Much of Hotel du Lac turns on choices: Edith's decision to leave a wedding she could not go through with, her long attachment to a married man, and her final response to Mr Neville. These decisions invite essays about regret, honesty, and moral judgment. Students can write powerfully about them, but only if they learn to reason about the characters' motives rather than simply approve or condemn.

Moral questions can tempt students into personal opinions that overshadow textual analysis. A paper that declares Edith foolish or admirable without examining how Brookner presents her choices is not yet literary analysis. Your prompt and rubric should direct students to evaluate the novel's treatment of decision-making rather than to deliver a verdict.

Frame the question as one about how the text guides our judgment. What does the narrator's tone suggest about Edith's decisions, and what does she herself seem to feel about them? This shift keeps the focus on craft and evidence.

Building Strong Moral Arguments

Strong essays articulate the standard by which they judge a choice and then show how the text supports or complicates it. A student might argue that Edith prizes honesty above comfort and use her refusal of a convenient marriage as evidence. They should also consider moments that challenge this reading, such as her long willingness to live with an incomplete relationship.

• Defines the value or standard used to evaluate Edith's choices
• Supports the argument with specific decisions in the novel
• Considers Edith's own reflections on her choices
• Addresses moments that complicate the claim
• Links moral questions to the novel's tone and structure

Handling Personal Opinions

Students will have opinions, and it is fine for those opinions to inform their writing. The problem arises when opinion replaces evidence. In comments, ask students to show where in the text they see support for their view.

Grade the quality of the reasoning, not the moral stance. A student who thinks Edith made the wrong choice can earn the same score as one who thinks she made the right one, as long as each argues effectively. Say this explicitly in the assignment.

Sensitive Topics and Classroom Climate

Themes like affairs and broken engagements can prompt uncomfortable discussions. Set expectations early about respectful analysis and about treating characters as constructed figures. This gives students a framework for engaging with difficult subjects.

If a student shares something personal in an essay, respond with care in a separate note rather than mixing it with grading comments. Balance compassion and academic standards. Students appreciate teachers who can do both.

Efficient, Fair Feedback

Essays on moral judgment can vary widely in tone, which makes consistent grading a challenge. A clear rubric tied to argument and evidence helps you stay focused. Consider scoring each criterion separately before assigning an overall grade.

AI feedback tools that follow your rubric can help maintain that focus across a large class, flagging unsupported opinions and thin evidence. You add the interpretive judgment and the human touch. Together, these steps produce fair, useful feedback.