Research Papers Writing about a historical subtext in a paper that analyzes a literary work

Introduction and Thesis Your opening paragraph should introduce both the historical background issue you are exploring as well as the novel itself The more focused your historical context is, probably the better Your thesis should make a claim about how the historical background information you researched illuminates our understanding of the novel. Hemingway’s depiction of Catherine Barkley in A Farewell to Arms reflects both the changing gender roles of British women during WWI and also the unease that people felt with these new roles. By looking closely at the experiences and psychology of real draft evaders during the Vietnam War, readers can gain a better understanding of the Tim O’Brien character in the story “On The Rainy River.” O’Brien’s psychological trauma reflects the turmoil undergone by actual draft evaders. His final inability to flee to Canada, however, shows that he doesn’t have certain character traits most often associated with those who actually refused to serve.

Historical Background Most likely, you’ll begin your essay by detailing some of the historical background context that you researched This section of your paper should probably be about 2-3 pages long. It should be as specific as possible. Provide facts and figures when appropriate. Use quotes. Cite studies. Don’t simply sum up overly general information that most people know already.

Analysis of the Text(s) Once you’ve established the historical context that you’ve researched, you’ll probably then move on to a detailed close reading/analysis of the novel This section should probably be about 3-4 pages long. Take your time. Look carefully at relevant scenes, quotes, happenings, etc. Provide careful readings of the text. Refer back to the historical context as necessary

Example 1 For a paper about Catherine Barkley and changing gender roles for women in WWI, you could explore: Catherine’s experiences with her dead fiancé What do these suggest about her life before the war? What ideals/expectations did she enter the war with? How did the death contradict these expectations? Catherine’s relationship with Frederic Henry In the hospital in Milan--how is their relationship traditional or non-traditional? Catherine’s pregnancy; why is she reluctant to tell FH? Later, in Switzerland--does Catherine revert back to traditional roles or are the two exploring new roles? The end of the novel Why does Hemingway have both Catherine and the child die? Does the ending suggest that Hemingway either supports or condemns the changing roles? Neither one? What conclusions can you draw?

Example 2 For a paper about draft evasion and the Tim O’Brien story “On the Rainy River,” you could explore: The Tim O’Brien character’s feelings about courage when he was young. O’Brien’s view of the war itself while he is in college. Did he support it? Why or why not? O’Brien’s reactions to getting his draft notice. His summer working at the pig-packing plant and the symbolic implications of this particular job. His time at the Tip-Top Lodge, the role of Elroy Berdahl, and the “hallucination” he experiences on the Rainy River. The very end of the story. What is O’Brien doing to our usual associations with bravery and cowardice? How does the ending redefine the definition of courage proposed at the beginning of the story?

Conclusion No need for a “summary” conclusion Instead, use a “climax” conclusion? End with your reading of the end of the novel (let the author do some of your work for you!) This will make your paper sound finished, conclusive Add a couple of sentences at the very end referring back to the historical context; perhaps restate your main thesis in somewhat different terms

Works Cited You should include at least 4 secondary sources that you actually cited in your essay You might have mentioned some of these sources only very briefly; you’ll probably rely on certain sources more than others—this is fine You should also include the primary text(s) that you refer to Use correct MLA citation format Double space entire works cited page Indent all but first line of citation Capitalize all key words in titles Italicize titles of books, journals, newspapers, websites Titles of stories, poems, articles should appear in quotation marks