Paper #2

Dream Analysis Assignment

Spring 1998

Draft Due: Monday, April 20th 4 Typed, stapled copies

Revision Due: Monday, April 27th

Turn in journal, revised #1, revised #2 together

Include critiques of drafts with revision.

Length (estimated): 4-6 pages (typed, double spaced)

This assignment asks you to analyze one real dream by one of the theories we have discussed in class. The goals are to show understanding of dream theories by the example of a real dream and to show understanding of your dream by the theories. Consider the audience as someone generally familiar with the theories, but hazy on specifics (e.g. someone who learned about these ideas years ago). What we are looking for is a well thought out application of the theories.

Process of Paper: choose 1 of following 3 theories

* Freud: Be sure to clearly identify the latent and manifest content of the dream, as well as how the dream's meaning is disguised by condensation and displacement. Show some of the process of dream analysis, such as breaking up the dream images and free associating from them.

* Jung: Consider Jung's ideas about the relation of the waking life to the dream. Is it time for a big, archetypal dream? Show how compensation is at work in the dream; how does it show what is in the persona and the shadow of the dreamer? What is the dream telling the dreamer about his/her current life situation, according to Jung?

* Cognitive: What does the dream tell you about the mind of the dreamer? How do they organize information in long term memory? What cognitive abilities do they display? Which ones are missing in the dream? Do dreams show the schemas we created as children but don't use while awake?

Format

You could attach the description of the dream at the front of the paper and refer to images in the text or try to integrate a description of the dream into the paper. Optional : You could write this paper as a narrative/dialogue. You could go to a person to have them analyze your dream (e.g. Freud, Jung, or David Foulkes, a cognitive guy). Be sure they include some background on their dream theory.

Organization of paper:

(1) Introduction, (2) brief background of main parts of dream theory (as relevant to your analysis), (3) Analysis, (4) Conclusion - Does analysis fit your dream? How did you decide (what were your criteria)?

For ENGLISH 271 students:

1. Integrate description of dream into text of paper with smooth transitions.

2. Analyze the same dream by two dream theories. What we are looking for is a well thought out application of the theories and the use of the comparative format to show key similarities and differences between theories via examples from the dream.

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Last Modified: Friday, October 3, 1997

Tom Link

Neal Vasishth