Critically examine and research one of the following topics;
Edith Wharton The House of Mirth 978-1523627325
William Dean Howells, The Rise of Silas Lapham
Stephen Crane, Maggie Girl of the Streets 978-037575689
Examining the text, develop an analytical thesis and conduct research into the historical, social, cultural, literary, and/or political contexts to support your thesis.

Answer the following questions for your analysis:
1. How is the text a product of its context?
2. What contextual forces helped bring about this particular work?
3. In what ways does the text serve as a historical document that allows readers to reconstruct the contexts?
4. How (if at all) does the text influence history or society?
5. Does the text comment upon its context? If so, to what purpose?