The advice that students should define their terms is often given as standard guidance. However, this is often understood as offering a basic, 'dictionary' definition of the key words in the essay title. This approach does not often lead to a thoughtful engagement with the issue raised by the title. Explaining terms in your own words is another approach, demonstrating that you have understood the critical terminology used, but it is often difficult to distinguish between what needs defining in order to show your understanding, and what is so widely accepted as a meaning that definition is redundant.
A more productive and interesting approach is to consider whether any of the key topic words you have identified in the title might be open to several meanings. These abstract concepts (often seemingly innocuous and common-place words) might be interpreted in a number of ways, according to historical or literary context, critical theory, particular author, and this is part of the problem posed by the essay title. Any two students might also have different senses in which they understand a given term. The important thing to consider is what you mean by a particular term, and to question your own understanding of it, perhaps in conjunction with other definitions, particularly if these terms are contained in a quotation by another author or scholar. Negotiating meaning in this way can be a way to ensure that your approach is carefully considered and fresh.
"Romance, unlike other literary genres, is arbitrary, disjointed and chaotic". Discuss
"Romance, unlike other literary genres, is arbitrary, disjointed and chaotic". Discuss
Your first reaction might be to understand these terms as having a common negative sense, but it might be useful to differentiate what is meant by each of them in order to assess their applicability to the genre of Romance separately. It might also be worth looking at whether they are necessarily negative, or more objective statements of the generic features of Romance.
‘The age we live in is critical, didactic, paradoxical, romantic, but it is not dramatic.’ (WILLIAM HAZLITT, 1820) Is this fair? Discuss in relation to any dramatic work or works written after 1785.
‘The age we live in is critical, didactic, paradoxical, romantic, but it is not dramatic.’ (WILLIAM HAZLITT, 1820) Is this fair? Discuss in relation to any dramatic work or works written after 1785.
The main term which requires definition is 'dramatic', as it seems to be used in two senses here: as a quality in contrast with the other terms, and also to determine literary genre. The other terms could usefully be defined to clarify what Hazlitt means by 'dramatic', if it is defined in opposition to these terms, and to assess whether the 'dramatic' does indeed exclude them.
‘’Tis not, what once it was, the World; But a rude heap together hurl’d...’(ANDREW MARVELL). Discuss the place of order and disorder in Renaissance English literature.
‘’Tis not, what once it was, the World; But a rude heap together hurl’d...’(ANDREW MARVELL) Discuss the place of order and disorder in Renaissance English literature.
The contrasting terms 'order' and 'disorder' seem clear, but could be so abstract and open in their meaning that it might help to define in more concrete terms what you are looking at. It might be helpful also to consider what is meant by the 'place' of these concepts.
As he com prinkand out of toun, Com a voice fram heven adoun,That noman herd bot he, And sayde, ‘Thou knyght, Sir Amiloun, God that suffred passioun,Sent the bode bi me; If thou this bataile underfong Thou shalt have an eventour stronge Within this yeres three.(AMIS AND AMILOUN) Discuss the uses made of supernatural messages in any work or works of the period.
As he com prinkand out of toun, Com a voice fram heven adoun, That noman herd bot he, And sayde, ‘Thou knyght, Sir Amiloun, God that suffred passioun, Sent the bode bi me; If thou this bataile underfong Thou shalt have an eventour stronge Within this yeres three. (AMIS AND AMILOUN) Discuss the uses made of supernatural messages in any work or works of the period.
The term 'supernatural' would need to be defined so that you could establish valid criteria for the aspects you choose to consider under the term 'supernatural', especially given that the world view in this period may result in a different understanding to the modern one. You could also take aspects from the quotation to help you determine what might have been considered 'supernatural' at the time.