Choose one of the following minor characters from the second and third novels in the course, and write an essay analysing his/her significance.

Choose one of the following minor characters from the second and third novels in the
course, and write an essay analysing his/her significance. The point is to understand how
characters that seem peripheral or even “flat” might in fact contribute to the narrative in
important ways. You may explore anything you like, such as the character’s personality
traits, actions, complexities, symbolic purpose, and relation to or influence on others, but be
sure to organize your thoughts into three distinct points. This will form your central thesis—
an argument or debatable statement that will take the essay beyond a simple discussion.
Remember that your essay must follow the conventions of English essays and use MLA
Format. Guidelines are provided for you in a separate file under “Syllabus and
Administrative Information.” Your personal information and the essay’s title should be
placed on the first page of the essay, not on a separate title page, and quotations are cited
using page numbers in parentheses. You will need to include a Works Cited page, even if the
only work you cite is the primary text. No secondary sources are necessary for this
assignment. If you choose to use a source, ensure that it is both reputable and scholarly, and
cautiously document all borrowed quotations, arguments, and ideas with parenthetical
citations and Works Cited entries.
Please see the syllabus for instructions on how to submit your essay. If you have any
questions or would like help, please let me know.
1. Dunstan Cass in Eliot’s Silas Marner
2. Nancy Lammeter in Eliot’s Silas Marner
3. Miss Jessel in James’s The Turn of the Screw
4. Douglas, who tells the governess’s tale, in James’s The Turn of the Screw