68 pages • 2-hour read
An American Tragedy
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Essay Topics
Discuss the influence of Realism and Naturalism in Theodore Dreiser’s approach to storytelling and character development in the novel.
Discuss the role of gender in the novel. In what ways do characters uphold or challenge gender stereotypes? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
What is the relationship between Clyde’s downfall and the “tragedy” genre?
What role does setting—historical, geographic, and cultural—play in the novel? Reference specific examples of setting in your answer.
Dreiser relies on foils to emphasize characterization. Pick a pair of foils and discuss how the presence of each character highlights the qualities of the other.
Discuss the impact of religion on characters in the novel. Based on these impacts, how does Dreiser present his critique about religion?
What is the relationship between reality and appearance in the novel? Support your explanation with textual evidence.
The novel is ambivalent about whether Clyde’s guilty verdict is just. What techniques does Dreiser use to create this ambivalence?
Is Dreiser’s portrayal of reproductive care in the United States positive or negative? Support your argument with evidence from the text.
Research the Chester Gillette trial, then discuss Dreiser’s approach to representing and adapting it in the novel.
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