Essay 2: Hard Times

You are to write a brief critical essay, three to five pages typed. In order to insure tightly controlled development, I want you to keep the paper within these bounds. Hard Times will be the focus of this essay.

You probably should use the critique sheet from your first essay as a proofreading/revision guide.

You will again be required to do some research on this project, but you should keep your focus upon the introductory remarks above. In addition to drawing upon the text of the novel itself, you should use a minimum of three sources drawn from the "Criticism" section at the back of the Norton Critical edition of Hard Times (331-425). Remember that each critical essay will require a separate, complete "Works Cited" entry (follow the model for anthology entries).

Possible topics

Paul Schlicke, in Dickens and Popular Entertainment, suggests that "motifs of circus and fairy-tale pervade the novel, functioning both as indicators of positive values and as satiric counters with which to ridicule false and misguided attitudes." Discuss how this is so.
Writing about Household Words, a journal which Dickens published, he said: "No mere utilitarian spirit, no iron binding of the mind to grim realities, will give a harsh tone to our Household Words. In the bosoms of the young and old, of the well-to-do and of the poor, we would tenderly cherish that light of Fancy which is inherent in the human breast." Explain how this also applies to Hard Times.
Through a close reading of chapter 15, "Father and Daughter," explain its significance to the novel as a whole.
Discuss Hard Times as a statement on class structure.

This essay is due on Wednesday, 29 November 2000.
Make certain that it is completed and emailed to me before midnight.
Remember: no late papers will be accepted.

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Questions about format or MLA quotation mechanics? Go to the MLA Quick Guide.

Need further explanation? Check the thread on the Discussion Forum. If you can't find your answer there, contact me at en_mail@swbell.net.