HOW TO WRITE A LITERARY ANALYSIS

You can do this!

Think about the theme

What is it?

◦Literary analysis is a type of expository essay that analyzes or looks closely at a specific aspect of a piece of literature, such as the characters, theme, setting, symbolism, and so on.

Literary Analysis Overview

◦To write a literary analysis, you need to decide what aspect of the piece of literature you are going to focus on, and then you state your opinion about it in a thesis statement.  We are focusing on theme. After this, your body paragraphs provide examples and evidence (in the form of quotations from the text) to support your thesis.  Finally, you end with a conclusion that restates your most important points.

•Think carefully about your thesis statement.  What are you going to try to "prove" in this essay?

A thesis statement is an assertion, not a statement of fact or an observation.

• Fact or observation: People use many lawn chemicals.

• Thesis: People are poisoning the environment with chemicals merely to keep their lawns clean.

A thesis statement is "a basic argument” that clearly articulates what the thesis is expected to demonstrate

Introduction

A = Attention-GetterN = Necessary Information-(title, author, short summary)T = Thesis

Example

◦Murder! Is this a right way to get back at someone? (attention-getter) Montresor believes it is in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado."  (necessary information--author's name & title of the story)  In the story, Montresor tells the reader that he was insulted by Fortunato. It is because of this insult that Montresor has vowed revenge. He lures Fortunato into his family's catacombs and then Montresor chains Fortunato to a wall of granite and buries him alive. (necessary information--summary)  Montressor is able to murder Foftunado because of his intense desire to seek revenge. (thesis)

Body Paragraphs◦ .

T = Topic sentenceI = Introduce quoteQ = QuoteA = Analysis

Example

◦From Twilight:  Edward shows that he is truly the good guy. When Bella asks why Edward kills animals instead of humans, he replies, "I don"t want to be a monster." The fact that Edward doesn’t kill innocent people, and the fact that he wants to be the best that he can possibly be in his situation, shows that he has a good heart, and that he is really the good guy

Conclusion

◦R = Restate your thesis◦R = Restate your reasons ◦R = Wrap it up

Specifically

◦Restate your thesis in different words.  Remind the reader what the focus of your paper was and what you have "proven."

◦Restate your reasons or examples that you used in the topic sentences of the body paragraphs.  Summarize and show how all of your reasons fit together.

◦Wrap it up with your final thoughts and/or a clincher.

A funny way to end!

Credits◦ http://www.lcsd.wednet.edu/page/682

◦ http://www.mrscassel.com/helpful_handouts.htm#Poetry_&_Literary_Analysis_Organizers

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyz2bryWD8g

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTKnoCWK-wc