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Writing Workshop – Comparative Assignment –
Your final paper is going to be a comparative assignment. This means you will be looking at two works at the same time and analyzing them together. The Monkey and the Monk will be one of the works you will use. You can choose EITHER The Golden Ass or The Conference of the Birds to compare it to. This workshop will help you organize and prepare for your paper.
First, choose the other book you’re going to use: The Golden Ass or The Conference of the Birds. Include that choice in this assignment (you aren’t required to keep this choice for your final paper but it would be a good idea to stick with whatever you pick).
Next, decide how you’re going to write about these two works. Generally, when you compare two works of literature the purpose is to reveal something about both texts by placing them (metaphorically) next to each other. How do they each represent a common theme? What do they have to say? What are they trying to tell their readers? What are they most concerned about? What do they ignore or gloss over? Here are some examples of topics to focus your analysis on:
The Theme of the Journey: What are the journeys in each of the two books? Are they the same or different? How and why are they different? How do the ideas of a physical and spiritual journey play out in each?
Character: Is the author trying to tell their reader how to be a better person? What lessons do the characters learn that a reader may also learn from? How does that work and why? Are you meant to like the characters or not? Does their journey change them? How and why? How are the changes different between books?
Style: Do the two books have a different tone? For example, is one serious and one funny? Are they both funny? Are they both a mix of comedy and drama? How do you know? What exactly makes them this way? Is it the choice of words, actions, theme, or story elements? Does this change the message of the book? Remember, the authors make specific choices while writing and editing. The tone and style are deliberate and can be analyzed and compared.
The World: What is the world like in each text? Who lives there and what are they like? Is there magic? Are there monsters and other dangers? How do the characters interact with or how are they shaped by their world? If you switched the main characters and placed them in the world of the other book what would happen? Would they have an easy or hard time adjusting? Why did the author choose to make the world as it is?
You can choose any topic or focus to write about. For this workshop, please submit the following:
1. Choose either The Golden Ass or The Conference of the Birds to compare to The Monkey and the Monk.
2. What exactly are you comparing and why? Write a minimum of 500 words. This doesn’t have to be a formal essay but try to keep your topic focused. Pick one idea and write up some basic supporting evidence to go with it. You can supply quotes but they won’t count toward your minimum word count. This is intended to be an outline plus brainstorming session for your final paper so keep that in mind.
For this workshop and for your final paper keep these two things in mind:
1. The authors put almost everything in their books for a reason. It’s your task to find those details and explain them.
2. As you write, keep asking yourself: “What do I have to say?” Read that sentence three times and emphasize a different word each time: “WHAT do I have to say?” “What do I have to say [emphasis on “I”]. “What do I have to SAY?” These three make up:
Content (i.e. material) – The “what”
Originality – Your work and ideas
and Expression – The “why”
You (as a writer) are telling me (your reader) something important and original about these books. It doesn’t have to be spectacular or mind blowing; it just has to be yours. What do you want to tell me and how will you convince me you are right? That will be your paper.
