Critical literary analysis

-Obsession with Perfection and Beauty Standards ENG 1123 Dr. H.D. Johnson Fall 2025 2nd Miniterm Paper 1: Critical Literary Analysis Required Length: 800-1000 words (excluding the Works Cited page) Required Sources: 3 (The selected story and two secondary critical sources). Note: DO NOT EXCEED two secondary critical sources. Additionally, you cannot use any secondary sources I have assigned as readings. Style: MLA, 9th ed. (MLA 9th ed. should be used for all aspects of the paper, including general format, source borrowings, and the Works Cited page. Font should be set to Times New Roman, 12 pt. The text should be double-spaced throughout the document.) Due Date: 11/9/25 Prompt: Using two secondary critical sources, write an essay that addresses a significant social topic explored in one (not multiple) of the short stories assigned this semester (This includes the “optional” short story readings). NOTE: A “secondary critical source” is an essay about the specific story or a specific theme in literature. Such sources are written by an expert and are published in peer-reviewed journals. A secondary critical source is not a scientific paper written about the issue. Short Stories and Suggested Social Issues “The Minister’s Black Veil” Judgment and Hypocrisy Mental Health and Isolation Community Dynamics Gossip, Innuendo, and Reputation Destruction “The Birth-Mark” Obsession with Perfection and Beauty Standards Ethics of Scientific Experimentation Relationship Dynamics Social/Gendered Expectations of a Woman’s Appearance “The Yellow Wallpaper” Traditional Gender Roles Repression and Personal Freedom Mental Health Social/Gendered Attitudes Toward Healthcare “The Story of an Hour” Marital Expectations Traditional Gender Roles Repression and Personal Freedom Identity *Note: This is by no means an exhaustive list, and you a free to formulate your own consideration of a pertinent social issue emergent in one of the stories. Additional Resources: