ELA Session Two Part B Essay (critical lens)

Grade I Recieved:5 to 5.5 depending on the teacher grading my essay.

Task: Write a critical essay in which you discuss two works of literature you have read from the particular perspective of the statement that is provided for you in the Critical Lens. In your essay, provide a valid interpretation of the statement, agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it, and support your opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements from the two works. You may use scrap paper to plan your response.

Quote: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Note: Since indenting doesn't work, I skipped a line to show when a new paragraph began.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." as quoted by Martin Luther King Jr. taken from Strength To Love,1963. This quote simply means that a person really proves to be themselves best not when their life is going well, but rather in times of difficulty in life. I agree with this quote because it is clear in today's society, that men and women seem to get proper respect and honor of other only after they have faced and overcomed their obstacles. Harper Lee personified Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird through characterization and imagery because he also showedan attitude like the one in Martin Luther King Jr. described. Ray Bradbury did as well in Farenheit 451 when Guy Montag ironicly proved to be a man like the one in the quote.

Atticus Finch, the protagonist from To Kill a Mockingbird fills the requirements of a man who proves to be strong despite the "challenges and controversy " life may present. Harper Lee characterized Atticus Finch as a strong man who is able to help out his community and still have time for his family. The author creates an image in the readers mind where the town is tranquil and free of trouble. The town is also known to have a good reputation and yet Atticus is pictured as a personof strength in times of difficulty. Furthermore into the novel, Atticus is asked if he wants to defend Tom, an African American, accused of possible rape. Harper Lee characterized Atticus as a humble person who is willing to help and therefore accepted the offer. We must remember that this is where the action begins to rise because Atticus is a white man who offers to defend Tom, an African American who is not accepted by the community. Here Atticus proves "the ultimate measure of a man who stands" firm and doesn't change who he is " at times of challenge and controversy". The reader is now able to visualize how tough it was for Atticus to face racial opposition because he lived in a white community in the South during the 1930s when African Americans were not well accepted because of segregation. Once again Atticus proved to be that man who stood firm of all times.

Guy Montag from Farenheit 451 was a person who ironicly becamethe man who stood firmly "at timesof challenge and controversy". We have to remember that the exposition Ray Bradbury proposed was important because he went against something that was censored. Books were not allowed to be read and if someone was caught doing so, fireman were called over to burn books. Ironicly, Guy Montag decided to read some of the books and denied that he any when he was asked if he did. But as the plot advances, he knew that there was no way out and decided to move out of his house and live with the rest of the people that read books. Guy Montag was able to prove he stands at the line as a man with and "ultimate measure" who "stands" firm "at times of challenges and controversy" when he chose to read books knowing that they were censored.

Both Harper Lee and Ray Bradbury conveyed the same theme for their protagonist when they became heroes as they stood firm for who they really were. Atticus Finch an Guy Montag, proptagonists of both novels faced conflicts that made them seem as humble people. Atticu s Finch had an external conflict with society because he faced racial challenges when he was defending a possible black rapist. Many people thought he was doing wrong. Atticus didn't pay mind to this, but rather didi what he thought was the ight thing. Once again proving to show the "ultimate measureof a man"where he "stands at times of challenges and controversy". Even though Guy Montag from Farenheit 451 didn't have to go through the same situation that Atticus went through from To Kill a Mockingbird, he was still able to prove that he was a man of strength when he decided to go against something thatwas censored. Both Harper Lee and Ray Bradbury showed that Martin Luther King Jr. quoted in their novels through characterization, exposition, conflict, imagery and irony as seen above .

The man that is the greatest is the one who stands strong in times of difficulty despite his/her surroundings. Harper Lee and Ray Bradbury were both able to show the reader how a man can be when faced life's challenges. It was very clear that Atticus Finch and Guy Montag fit these standards when they faced racial accusations and went against society just to prove that they were better when they were under pressure.