Essay 2

For this second essay, I am asking you to consider one or more works from the following list:

Works which glorify war:

“Gettysburg Address”, “In Flanders fields”
Songs or poems which question war and show what a young man learns from the experience:
“Christmas in the Trenches” “And the band played Waltzing Matilda”
Poems which criticize War in strong terms:
“Dulce et Decorum Est” “The death of the Ball Turret Gunner”
Works which see a social problem which can be described in terms similar to those used to discuss war:
Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” “Us and Them”

As you explore these works, find a common theme, lesson, or message. Formulate a clear thesis regarding that message and defend it in a clearly organized, convincing essay. You may wish to focus on one work or even part of one work very closely, or you may take a broader view and discuss multiple works. You may look at the author or authors’ use of organization, language, tone, or syntax. Try to discuss not only WHAT the author says but HOW it is said.
Remember to format this essay according to MLA guidelines and to document all sources using proper MLA form.