Liquidity: The Inferno, the Odyssey, and the poetry of Wang Wei all incorporate liquidity as a strong symbol. Whether it’s a river of boiling blood, a vicious sea, or a soft mist, each author’s inclusion of fluids enhances or furthers the storyline in some way. In an analytical essay, discuss the specific role and/or meaning of any liquids used in the above literary pieces, and how they’re significant to the story as a whole.
Metamorphosis: In both The Thousand and One Nights and the Inferno, human beings are forced to endure metamorphosis as a form of justice or torture. However, the motivation and moral justice behind these transformations differ in each story. For example, in The First Old Man’s Tale, the old man’s son is spitefully morphed into a bull by his wife. In an essay, analyze the specific case, and overall, implementations of metamorphosis in both pieces. What purpose does it serve in each? How do they relate or contrast? Why?
