Writing an Essay Now that you've listed some important elements in the story, pick a topic from Ethan Frome. Write an essay of approximately four or five paragraphs
detailing how the topic relates to your understanding of the novel as a whole. Here are some suggested topics, but you may choose your own:
• Explore the idea of communication among the characters in the novel. What theme does Wharton attempt to convey through their
communication?
• What does the pickle dish seem to symbolize in the novel?
• What type of tragic hero does Ethan Frome represent? Explore the differences between a classic tragic hero and a more modern tragic hero.