Redefining Heroism: Thor Ragnarok

Prompt

Write a 1500-2000 word essay that presents and develops a cohesive argument about at least one film: Thor: Ragnarok. You may also choose to conduct a comparative analysis of elements from both films.

A successful essay will present, develop, and support an arguable claim about how and why you are analyzing the film. Analysis is an act of interpretation, which is a form of argument. Provide evidence to support your analysis and convince your readers that your analysis is persuasive. Body paragraphs should include clear, substantive analysis of evidence as well as explanations about why those details and your analysis support your main argument. Concrete details include character development, plot, theme, dialogue, sound, visual composition, film techniques and camera movements, the set and scenery, and actors costumes and mannerisms. Smoothly integrate evidence by embedding quotes and/or by unpacking visuals with vivid and succinct details.

You must move beyond a denotative reading (e.g. surface) and persuade your audience that your interpretation of connotations (e.g. subsurface, subtext) is compelling. The body paragraphs and conclusion should also endeavor to answer the so what? question. In other words, why is it important that we read your analysis? What insights are you offering, and why do they matter? Spoiler alert: your insights DO matter, so practice articulating your insights and explaining the reasons why your insights matter. See the section below for some tips about developing significance.

Also, your essay must cite from and engage with at least one of the assigned readings from our unit on analyzing films.

Potential Topics

In order to address the following topics, your analysis may engage with concepts of race, gender, sexuality, and/or other identity categories. Please use the readings from The Signs of Life to help you talk about those identity categories.

• Create an argument that analyzes one or more characters in relation to Linda Segers discussion of the hero myth and/or the healing myth.

Reminder: No AI Allowed at Any Stage of the Writing Process

Make sure you form your own analysis instead of relying on an AI to brainstorm or develop ideas. I recommend brainstorming on your own with just your class notes and the assigned readings for help. If you get stuck, ask questions in class, or visit Student Meeting/Office Hours, or go to the ARC.

Additional Requirements

• 1500-2000
• Original essay title that is related to your analysis
• Analysis of concrete details from Thor: Ragnarok
• Citations from and engagement with at least one of our assigned readings from the film unit
• You may choose to conduct outside research if needed, but make sure you cite carefully.
• MLA formatting
• Correct grammar, syntax, and punctuation
• Works Cited page

Tips on How to Answer the So What? Question

There are multiple ways to develop significance. Here are some questions to help you generate ideas. You do not need to answer all of these questions.

• Sometimes significance is personal (what something means to you).
• Sometimes significance is about the text (for example, why is a certain characters arc important for analyzing the movie as a whole? Or, what does focusing on one theme help us understand about the film as a whole? Or, how do visual strategies like composition and editing help us understand something about the film as a whole?).
• Sometimes significance is about a shift in genre expectations, which sometimes relate to larger trends or concerns in our society. To provide one example of what this could look like for an essay analyzing a characters heroic journey: what does your characters heroic journey mean within a greater context, such as other Marvel movies, or other Science Fiction movies, or their release dates (Thor in 2017)
• Sometimes significance is about what the text demonstrates about American culture. How can analyzing details from the film help you make a larger claim about what the film demonstrates in terms of an American cultural myth or value? Perhaps an enduring myth, or maybe youll be asking: what does it mean to watch your chosen movie(s) now in 2026?

Tips for Analyzing Film

• Here is a link to our document
• Here is a link to . That document includes:
• Answers to a FAQ: How do I cite a film?
• An example of film analysis that relies on character archetypes and plot points
• An example of a film analysis that uses shots, camera angles, composition, lighting, etc.