Characters with deep conflicts make good essay topics.
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) English Language Arts test requires 10th graders to write an essay based on a piece of literature. The writing prompt offers a theme (a character's selfishness, a character defeated by forces beyond his control) that the student must discuss in an essay that demonstrates a grasp of the subject material and English language writing mechanics. Classic books that involve characters in deep conflict---with each other, with their environment, or both---make good choices as a basis for this essay.
Beowulf
This old English poem fits very well into essay prompts asking about the individual's quest, heroic characters, and characters affected by the idea of fate or destiny. It is important to reference the historical context of the poem---it reflects a time when men's heroic deeds were considered their greatest achievements, passed down from generation to generation in epic oral poems. A good essay might talk about the components of heroism (physical bravery versus mental bravery), mythical components of the hero's quest (a seemingly invincible villain, for example), and the literary doubling of heroes and villains (Beowulf vs.Grendel). A student might also discuss whether the heroic characteristics Beowulf displayed are still evident today.
Hamlet
Shakespeare's play about a troubled Danish prince contains enough material to write a comprehensive essay on virtually any topic. The central character, Hamlet, is torn between a desire for revenge on Claudius and his inability to act on that desire. This makes him a good choice for an essay on characters with internal conflicts. Because the conflict is centered on a twisted family dynamic (Hamlet's uncle killed Hamlet's father and married Hamlet's mother), the play also works for essays about dysfunctional families. The strong supporting female characters (Gertrude and Ophelia) offer a range of possibilities for essays dealing with women's experiences and male expectations. Most of the characters also fit well into a compare-and-contrast essay (Hamlet vs. Laertes, Gertrude vs. Ophelia, Claudius vs. Hamlet).
Heart of Darkness
This Joseph Conrad book takes place during the early 20th century, in the midst of the European colonization of Africa. The book is a good choice for essays on the literary double (Kurtz vs. Marlow), the unreliable narrator (Marlow), a protagonist caught up in world events, books influenced by the author's real-life experiences, and any essay with a theme of civilization versus barbarism. The "horror" referenced by Kurtz's last words could serve as an essay in itself---was Kurtz reacting to self-knowledge of his own poor behavior, or his failure to create a kingdom of his own? Any essay prompt asking about darkness within a character or a civilization is tailor-made for this book.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee's classic tale of racial injustice in a small Southern town is a good fit for essay prompts asking about equality versus inequality, the importance of education as a defense against prejudice, flawed characters and social conflict among characters. Students can discuss how Atticus's belief in education helps his children see past the racial intolerance of many of Maycomb's citizens. A good essay might also discuss the ability of children to see through the distorted social mores of adults, as evidenced when Jem and Scout are able to scare off a crowd intent on lynching Tom Robinson just by urging the crowd to see things from the black man's perspective.
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