writing a literary analysis

Writing a Writing a Literary AnalysisLiterary Analysis

Format NotesFormat Notes

Goal of Literary Analysis PapersGoal of Literary Analysis Papers

To identify and explain a main theme that To identify and explain a main theme that an author includes in their writing. an author includes in their writing.

to express an author's idea to express an author's idea to dig deeper in your reading to dig deeper in your reading

comprehension and logical understanding comprehension and logical understanding of a particular piece of literature. of a particular piece of literature.

Organizing Your Literary AnalysisOrganizing Your Literary Analysis

Intro paragraph (includes thesis)Intro paragraph (includes thesis) Body Paragraphs (2-4)Body Paragraphs (2-4) Conclusion ParagraphConclusion Paragraph Conclusion statementConclusion statement

Intro paragraphIntro paragraph introduces the reader to introduces the reader to topictopic identified in a identified in a

story. story. brief description of the brief description of the settingsetting and and theme/topictheme/topic

introduces the reader to your basic introduces the reader to your basic understanding of the text in a broad, general understanding of the text in a broad, general way. way.

transition sentencestransition sentences narrow your topic or narrow your topic or provide hints at the things to come in your body provide hints at the things to come in your body paragraphs. paragraphs.

Thesis/claim sentenceThesis/claim sentence concisely defines your concisely defines your themetheme based on the author's writing. based on the author's writing.

Thesis/Claim StatementThesis/Claim Statement

Respond to the PromptRespond to the Prompt Include a Definite StatementInclude a Definite Statement Create an arguable claimCreate an arguable claim Show Knowledge of TopicShow Knowledge of Topic Create parametersCreate parameters

DOES NOT MEET STANDARDDOES NOT MEET STANDARD(Poor)(Poor)

I will show how I will show how Parker incorporates Parker incorporates suicide into her story suicide into her story so the reader can get so the reader can get a better picture of the a better picture of the feelings associated feelings associated with the situation.with the situation.

MEETS STANDARDMEETS STANDARD(Better)(Better)

Dorothy Parker's Dorothy Parker's "Résumé" uses "Résumé" uses images of suicide to images of suicide to make her point about make her point about living. living.

Exceeds StandardExceeds Standard(Best)(Best)

Dorothy Parker's Dorothy Parker's "Résumé" doesn't "Résumé" doesn't celebrate life, but celebrate life, but rather scorns those rather scorns those who would fake or who would fake or attempt suicide just attempt suicide just to get attention. to get attention.


In "Résumé," Dorothy In "Résumé," Dorothy Parker subverts the idea Parker subverts the idea of what a résumé is--of what a résumé is--accomplishments and accomplishments and experiences--with an experiences--with an ironic tone, silly images of ironic tone, silly images of suicide, and witty rhymes suicide, and witty rhymes to point out the banality of to point out the banality of life for those who remain life for those who remain too disengaged from it. too disengaged from it.

Does Not Meet StandardDoes Not Meet Standard

Shakespeare's Shakespeare's HamletHamlet is a play about a is a play about a young man who seeks revenge.young man who seeks revenge.

(That doesn't (That doesn't saysay anything-it's basically just anything-it's basically just a summary and is hardly debatable. )a summary and is hardly debatable. )

Meets StandardMeets Standard

Hamlet experiences internal conflict Hamlet experiences internal conflict because he is in love with his mother.because he is in love with his mother.

How can we make this thesis/claim How can we make this thesis/claim statement EXCEED standards?statement EXCEED standards?


Despite her avowal on Despite her avowal on the importance of love, the importance of love, and despite her belief that and despite her belief that she would not sell her she would not sell her love, the speaker in Edna love, the speaker in Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Love St. Vincent Millay's "Love is not all: it is not meat is not all: it is not meat nor drink" remains nor drink" remains unconvinced and bitter, unconvinced and bitter, as if she is trying to trick as if she is trying to trick herself into believing that herself into believing that love really does matter for love really does matter for more than the one night more than the one night she is in some lover's she is in some lover's arms. arms.


In his novel, In his novel, The Secret The Secret AgentAgent, Conrad uses , Conrad uses beast and cannibal beast and cannibal imagery to describe the imagery to describe the characters and their characters and their relationships to each relationships to each other. This pattern of other. This pattern of images suggests that images suggests that Conrad saw corruption in Conrad saw corruption in every level of early every level of early twentieth century London twentieth century London society. society.

You can use two sentences for your thesis statement if it is necessary.

Does Not Meet StandardDoes Not Meet Standard

Spirituality means different things to Spirituality means different things to different people. different people. King LearKing Lear, The Book , The Book of Romans, and of Romans, and Zen and the Art of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceMotorcycle Maintenance each view the each view the spirit differently.spirit differently.

Again, that says nothing that's not already self-evident. Again, that says nothing that's not already self-evident. Why bother writing a paper about that? You're not writing Why bother writing a paper about that? You're not writing an essay to list works that have nothing in common other an essay to list works that have nothing in common other

than a general topic like "spirituality."than a general topic like "spirituality."

Meets StandardMeets Standard

King LearKing Lear, Romans, and , Romans, and ZenZen each view each view the soul as the center of human the soul as the center of human personality. personality.

Then you prove it, using examples from the texts that show Then you prove it, using examples from the texts that show that the soul is the center of personalitythat the soul is the center of personality

Thesis/Claim Statement FramesThesis/Claim Statement Frames In (text), (author) criticizes/expresses/proves In (text), (author) criticizes/expresses/proves

(verb)…(verb)… EX: In ‘Harrison Bergeron,’ Vonnegut criticizes the EX: In ‘Harrison Bergeron,’ Vonnegut criticizes the

government by ______________government by ______________

Through (situation/character development, etc.), (author) shows/criticizes/expresses/explains/etc.

EX: Through Paul’s experience behind the lines, at a Russian prisoner of war camp, and especially under bombardment in the trenches, Erich Maria Remarque realistically shows how war dehumanizes a man.

CREATIVE OPENING: the beginning sentences of the introduction that

catch the reader’s interest. 1) A startling fact or bit of information

Ex. Nearly two citizens were arrested as witches during the Salem witch scare of 1692. Eventually nineteen were hanged, and another was pressed to death (Marks 65).

2) A snatch of dialogue between two characters Ex. “It is another thing. You [Frederic Henry] cannot

know about it unless you have it.” “ Well,” I said. “If I ever get it I will tell you [priest].” (Hemingway 72).With these words, the priest in Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms sends the hero, Frederic, in search of the ambiguous “it” in his life.

More Hooks…More Hooks…

3) A meaningful quotation (from the work or another source)

Ex. “To be, or not to be, that is the question” {3.1.57}. This familiar statement expresses the young prince’s moral dilemma in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

4) A universal idea. Ex.The terrifying scenes a soldier experiences on the

front probably follow him throughout his life—if he manages to survive the war.

More Hooks...More Hooks...

5) A rich, vivid description of the setting Ex. Sleepy Maycomb, like other Southern towns, suffers

considerably during the Great Depression. Poverty reaches from the privileged families, like the Finches, to the Negroes and “white trash” Ewells, who live on the outskirts of town. Harper Lee paints a vivid picture of life in this humid Alabama town where tempers and bigotry explode into conflict.

6) An analogy or metaphor Ex. Life is like a box of chocolates: we never know what we’re

going to get. This element of uncertainty plays a major role in many dramas. For example, in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet have no idea what tragedieslie ahead when they fall so passionately and impetuously in love.

Body Paragraph StructureBody Paragraph Structure

1. topic sentence / support thesis 2. lead-in to concrete detail 3. concrete detail 4. commentary 5. transition and lead-in to next concrete detail 6. concrete detail 7. commentary 8. concluding or clincher sentence

Transitions to Use in Literary Analysis Transitions to Use in Literary Analysis WritingWriting

To ADD INFORMATION:Againanother for instance finally *also and moreover as welladditionally besides next along within addition for example likewise

To EMPHASIZE A POINT:for this reason again truly neverthelessto emphasize to repeat in fact To CONCLUDE or SUMMARIZE:as a result finally * in conclusion (avoid if possible)therefore last/lastly all in all in summary To CLARIFY:in other words for instance put another way that is

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

1) Reflect on how your essay topic relates to the book as a whole

2) Evaluate how successful the author is in achieving his or her goal or message

3) Give a personal statement about the topic 4) Make predictions 5) Connect back to your creative opening 6) Give your opinion of the novel’s value or

significance

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

Make a new statement about the topics/texts Make a new statement about the topics/texts rather than repeat any of your main pointsrather than repeat any of your main points

Sample: Although Othello’s imperfections cause Sample: Although Othello’s imperfections cause his ultimate downfall, he still manages to his ultimate downfall, he still manages to experience an awakening of self.experience an awakening of self.

Sample: Using his descriptions of the life on the Sample: Using his descriptions of the life on the river and life on the shore, Twain encourages river and life on the shore, Twain encourages people to look outside themselves to find people to look outside themselves to find meaning.meaning.

TEWWG Literary AnalysisTEWWG Literary Analysis Choice AChoice A: The statement, “clothes make the man,” is generally : The statement, “clothes make the man,” is generally

accepted to mean that who a person is on the inside (what they are accepted to mean that who a person is on the inside (what they are feeling, etc.) is represented on the outside by their attire. In feeling, etc.) is represented on the outside by their attire. In Their Their Eyes Were Watching GodEyes Were Watching God, how does Hurston use to clothing to , how does Hurston use to clothing to “make” Janie? Analyze the ways in which Janie’s clothing reflects “make” Janie? Analyze the ways in which Janie’s clothing reflects her inner self and comment on Hurston’s use of these articles to her inner self and comment on Hurston’s use of these articles to convey her thoughts.convey her thoughts.

Choice BChoice B: Janie experienced different kinds of love throughout her : Janie experienced different kinds of love throughout her marriages. Her time with Joe and Tea Cake, in particular, helped marriages. Her time with Joe and Tea Cake, in particular, helped shape her into the woman she is by the end of the novel. Compare shape her into the woman she is by the end of the novel. Compare and contrast the relationships between Janie and Joe and Janie and and contrast the relationships between Janie and Joe and Janie and Tea Cake. Focus primarily on the areas of expectations, status, Tea Cake. Focus primarily on the areas of expectations, status, courtship and death. Be sure to address all four areas in your essay.courtship and death. Be sure to address all four areas in your essay.

Choice CChoice C: Throughout the novel : Throughout the novel Their Eyes Were Watching GodTheir Eyes Were Watching God, , you have examined the language used by the author and its effect you have examined the language used by the author and its effect on the reader. Explain how Hurston uses figurative language on the reader. Explain how Hurston uses figurative language (imagery, similes, metaphors, etc.) to develop a character from the (imagery, similes, metaphors, etc.) to develop a character from the novel.novel.

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