Critical Paper: Assignment Sheet
For this Critical Paper assignment, we will focus on the literary movement we explored in Unit 1, which is
Romanticism.
Here is your paper topic/prompt:
Using 3 Romantic texts by at least 2 different authors, explain how some important, specific Romantic
characteristics are expressed in each text. Make sure you state clearly which specific Romantic
characteristics—from the list below—you are using in the essay. Overall, which text is the best
representation of Romanticism and why?
Common Characteristics of Romanticism
[Many texts] [f]ocused on the importance of the individual.
Nature was celebrated in works.
Many people during this time called for change (with women’s rights, for example).
Political philosophers continued to focus on the inherent positive features of man.
Imagination was celebrated.
Works began to feature “Regular Joes” in society.
Children were the primary focus of some texts.
Supernatural elements were featured/celebrated in works.
Folklore was often included.
Additional paper guidelines:
The final draft of this paper must contain 700-900 words.
The paper must be written in MLA format (with double-spacing, 12-point Arial font, a creative essay
title, a works cited page, etc.).
The paper must feature well-chosen quotations from the texts to support the claims made in the
composition.
While creating your essay, you may consult the module in eLearn Content titled “How to Quote and
Cite Sources,” which provides MLA guidelines for quoting and citing from the texts.
Place your 1-sentence argumentative thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph.
According to the paper prompt, you must use “3 Romantic texts by at least 2 different authors,” but
these Romantic texts/authors must come from the following list of works that we have actually
covered in class:
o By Edgar Allan Poe: “The Oval Portrait,” “The Purloined Letter”
o By Walt Whitman: Song of Myself selected poems: #1, #5, #6, #52
When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d #6, #15
Note: We will consider each separate Whitman poem to be 1 text. For example, Song of
Myself Poem #1 is considered 1 text; Song of Myself Poem #5 is viewed as a separate
text. Similarly, When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d Poem #6 is considered 1 text;
When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d Poem #15 is viewed as a separate text.
o By Emily Dickinson: #409 “[The Soul selects her own Society—]”
#591 “[I heard a Fly buzz—when I died—]”
Page 2 of 2
#236 “[Some keep the Sabbath going to Church—]”
#620 “[Much Madness is divinest Sense—]”
There will be NO SECONDARY RESEARCH IN THE PAPER—THAT MEANS YOU WILL BE
USING ONLY THE STORIES/POEMS THEMSELVES. Thus, for example, stay away from
websites that provide analysis of the texts. Keep in mind that if a paper includes material from a
source that is not properly cited, this results in plagiarism, and a composition containing
plagiarism will receive an “F.”
Due date-
Friday, July 15— Submit your Critical Paper final draft—of 700-900 words—to the designated eLearn
dropbox before 11:59 PM. You must submit your essay in a file format that the dropbox can
“read”—.doc, .docx, or .rtf
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