Writing the Literary

Analysis (or How to

Avoid Fs and Impress

Your Teacher)

Paine College, Augusta, GA Mack Gipson, Jr. Tutorial & Enrichment Center rev. 9/2006

An analysis explains what a work of literature means, and how it means it.

How is a literary

analysis

an argument?When writing a literary analysis, you will focus When writing a literary analysis, you will focus on specific on specific elements elements of the text (small parts)of the text (small parts)

When discussing these attributes, you will want When discussing these attributes, you will want to make sure that you are making a to make sure that you are making a specific, specific, arguable point arguable point (thesis) about these attributes.(thesis) about these attributes.

You will defend this point with You will defend this point with reasons reasons and and evidence evidence drawn from the text. drawn from the text.

Interpret: what does “x” mean to you?

Ask yourself “WHY?”Ask yourself “WHY?”

Why do I think this? What gave Why do I think this? What gave me that idea? Where in the story me that idea? Where in the story does this appear most often?does this appear most often?Essays should be your opinion on Essays should be your opinion on a part of the novel.a part of the novel.

Do not…

Summarize:Summarize:

……you don’t need to prove the plot – we you don’t need to prove the plot – we know the book has a plot. Assume the know the book has a plot. Assume the reader has read your novel.reader has read your novel.

……you don’t have to prove that the you don’t have to prove that the main character is the main character. main character is the main character. Avoid the obvious facts.Avoid the obvious facts.

How to Analyze a Story

Meaning of the Story Meaning of the Story (Interpretation)(Interpretation)

IdentifyIdentify the theme and how the theme and how the author announces it.the author announces it.Explain how the Explain how the story story elements contributeelements contribute to the to the theme.theme.

Theme (expressed in a full sentence)

Main idea or underlying meaning Main idea or underlying meaning of the literary work.of the literary work.

What the author wants the What the author wants the reader to understand about the reader to understand about the subjectsubject

In fables, this may also be the In fables, this may also be the moral of the storymoral of the story

Characterization

ProtagonistProtagonist

Main characterMain character

AntagonistAntagonist

Character or force that Character or force that opposes the main opposes the main charactercharacter

FoilFoil

Character that provides a Character that provides a contrast to the contrast to the protagonistprotagonist

RoundRound

Three-dimensional personalityThree-dimensional personality

FlatFlat

Only one or two striking qualities—all Only one or two striking qualities—all bad or all goodbad or all good

DynamicDynamic

Grows and progress to a higher level Grows and progress to a higher level of understandingof understanding

StaticStatic

Remains unchanged throughout the Remains unchanged throughout the storystory

Thesis – must have 2 components

SubjecSubjectt

character, character, setting, setting, theme, etctheme, etcJulietJuliet

OpinionOpinion

what you what you think about think about that elementthat elementsympathetic/sympathetic/dynamic dynamic charactercharacter

Creating a Thesis

The thesis should state the basic point The thesis should state the basic point you want to communicate. you want to communicate. Includes Includes your three pieces of evidence.your three pieces of evidence.

It should be deep - something that not It should be deep - something that not everyone would think ofeveryone would think of

It should be It should be newnew and and originaloriginal

Creating a Thesis

Spend the body of your paper arguing Spend the body of your paper arguing that your thesis provides an that your thesis provides an interpretation which is clearly interpretation which is clearly supported by the text.supported by the text.

Do not deviate from discussion Do not deviate from discussion related to your thesisrelated to your thesis

How do I support a thesis statement?

Examples from the textExamples from the text

Direct quotationsDirect quotations

Summaries of scenes/actionSummaries of scenes/action

ParaphrasesParaphrases

Use only examples that directly relate to Use only examples that directly relate to your thesis.your thesis.

Tips for Writing the Body

Make sure that each paragraph Make sure that each paragraph centers on one specific idea centers on one specific idea (character’s emotions, the lesson the (character’s emotions, the lesson the character learned, the significance of character learned, the significance of the setting)the setting)

The topic sentence of each The topic sentence of each paragraph shows a link between the paragraph shows a link between the content of the paragraph and your content of the paragraph and your thesis statementthesis statement

Topic Sentence – the one element you Topic Sentence – the one element you will discuss and how it relates to your will discuss and how it relates to your thesis. “Juliet is a dynamic protagonist thesis. “Juliet is a dynamic protagonist in in Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet because she because she displays a spectrum of human displays a spectrum of human emotions, from love to hate.”emotions, from love to hate.”

Introduce a moment that proves your Introduce a moment that proves your argument. “During the balcony scene argument. “During the balcony scene of of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet, the reader the reader witnesses the conflicting emotions in witnesses the conflicting emotions in the female protagonist.”the female protagonist.”

Quote or paraphrase a specific Quote or paraphrase a specific example. “Juliet is confused example. “Juliet is confused about her feelings for Romeo, about her feelings for Romeo, claiming that ‘her only love claiming that ‘her only love sprung from her only hate’”sprung from her only hate’”

Analyze the example. “Having Analyze the example. “Having been brought up to hate the been brought up to hate the Montagues, told that they are Montagues, told that they are vile and untrustworthy, she vile and untrustworthy, she cannot at first explain her cannot at first explain her attraction to Romeo and attraction to Romeo and believes that he has impure believes that he has impure intentions towards her.”intentions towards her.”

Conclusion

Remember to strive for depth and Remember to strive for depth and significancesignificance

Don’t repeat the intro – instead, Don’t repeat the intro – instead, try to connect the theme to the try to connect the theme to the real world. Tell the reader what real world. Tell the reader what implications the novel has for implications the novel has for readers today. Why is it important readers today. Why is it important to read this book.to read this book.