Assignment #2: Folktales (due May 9)

You have now read a number of folktales from the Slavic and Celtic regions. You’ve discussed them in class, thought about them outside of class, and created artwork based on one of them. In addition, you have learned about tale types (large scale storylines, such as Cinderella) and motifs (the smallest active units in a story, such as magic beans). Your job, for this assignment, is to write a four-page comparative paper about a particular theme that has stood out for you in regard to two of the folktales: one Celtic, and one Slavic. Take a look at the various themes that have arisen in class; check the themes listed in assignment #1, but do not take the same theme you used before.

You have many other thematic possibilities to draw from. Discuss the two stories first; summarize them in no more than a paragraph each. Then bring up your theme and why you believe that it is important in those two stories. Explore the theme in relation to the story, bringing in examples of characters and actions. Once you have done this, write a conclusion that sums up your major points. After everything is complete, write the introduction (because now you know where you’re headed!). Print it out and let it sit overnight. The following day, go through and make sure your paragraphs flow well from one to the next. Check for incomplete sentences, typos, and grammatical problems; try reading it out loud. Make all the changes and give it one last read-through before you send it. Ask yourself this question: Is this my best work? Do I want Pat or Sean or Tania to spend all of her time frowning at my grammar and punctuation, or all of her time thinking and commenting on the content of my paper?

Use examples from the texts, lectures, and/or seminar discussions to support your ideas. You may also use materials not from the program; see the Resources page of the program website for ideas. If you quote from a text, use in-text citations (the author’s last name and date of publication followed by the page number, as in Dundes 1980:22). Include a bibliography at the end of the paper. You may use either MLA or Chicago Style for the bibliography. Do not make up your own system. The Writing Center has clear information sheets with models of bibliographic entries in both styles which are very easy to follow.

FORMAT: Please make sure that your paper is typed, double-spaced, in size 12 font, with your name in the upper right corner of the first page. Make a title for your essay; it will help you to focus your ideas.

This paper is due on Wednesday, May 9, by 5 pm. Please e-mail it to your seminar leader (Pat’s e-mail address is krafcikp@evergreen.edu, Sean’s e-mail address is williams@evergreen.edu, and Tania’s e-mail address is buzekovt@evergreen.edu).