Criteria for selection of Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize Award, was established in 1917 by Joseph Pulitzer in collaboration with Columbia University and known to recognize notable works in journalism, music, and literature. In order for a literature piece to be awarded a Pulitzer, the book must have a strong author's writing style, character arcs, themes that are relatable and applicable, as well as strong point of view characters. Each individual Pulitzer Prize Award has a $10,000 value and 14 prizes within journalism, 6 prizes within literature, and 1 in music. There are more than 2,400 submissions each year to the Prize Board and after a year of evaluation of entries by 102 judges only 21 are deemed winners. Jennifer Egan's novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 by meeting the committee's requirements in strong characters, a unique writing voice, and relatable themes.
Egan is very successful in using the relationships of the characters and the development of each one, which proved essential towards the Pulitzer Prize. There are characters like Sasha, Lou, and Bennie who have short chapters of various moments in their lives that are meant for the reader to put together and interpret. Each chapter is essential to the complexity of time and the development of characters, as exemplified in the first chapter with the date between Alex and Sasha to chapter thirteen where Alex reminisces about his youth involving several relationships including Sasha. Egan's unique writing voice is made up of a constant shift in character perspective and no particular chronological order of the chapters. There are several chapters in which Egan commences a chapter from an unusual point of view and concludes without the reader realizing their is shifting in narration because of the natural flow of narratives. Another aspect in which Egan is successful in is that of implementing themes throughout the plot that are applicable in any given period of time, thus not solely confirmed to the present. This postmodernist novel Egan writes is full of themes that address time, young adulthood, technology, and effects of music. Through Jennifer's execution of themes and character development, and a unique writing voice fully support her qualification for a Pulitzer. A Visit from the Goon Squad fully meets the criteria needed to make it worth a Pulitzer Prize Award.
Works Cited
"How to enter." Pulitzer. The Pulitzer Prizes, n.d. Web. 22 May. 2015.
The Pulitzer Prize Award, was established in 1917 by Joseph Pulitzer in collaboration with Columbia University and known to recognize notable works in journalism, music, and literature. In order for a literature piece to be awarded a Pulitzer, the book must have a strong author's writing style, character arcs, themes that are relatable and applicable, as well as strong point of view characters. Each individual Pulitzer Prize Award has a $10,000 value and 14 prizes within journalism, 6 prizes within literature, and 1 in music. There are more than 2,400 submissions each year to the Prize Board and after a year of evaluation of entries by 102 judges only 21 are deemed winners. Jennifer Egan's novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 by meeting the committee's requirements in strong characters, a unique writing voice, and relatable themes.
Egan is very successful in using the relationships of the characters and the development of each one, which proved essential towards the Pulitzer Prize. There are characters like Sasha, Lou, and Bennie who have short chapters of various moments in their lives that are meant for the reader to put together and interpret. Each chapter is essential to the complexity of time and the development of characters, as exemplified in the first chapter with the date between Alex and Sasha to chapter thirteen where Alex reminisces about his youth involving several relationships including Sasha. Egan's unique writing voice is made up of a constant shift in character perspective and no particular chronological order of the chapters. There are several chapters in which Egan commences a chapter from an unusual point of view and concludes without the reader realizing their is shifting in narration because of the natural flow of narratives. Another aspect in which Egan is successful in is that of implementing themes throughout the plot that are applicable in any given period of time, thus not solely confirmed to the present. This postmodernist novel Egan writes is full of themes that address time, young adulthood, technology, and effects of music. Through Jennifer's execution of themes and character development, and a unique writing voice fully support her qualification for a Pulitzer. A Visit from the Goon Squad fully meets the criteria needed to make it worth a Pulitzer Prize Award.
Works Cited
"How to enter." Pulitzer. The Pulitzer Prizes, n.d. Web. 22 May. 2015.