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Post by holocene on Aug 3, 2011 16:29:13 GMT -5
I hate to ask, but I'm stuck and I can't seem to come up with a unifying thesis (not that I'm asking anyone to write it for me) for my essay.
Would anyone be able to help me out or give me any ideas about what the effects of citing other texts within a story are? I'm supposed to consider the significance of intertextual references or allusions -- I'm writing my essay on Matilda and Alice in Wonderland which both have implicit/explicit references to books or fairy tales but I can't semm to connect the dots.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by onlyaworkingtitle on Aug 3, 2011 21:33:47 GMT -5
My advice:
1) Find the specific quotes/passages in each of those books (Matilda and Alice) that reference (implicitly or explicitly) other books or fairy tales.
2) Find (and match up) the specific quotes/passages in the books or fairy tales to which M and A make reference.
3) Are there any patterns in those? Repetition of theme or, even better, of specific source? Think also about the (very different) time periods of these two works -- how do you think that effected the sorts of allusions and implications the authors used? Again, always look for patterns. Patterns are how you find theses.
4) Check the library for secondary sources -- other people's essays discussing (generally) the things you want to discuss. Do you agree with what they say? Disagree? Figuring out their stances, and your stance in relation to them, will help you solidify your thesis. Pull quotations that you can pick apart.
5) Throw all these quotations (from the books, the referenced myths, and the secondary sources) together, put them in an outline format, and pad liberally with bullshit. You'll reach your quota in no time.
More specific advice will require more specific information on your situation, but I hope this is what you wanted. In return, please check out the rest of the forum and reply to anything and everything -- we need new blood to keep this forum churning!
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Post by holocene on Aug 3, 2011 21:48:34 GMT -5
Thank you so much, that was really helpful. ☺ I will definitely check out the rest of the forum when I'm done with this essay.  |
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