1.      Womens Roles/Gender Dynamics. In the second half of the semester, weencounter female characters with complexity, agency, and strength (a big changefrom the male-dominated texts of the first couple of weeks). Ina detailed, thoughtful essay supported by textual examples, discuss variousrepresentations of women characters, their relationships to men, whether theyconform to or break free from their traditional social roles/paradigms, and howthey manage to disrupt or transform those roles/paradigms in order to exercisepower, influence, or choice.

2.     Family Ties. The role of family is paramount inthese texts. Sometimes familial bonds offer strength and support, other times theybecome a kind of prison of dysfunction or bring excessive responsibilities andcommitment. In a detailed, thoughtful essay, supported by textual examples,discuss the various depictions of family structures and family ties in thesetexts. What kind of support systems do various families offerare they sourcesof cultural wisdom, guidance, material support, identity? What kind ofobstacles do they create for certain charactersdo they place undoresponsibilities on their members, narrow possibilities/opportunities, and castlegacies of violence/shame/repression/illness that are difficult to overcome?