Introduction:



Ms. Miller/American Lit II Name____________________________________________

Literary Essay Introductions Activity

Directions: Read through the following introductions. Choose the five that you find the most interesting. For each of the five, identify the following elements of an introduction:

1. Lead/Hook

2. Transitional Sentence(s)

3. Background information about subject (this is general and does not mention the works yet)

4. Introduction of the Text(s) and Author(s)

5. Transitional Sentence(s)

6. Thesis Statement.

Interesting Quote:

“All literature is protest. You can’t name a single literary work that isn’t protest.” According to Richard Wright, literature is often used as a vehicle to protest an aspect of society that needs improvement. Literature is important because it makes people aware of problems that might not otherwise affect them, and allows for the individual who lives in the isolation of safety to empathize with others whose worlds need improvement. Two authors that understand the significant role that stories play in influencing society are Shirley Jackson and Liam O’Flaherty. In “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson writes about the human tendency to blindly follow traditions that appear to be the norm. In “The Sniper” O’Flaherty protests against war by exposing its painful consequences.

Interesting Quote:

“It is not what an author says, but what he or she whispers, that is important.” According to Logan Pearsall Smith, often, the most important message in a work of literature is not directly stated, but implied. Through her character development and ironic twists, Shirley Jackson loudly whispers themes that force her readers to examine the world in which they live. In her short story “The Lottery,” the reader witnesses the consequences of blindly following traditions without questioning their purpose. In “The Possibility of Evil,” she demonstrates how evil exists in all forms and can strike when least expected. In both works, Jackson conveys the idea that it is important to be aware of the world around you and to understand your actions.

Interesting Quote:

Plato once said, “To prefer evil to good is not in human nature.” He believed that people are inherently good despite the evidence that they often promote evil traditions. This may be because it is easier to do what has always been done rather than it is to break with the past and begin a new tradition. Two authors that convey the irrationality of continuing evil traditions are Shirley Jackson and Liam O’Flaherty. In “The Lottery” Jackson shows the danger associated with blindly following traditions and not questioning their validity. In “The Sniper” O’Flaherty demonstrates the devastating effects of the tradition of war. These traditions are continued because people are often afraid of change.

Interesting Quote:

Michael Crichton once said “if you didn’t know history, you didn’t know anything. You were a leaf that didn’t know it was part of a tree.” Just as the quote says, it is very important for people, and especially students, to know their past. It tells you where you, and your society, evolved from, and how viewpoints have changed over time. This is why the classic novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, should remain on the school reading list. It provides a look into America’s history with regard to discrimination, religion, and superstition; a view that, when compared to modern life, shows just how much we have changed, as well as how far we have come.

Interesting Statement:

The true nature of literature is enlightening; although it allows the reader to escape, it also gives the reader a passport to a new place to explore an uncharted territory. “In the Lottery” Shirley Jackson shows the reader a community that is bound to tradition and unable to accept change. In a world that is constantly changing, this steadfastness may seem irrational. In “The Sniper,” Liam O’Flaherty takes the reader into a war zone where it is man verse man. He demonstrates how in a world that is saturated with war, no one wins. Although the average person might not experience these situations in actuality, the literature has the ability to allow the reader to escape the comforts of a safe world and explore a different way of life.

Interesting Statement:

For some it is easier to live in a world of illusion than it is to face reality. In the play, The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams describes what life is like for a poor family struggling to survive during the Great Depression. Each member of the family has a dismal reality from which he or she would like to escape. Through these characters, Williams shows how although a temporary escape from reality into illusion is often necessary, it is important not to get lost in the illusion because it is not a permanent solution.

Interesting Statement:

It is difficult to live in a world that is indifferent to acts of evil. In her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of a small southern town in the 1930s where the people were divided by race, and segregation was a normal way of life. In her text, Harper Lee shows how in a society that allows acts of evil to occur, all parties suffer, not just the oppressed group.

Figurative Language:

Change is often an unwelcome visitor. He knocks on your door and expects you to follow, but he never tells you where you are going. Usually, he takes you to an unfamiliar place, where your sense of normalcy and direction are obsolete. The trip can be scary; however, it may not be wise to refuse his offer. He may have something good to show you. He may offer you something better than what you currently have. The thematic idea of change is often portrayed in literature. In her short story “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson presents the reader with an unjust punishment because of a community’s inability to change. In his short story “The Sniper,” Liam O’Flaherty conveys the danger of allowing the accepted tradition of war to continue. Both of these authors convey the idea that although the journey with change might at first seem ominous, it is necessary to step out of the comfort zone in order to move forward and ensure progress.

Figurative Language:

A cold front and a warm front are two opposite forces that battle each other for dominance. This struggle takes place in the realm above human activity. On Earth, a different type of battle often takes place: the conflict between good and evil. This conflict is often depicted in literature as the central force that drives the story forward. In the short stories “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty and “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson, the authors convey the conflict of good vs. evil and the effects it has on people. In their short stories, both O’Flaherty and Jackson demonstrate what life is like when evil prevails over good.

Figurative Language:

Traditions are breadcrumbs we depend on to show us the way. We follow them blindly with the reassurance that they will point us in the right direction. However, as time passes, if overlooked, the breadcrumbs begin to crumble and are no longer effective. Traditions work in very much the same way. Over time, the principles on which they stand begin to crumble as times change and philosophies progress. Two authors that convey the irrationality of continuing outdated traditions are Shirley Jackson and Liam O’Flaherty. In “the Lottery” Jackson shows the danger associated with continuing a tradition that no longer applies to the community. In “The Sniper” O’Flaherty demonstrates the devastating effects of the tradition of war.

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Note:

1. Your thesis statement can be separate from the works that you will be discussing, OR you can mention them in your thesis statement.

2. Your thesis statement can be more than one sentence. As you write more sophisticated and higher level essays, this will be the case.

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