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I'm writing a very open-ended essay on Enchantment for school. What can I possibly write about? I was thinking feminism, or irony but I'm sure there are better topics out there.
Posts: 6 | Registered: Oct 2008
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Hi Aly; welcome to Hatrack! While we don't like to do students' homework for them here, we don't mind discussing Card's novels or hearing your ideas and giving feedback.
What grade are you in? What other books have you been studying recently?
When I'm trying to come up with an essay topic, I always think about what my favorite bits of the book were: dialogue, a particular scene, a favorite character, or development within the story.
What things in particular did you like about Enchantment? What were you thinking of discussing with respect to either feminism or irony - those are both massive topics?
Posts: 2409 | Registered: Sep 2003
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I don't want any one to do my homework for me. I just wanted to discuss Enchantment. My assignment is very open ended. I feel that there are so many components to Enchanted that it's impossible to choose just one. I don't have many friends who have read the book that I can discuss it with.
This book has nothing to do with anything else I've read in school (which this year has been nothing so far) and doesn't need to.
I love your suggestions. Frankly, I love the culture shock for Ivan and Katerina. When Ivan goes to Taina and is considered weak, it's amazing to see the difference in culture. Unfortunately, I'm writing a joint-essay of 3 books later in the year about societies assuming the worst of others and not trying to understand them. I also love how Ivan discovered how the past links to the present.
My biggest concern is that I'll leave my paper too general. I want to be concise, and have a specific topic instead of something general.
For feminism, I would discuss the differences in the societies. Katerina expects to marry whoever she must. She knows she does not have a choice. However, she is stronger than to let any man claim to be above her. She calls this to attention when she enters Taina and notes how Ivan walks next to her like an equal, but without holding her hand like he's weak. Ruth and Esther are also key characters who portray feminine power. Ruth quotes the feminist bible, while Esther works around her husbands disbeliefs and magicks her house to be safe. Ivan also suspects that she is the reason Peter declared his Judaism and left Russia.
I think I'll do feminist qualities in my essay. If I focus on characters instead of the overall picture it should be concise enough to write in only 45 minutes. I always have to much to say in essays, but not enough time in one class period. Thanks for asking the questions and helping me. I really appreciate it.
Posts: 6 | Registered: Oct 2008
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Hey BlackBlase, interesting idea but I'm not quite sure what you mean or how to write it. Thanks though
Posts: 6 | Registered: Oct 2008
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My favorite part (I just read the book this week) is when Baba Yaga goes to the airport. Definitely classic.
This is the most satisfactory book I've read ever since Deathly Hallows. And if there hadn't been Harry Potter in the picture, this would be the most satisfactory book I've read ever since Ender's Game. I loved it. I considered starting a new thread just to rave about how much I loved Enchantment, but then I saw that there were a couple Enchantment threads already...
Posts: 1029 | Registered: Apr 2007
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I did a writing assignment in my last class on Enchantment and how it fit in with other classic myths. It was a class on Christian fantasy in literature and specifically studied Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis. It was a fascinating class and I loved that I could pick any other fantasy work to write about. Enchantment is one of my favorite stories.
Posts: 1132 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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I actually got to chose any author I wanted and I have to write a term paper on 3 books by him, and three mini essays on each book. Enchantment had so many little themes and ideas that I thought it would be easy as a min-essay. It also fit in really well with my main topic. There was just so much in Enchantment that I had forgotten about that I couldn't choose one idea.
Enchantment is also one of my favorite stories, besides the Harry Potter series. Orson Scott Card is a much better writer, but the Harry Potter series is more relatable and better for all ages. I started reading Harry Potter in 2nd grade before they even became popular. I read Ender's Game in fifth or sixth grade and Enchantment sometime in high school.
Phanto, your suggestion on rights is interesting. I could talk about the rights of the people in Taina based on the culture of the time, how Russia was so strict on the Jews, and possibly a few other things. However, I think feminism may be a stronger/shorter topic. I know more about feminism, and it's easier to cite very obvious parts of the book which demonstrate it. Thanks though!
Posts: 6 | Registered: Oct 2008
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While we don't like to do students' homework for them here, we don't mind discussing Card's novels or hearing your ideas and giving feedback.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
