Context

This piece was written for my Contemporary Italian Literature class, which I took while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. As this course was an upper-level literature seminar counting toward my major, my professor required that students' theses answered his one question: “so what?” This was not the first time I had heard a professor pose this dilemma; students often write quality papers which would not pass this simple test. An elementary paper makes a connection but fails to define a more universal argument. I pushed my theses further in this class and as a result I am a more competent literary critic. I drew from my educated interest in sex, women, and gender studies, but as a student of professional writing I was careful to project an unbiased voice while still asserting my argument that the text is wrought with sexist elements.

*As a note to the reader, the capitalization of If on a winter's night a traveler (the book and the first chapter share the same title) hints that the chapter titles are meant to be read as one coherent sentence.

Rhetorical Decisions

Within this paper I worked hard not only to develop a sound argument but also to test my ability to construct a linguistically and syntactically advanced essay. I varied my sentence structure and tested the limits of my narrative voice in an academic context. One such example of a complex, well-written statement is found in the introductory paragrapn, wherein I claim that "Ludmilla is a static character who overwhelmingly exhibits stereotypically negative female qualities, while the pseudo-chapters become increasingly more injurious to women particularly in regard to sexual aggression and objectification." The paper is dense with support and examples, given that I was limited to five pages. I have learned to state my assertions in concise yet intellectual terms rather than dressing them up with flowery speech.

Perhaps the best example of this is found in my thesis, wherein I assert that "the fragmented sub-stories are evidence of the larger body of literature’s application of gender, which is reinforced through a different lens by Ludmilla’s character in the arching narrative." Using powerful, concise diction I encapsulate a complex theory within a digestible sentence. Another trick I have adopted is to vary long sentences with shorter statements, such as "this is the message readers have come to expect," in an effort to keep the reader engaged. While I am not yet proficient, I am striving to develop a graduate-level writing style.

Within my undergraduate career I have completed many literary analyses. As a result I have learned to tease out my points completely; one of my strong suits (and a useful rhetorical tool) is acknowledging the counter-argument so that I may refute it, thus strengthening my claims. For example, I confront points where the book seems to placate women with positive traits and call them out as "socially normalized feminine qualities which are chiefly negative and generalized." This is especially useful in feminist critiques of literature wherein authors must write from within a patriarchal society and argue against many pillars of culture. The effect of this multiplicity is a nuanced, water-tight thesis founded on full-bodied and well-supported assertions.

Though I make clear my stance on the book’s sexist shades, I do so without trespassing into an affected tone. At one point I posit that "love interests are perhaps the least intriguing character a woman can take on" which reads as an opinion until I anchor it within the text: "female love interests are only as valuable as they can be useful to men, like a shadow of a fully-formed character." I am able to take a side to the argument which I present while keeping contextual support at the center of the paper. It is difficult to refrain from pushing my own feminist agenda, but had I used my own voice too heavily my claims would have been easily dismissed as radical or amateur. Yet I relied slightly on my voice to provide the texture and mood of my paper. My opinions are masked by professionalism and thus are able to convey an emotionally charged but credible argument.

Evaluation

This paper exhibits my proficient writing style. I have achieved a complex level of thesis development, looking deep into the subtleties of textual support, which I couple with a firm command of diction and syntax. Though it is unlikely that I will conduct literary analyses in my professional life, I certainly will approach scholarly articles with the same close reading skills. It is my hope to someday publish noteworthy articles within my field, so it is important that I foster a mastery of writing and rhetoric. In terms of content, this type of thought is fully entrenched in my career interests. I cannot help but adapt my theses to social justice, and doing so will be useful practice for my future. Even before enrolling in graduate courses in the social services, I enjoy independent practice within this area of thought. When that time comes, I will have good experience to draw from in the writing and language of social justice.

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Feminist Critique - If on a winter's night a traveler.pdf