Another Possible Approach -- Author's Perspective
If the earlier approach doesn't work for you, you might want to consider an approach that asks that you consider the author's perspective (or voice). In this approach, you ask yourself what you think the poet, or director, or author is attempting to do in his/her work of literature. In essence, you're considering the author's intent.
So, what do you think Rupert Brooke is attempting in his poem "The Soldier"?
What do you think Leon Rosenberg wants his readers to "get" from his war poetry?
Do you think John Hersey has an "agenda" in his non-fiction work, Hiroshima? While he uses a somewhat objective, reportage style, one could still argue that he has a perspective on war (even a "bias).
What about Peter Weir, the film director? Based on your viewing of Gallipoli, what view do you think this director wants to "transmit" to his viewing audience?
Finally, there's Mr. Dalton Trumbo, the author that so infuriated some Americans during the 1940s by his novel that he was eventually "blacklisted" during the McCarthy era and was unable to officially work in Hollywood for the latter part of his career. It's obvious Trumbo has a perspective on war. He makes it pretty clear--not only in the novel, but also in his introduction that was written when the novel was republished during the height of the Vietnam War.
So, you could move from one work to another and consider each author's perspective/viewpoing/bias/agenda/attitude/intent.
Finally, you could have a conclusion that attempts to "sort out" these differing viewpoints.
If this approach works for you, give it a try.
One Possible Approach to Structuring My Paper
This paper requires that you "synthesize" several different works (styles, viewpoints, attitudes, approaches). Basically, you're being asked to juggle several works and weave them into a coherent, well-organized paper (a standard product required at the university level).
The best approach for the paper is the one that works best for you. There is no one way to organize your paper: select an approach that allows you to discuss each of the major works in a clear, organized fashion.
You might find that your paper emphasizes two of the works over the others. That's fine as long as you at least get a few ideas from the "minor" works in your paper.
Now let's look at a possible approach.
Say, for example, that I'm going to look at the theme of "the journey from innocence to experience" as it plays out in the different works. I will review each of the main works and the poems and then decide which ones work best for this theme. I will then organize my paper to begin with the "lesser" works and end with the "stronger" works.
When I think about the theme of "innocence to experience," I am reminded of the Rupert Brooke poems, the Rosenberg poems, the film Gallipoli, and the novel Johnny Got His Gun. In fact, I think I will use this order of the literature in my paper.
So, I would start with one of the Brooke poems and show how it emphasizes this theme of innocence to experience.
Then, I would move to, say, a Rosenberg poem. Perhaps it's one that shows a contrasting view to the Brooke poem, but still highlights/emphasizes this particular theme.
Then, after working with these short poems, I move on to Gallipoli. Since this entire film revolves around the journey of the two young men's journey to innocence to experience, I'll probably devote quite a large portion of my paper to this film. (P.S. If you can't remember the names of key characters in this film, you can visit www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Database) and type in Gallipoli. The full credits (cast/actors) will come up.)
After I have worked with Gallipoli, I'll move on to my final work, Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun, and discuss how this work also emphasizes my selected theme. Of course, I might find connections to/differences between the film and this novel, so I might want to discuss some of these contrasts.
Finally, after I have worked with poems, film, and novel, I'll no doubt have a few final thoughts as I tie all the ends together. Therefore, my paper will have a conclusion that works as a "summing up" or "synthesis" of my selected literary works.
Studies in the Literature of War -- Project Overview
Key Works:
· John Hersey, Hiroshima
· Dalton Trumbo, Johnny Got His Gun
· Peter Weir, Gallipoli (film)
· World War One British Poetry (anthology)
Project Description:
· During this unit, you are going to examine how different artists consider the effects of war on the individual and society. Because war tends to be the dominant experience/event in the lives of individuals, it receives some of its strongest portrayals through literature and art. Such themes as innocence and experience, existence and death, good vs. evil, man’s inhumanity towards man, and the individual’s place in the world emerge during one’s study of war literature. Your task is to consider “war and its effects on the individual” as you study each of the different works.
· At the end of the project, you will be writing a 5-page paper in which you consider some of the above themes, as well as themes that you discover (uncover) during your studies. Moreover, you will be asked to synthesize many of your interpretations as you blend ideas/elements from the above works.
· Please read each of the above works and carefully watch the film. Keep track of your responses to each of the above works as these responses will make the writing of your final paper much easier. More on the elements of the actual paper will be discussed (generated) as we progress through the above works.
