Critical Essays (MAXnotes to Tess of the d'Urbervilles)  Sample
Essay Outlines  The following paper topics are based on the
entire book. Following each topic is a thesis and sample
outline. Use these as a starting point for your paper. Each
major point in your essay should refer to at least one quote
from the novel, properly introduced and explained.  Topic #1
Hardy defines tragedy as “the worthy encompassed by the
inevitable” and adds that the tragedies of immoral and worthless
people are not of the best. Interpret Tess of the D’Urbervilles
as a tragedy, using these ideas.  I. Thesis Statement: Tess of
the D’Urbervilles is a tragedy because it depicts the
destruction of a morally worthy person by inevitable and
unalterable forces outside human control.  II. Tess Durbeyfield
is continually depicted as innocent, conscientious, and morally
pure A. The novelist repeatedly uses words such as innocent and
pure to describe Tess B. Her thoughts are always to help her
family, not herself C. She is a creature of Natur