Write a five-page analysis of Philip Roth’s short story “The Conversion of the Jews.”

Option A: “The Conversion of the Jews”

Write a five-page analysis of Philip Roth’s short story “The Conversion of the Jews.”

You are to construct an original, detailed argument about plot and conflict in this text.

Your analysis should focus on the plot of the short story to explain how Roth has used the four-part plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action) to write an effective short story.

Your essay should also address the element of conflict, specifically conflict between Ozzie Freedman and Rabbi Binder as well as the conflict between Ozzie and Yakov Blotnik.

You may also address other dimensions of conflict in the story, such as the conflict of two forces within the protagonist Ozzie Freedman.

Your explanation of the conflict should relate it to the short stories from the Yiddish Renaissance (“Bontshe Shvayg,” “Chava,” “Gimpel the Fool”).

Once you understand the importance of plot and conflict in Roth’s short story, articulate a thesis statement that incorporates these two literary elements. When the thesis statement is in place, you should be able to construct an original, detailed argument about “The Conversion of the Jews.”

Option B: “Eli, the Fanatic”

Write a five-page analysis of Philip Roth’s short story “Eli, the Fanatic.”

You are to construct an original, detailed argument about plot and conflict in this text.

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