions
carefully.  Each question asks that you
draw a conclusion following your discussion to allow you to synthesize the
material and formulate your own insights. (You need not parrot back your response; i.e.,
This theme is significant because . . . . 
Your paper should make apparent why you deem the subject important
enough to write about, since you will focus on what matters most, in your
estimation, in these myths.)

ANSWER ANY TWO OF THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS. Your essay should not total more than four pages.

1. You must legally defend Dr. Victor Frankenstein
   against his monster in a court of law. The monster is making claims
   of malpractice, negligence, and seeks physical and emotional damages, as
   well. What is the best defense you could mount on behalf of the doctor?
   What counter-arguments might you hear from the prosecutor? (It’s up to you
   whether you portray yourself as a competent defense attorney or as
   incompetent or biased, but you must remain consistent in your point of
   view and leave the reader with a clear idea as to the actual character of Dr. Frankenstein as portrayed in Shelley’s
   novel. As always when you write, be specific and use support from the
   text.)

1. Which culture’s mythology resonated with
   you more closely than the others, and why? Select a
   myth or theme that spoke to you in some unexpected way. Describe what
   it means to you in the context of your life and explain why it proved so
   valuable. What did you learn from it? Give
   specific examples from the texts to support your analysis, conveying the
   reasons that your contemporaries might still benefit from the study and understanding
   of that culture’s mythology.

1. Why do the Greek gods and goddess inflict such misery
   upon those who worship them? And why did human beings hail the Immortals, since they
   seemed to abuse their powers and
   positions? Explain why the tales of the gods have been told and retold throughout
   the centuries, given their apparent flaws. 
   What character traits most impressed you, and what behaviors
   shocked you? What do we learn from Greek mythology as we face life in the
   modern world? As always, be specific and convey clearly to the reader the
   reasons for your response. Also, provide pertinent support from our texts.

1. Discuss the traditions represented in The Ways of My Grandmothers and how they differ from
   ways of life in modern society. Which ways of traditional life would
   be the hardest for modern society to adapt to, and why? Which traditions
   would be the most appealing? What single aspect of traditional life, now
   lost, do you most mourn? How might we benefit if we reintegrated it into
   our lives today? Be sure to offer specifics with plenty of support from
   the text.

You must
scrupulously cite your sources to avoid Plagiarism. Enclose any direct
quotations in quotation marks and acknowledge ideas that are not your own.