Jillian Alekna
English Writing Samples
Written in my Modern American Literature course, this piece was meant to analyze a particular aspect of the novel The Great Gatsby. I chose to base my thesis on the recurring religious motifs that occur in the novel and how they relate to Christianity.
Written in my Holocaust Literature course, this piece was meant to analyze the connections between the novel Fugitive Pieces, the short story of "The Shawl," as well as the 2005 film Everything Is Illuminated. My thesis chose to focus on the irreconcilable damage a traumatic experience can have on a person.
Written in my Holocaust Literature course, this piece was meant to analyze the short stories of "The Shawl" and "Rosa," both written by Cynthia Ozick. My thesis for this essay was that beauty can often be found in "ugly" situations.