ANTHOLOGY PROJECT



The purpose of this assignment if to give you the opportunity to read widely, to sample a variety of literary genres, and to analyze these writings for various elements of literature that will be covered in the literature read by the whole class. Genre refers to the category or type of literature. Upon completion of this assignment, you will have read short stories, poems, journals, articles, and essays, and studied pieces of art work and music. You will create your own anthology, a collection of literary pieces. You will be the editor. You may use works that best fit your personality and taste. If you start a story or poem and it bores you, put it away and choose others.

The required elements:

You may have no more that two (2) pieces from the same author and nothing from your freshman literature book. You also may take not more than two (2) pieces from any one anthology. Poems are to be poems not song lyrics. You must have a minimum of eight different sources for your pieces. You may include more than the minimum number of items listed above, but the emphasis should be on quality not quantity. In other words, you will not necessarily receive extra points because your anthology includes more than the required pieces.



Your written work:

You will be writing a preface to your anthology. A preface introduces your book and explains its background and intention. Include in the preface any connections you find among your various pieces. Tell why you made your choices and what you learned about yourself in the process. You may wish to start with a central theme, but that is not necessary. You may end up with fifteen unrelated pieces. Remember, you are not reading literature, listening to music, of searching for art that is forced upon you. You are working with your own choices. Enjoy. Grow. The preface will be three to four typed pages, double spaced in 12 point.

You will also write an analysis, critique/commentary on each piece. Each poem must be analyzed for a minimum of two of the following elements: irony, imagery, similes/metaphors, personification, rhythm, thyme, or tone. Each of the other pieces must be analyzed for theme and a minimum of tow of the following: plot development, character development, setting, point of view, You may also include an analysis of any outstanding figures of speech as listed under poetry.



Additional requirements and concerns:

The anthology must be permanently bound and neatly typed. The table of contents must indicate while literary elements are addressed in each analysis. This is an anthology that reflects you and your literary choices, but do remember the rules of decorum and school policy when making your choices.



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