“The Transformative Power of Literature: How Our View of Art and Artists is Shaped by the Texts We Read”

Please select only ONE (1) of the following questions and discuss it in essay format. You will need an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. You will need to use evidence from the texts we read.You should strive to answer the question as thoroughly as possible. This is a comprehensive exam, so when choosing the texts you will discuss, be sure you demonstrate variety (at least 4-5 texts). Your discussion must show me you’ve done the reading throughout the semester and not just a few weeks here and there, thus you should choose readings from different times and make sure they’re spread out throughout the semester as an indication that you are not simply reading selectively.  You can choose the prompt you desire to write about. However, no matter which prompt you use, use 4-5 of the articles “Hill Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson(poem), “Channel Firing” by Thomas Hardy(poem), “We the animals” by Justin Torres, “The things they carried” by Tim O’Brien, “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller (play), and “Fences” by August Wilson(play). 
Focusing on the texts we read in this course, how has your view of literature changed? What did you believe/think about it before? What do you think of it now? Of course, if your view has not changed, you should not choose this essay; also, avoid making a simple statement like, “I didn’t like literature before, but now I like it” (or vice versa). I am seeking responses that go deeper than that. This prompt is not asking you what literature is, it asks how this course has changed how your view literature (these are two totally different concepts). Also, be careful: although this is a personal response, you are still required to write a thesis (argument) and use evidence from the text (specific quotes) to support what you say.
What is an artist? In more specific terms, what makes a writer an artist? What are some of traits and characteristics that define them? How is an artist distinguished from someone who is not? Come up with an argument (thesis), then prove your argument using examples from the texts we have read in this class. Keep in mind that we are speaking of the art of literature, so avoid discussing other arts, like sculpture, painting, etc.
For this essay, you must find an overarching theme or connection between several works we’ve read in class. Think of a topic or subject that is interesting to you, or an observation you’ve made across several pieces; develop that topic or observation into an argument, using the texts to back you up. It is not enough to merely write, “Many of the characters in this course have had bad luck.” That’s too simple an observation; instead, you should dig deeper and look into the factors that contribute to their lives, asking yourself why and how, etc. To put it simply: tie different works together by making a unique point that applies to each of them.