Assignment: Final Essay for Poisonwood

Write an essay (at least 500 words) covering the following prompt. Use The Poisonwood Bible as the novel for the essay, but you can use any character. Use one quote from the book for each body paragraph. Make use of those quotes you have been accumulating. (you may just use the author and page number in parenthesis after the quote as citation. Make sure to choose quotes wisely and explain your thoughts. I am looking for analysis. Plagiarism will earn a zero grade so be sure to write this yourself.

PROMPT: (From 2012 AP)

"And, after all, our surroundings influence our lives and characters as much as fate, destiny or any supernatural agency." Pauline Hopkins, Contending Forces Choose a novel or play in which cultural, physical, or geographical surroundings shape psychological or moral traits in a character. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how surroundings affect this character and illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.

RESPONSE IDEA: Focus on Leah Price from The Poisonwood Bible, and how the "cultural and geographical surroundings" of the Congo challenge and change her.

SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT:

The cross-cultural transition experienced by Leah Price in her family's move from the American South to a Congolese village completely dismantles her identify and narrow-minded perspective on the world. However, the understanding and love that Leah eventually develops for the Congo and Congolese culture perfectly embodies the novel's central lesson-that anyone in new or foreign surroundings should always choose to be a listener and learner first.

SAMPLE OUTLINE: (this is a sample of what to use, not telling you to use these examples - Just stay to the prompt.)

Intro paragraph with thesis at the end

Body Par. #1 - Leah's ignorance/superiority (gardening, talking with Anatole)

Body Par. #2 - Leah's identity crisis and Africa's "judgment" (ant flood)

Body Par. #3 - Marriage to Anatole and "embrace" of the Congo

Conclusion - Emphasize the lesson / "universal truth"

(NOTE: In every body paragraph, I would do my best to recall specific details and instances (events, conversations, symbols, etc.) that support the topic of that paragraph.

Assignment: Final Essay for Poisonwood Write an essay (at least...