Alright, normally I love to write papers. I know that may sound wierd, but I am an English Education major. Writing has always been fun to me and normally I have no trouble with papers. This paper however, seems to have me in a really bad funk. For some reason, may because the topic is so broad and up to us, I am having a really hard time coming up with a topic and something I really wanted to write about. Here is what I was thinking so far, however, this could completely change because I really don’t know where to go with this or what I really am trying to say.
My topic was going to be on the reality or what is real and what is fiction when it comes to what is written within the novel. After reading the literature we did this semester I felt as if most of the pieces had some kind of real life events within the novel. I felt as if the novels we rea,d even though fiction, had some kind of non-fiction within them that helped lead to their storylines. I wanted to look at real life events, such as faked kidnappings, as was one of Julavits main storylines. However, I feel as if this might be a bit of a stretch and a little to off topic. I know that I want to work in some ways with the reality of fiction or real life events, if that makes any sense.
For my primary text I really wanted to work with Uses of Enchantment. I enjoyed Beloved, but do not think that I could write 15 pages off the book, I did not like it that much. I did really enjoy Myra Beckinridge, but I feel like if it might be to all over the place for me to write about. I think that if I was to use that novel I would have to stick to one specific topic, because the book is so all over the place. I really enjoyed Uses of Enchantment and found it was the book that most interest me and really caught my attention.
Since I really do not know where I’m going from here I do not know my plan of attack. I am sitting down with Professor Middleton on Monday and I would hope that after talking with her I will have a much more focused point and will have a much better direction than the direction I have now, which is really none.
October 30, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Karen i know how you feel! I also enjoy having a specific topic assigned to write about, and coming up with your own may sound easy but can be a challenge for some. I def think you should write about Uses of Enchantment. Since this one was one of your favorites, you should go with this because it will help you to analyze it. This is why i am doing this novel as well!! i do agree with you, and i think if you went with your theme of fiction versus non, and what is real and what is not; this is way too big of a topic for this paper. That could go on forever. Im sure that after you meet with Middleton things will be much more clear for you!
October 31, 2008 at 11:42 am
I also agree that the book Uses of Enchantment will be helpful in desribing what is truth or fact or what is fiction. You can talk about form of the novel and how that makes it Uses of Enchantment seem like fact or fiction. Or Hutcheon’s histiorgraphic metafiction in that it mixes with the history of the place and about the girls with fiction through the narrative. Just some ideas. Also I think it is a good idea to talk over your ideas with Dr. Middleton, which gave me an idea to do that also to give us more focus in our papers.
November 1, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Karen, if you’re still really stuck why not just do a book that you’ve always loved, like Mel for instance who is going to write on Mrs. Dalloway? Best of luck
November 3, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I know exactly how you feel and I think I’m in the same position! I have a hard time narrowing down my ideas when I don’t have a specific thing to write about. I think if you’re really interested in Uses of Enchantment you could definitely fill up 15 pages because it is so complex. My only suggestion would be to really pick apart specific dialogue or sections you’re interested in relating to what is fiction and what is reality. There are so many layers to that novel that if really digging in closely and using theorists to back up your ideas I’m sure you can get through the paper. Good luck!
November 12, 2008 at 1:33 am
Our ideas seem somewhat similar, if you’re still focusing on this rough idea.
What might be interesting is to look into the connection between Julavits’ life and her novels, maybe look into what other novels/writing she’s done and see if you can trace a trend throughout her fiction and her real life. I know this is “breaking the 4th wall” somewhat, but it might give you a little leg room considering there isn’t much scholarly material written on Uses of Enchantment.