Deep Thoughts

I'm a little backlogged on grading, but I'm working late tonight to catch up. Just me. Alone here in 262. Sigh.

Anyway, to prove that I've been making some progress (and to help you understand what makes a great literary analysis) I'm posting some exemplars for the ATPH test passage.

To get an A on this part of the test, you had to do the following: 1) Respond to all elements of the question; 2)Correctly identify a motif and articulate a theory about what it represents that goes beyond the obvious (Not just "blood symbolizes death." What else could the blood symbolize, or at the very least what truths about death is McCarthy hinting at); 3)Comment clearly on how the passage contributes to a thematic idea. Your comment should include inightful ideas that go beyond the surface; and 4) Use your three supporting passages to inform a well-written thesis statement that answers the question "What about your thematic idea is important in this novel?"

Here are some examples of parts of successful papers:

From Erik R.:

"This passage expands upon the idea of nature's ability to both give and take away. John Grady Cole has just killed a doe, which is a gift from nature. However, as the doe dies, Cole begins to recognize nature's ability to take away. Not only does he indirectly compare Alejandra and the doe, but he also eventually recognizes that nature's 'heart beat at a terrible cost' and that no matter what he did "the world's pain and its beauty moved in a relationship of ... equity.' this is a moment of epiphany for Cole since his opens his eyes to the little beauty for which he has suffered so much."

from Maureen K.:

"Red is repeated several times within the whole book, as is blood, and I think that it symbolizes death. Wetness is also repeated several times in this passage, and I think it symbolizes tears or lack of them. Through everything that happened while he was in Mexico, he only cried once or twice. He dwelt a lot on what had happened but didn't show any emotion attached to the events. Pain and beauty are grouped together which is odd, but it comments that they moved together in a relationship of equality, one never overpowering or making itself more present than the other. "Cold" and "blue" I think could hint at the melancholy disappointment that John is feeling at this point before he leaves Mexico."

From Annie D.:

"Throughout the book, McCarthy uses the motif of darkness, death and cold to reinforce the idea of loneliness. In this passage, specifically, McCarthy uses works like "dark," "cold," "cold blue," "dying light," and "darkening landscape." Even though these are in relation to the setting, it strengthens the motif of darkeness and cold while simultaneously enhancing the theme of loneliness because he shows that John is all alone in a dark, cold world. This is seen throughout the book when Alejandra leaves John, when Rawlins returns home, when John must face the judge alone, and finally when he rides off in the sunset alone at the end of the novel. The effect of the motif is that it further reinforces the idea that John is rebelling against the rest of society and striking out on his own to try to reconnect with an older era. This is because the darkness and loneliness that he encounters is a direct result of the choices he made along his journey. Theis motif could symbolize the empirical truth about humanity that is if we pursue womething whole-heartedly, especially if it stands in contrast to the rest of society, we will inevitably face obstacles such as loneliness."