Post on 14-Dec-2015
Why Write One?Why Write One?
A literary analysis broadens A literary analysis broadens understanding and appreciation of a understanding and appreciation of a piece of literature.piece of literature.
Analysis PUMPS YOU UP!Analysis PUMPS YOU UP!
Both writing and analysis form new synapses Both writing and analysis form new synapses in your brains. Two benefits for the price of in your brains. Two benefits for the price of one!one!
Remember, your brain is like a muscle. The Remember, your brain is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it more you use it, the stronger it
becomes, and “weight training” is becomes, and “weight training” is
essential to meet one’s potential.essential to meet one’s potential.
THINKTHINK
1.1. The author attempts to convey what themes? The author attempts to convey what themes?
2.2. The author employs which techniques to The author employs which techniques to convey the theme, mood, characterization, convey the theme, mood, characterization, and etc.?and etc.?
3.3. What ideas lie What ideas lie beneathbeneath the text? the text?
4.4. What significance/importance does the What significance/importance does the reader find in the work?reader find in the work?
An Author’s PurposeAn Author’s Purpose
When writing a literary analysis, you can go When writing a literary analysis, you can go beyond the basic literary elements and apply beyond the basic literary elements and apply them to other issues/categories.them to other issues/categories.
(psychology, politics, history, and etc.)(psychology, politics, history, and etc.)
A literary analysis should A literary analysis should focus on one or a focus on one or a
combination of the following combination of the following elements to convey your elements to convey your
investigation of the author’s investigation of the author’s purpose.purpose.
ThemeTheme
Never analyze theme Never analyze theme alone. Instead, analyze alone. Instead, analyze how the author conveys how the author conveys theme through the use theme through the use of other techniques.of other techniques.
Symbolism
Diction
Point of View
Figurative language
irony
conflict
Theme
ConflictConflict
Human vs. self?
Human vs. Society?
Human vs. Nature?
Human vs.Human?
External?
Internal?
Author’s Purpose
CharacterizationCharacterization
Thoughts
Actions
Thoughts of others
Dialogue
Character’s “Place”
In Setting
PersonalityElements
EmotionalDevelopment
Theme or Author’s Purpose
How Author’s Reveal Characterization
The ProcessThe Process
Read the piece of literature a plethora of times, Read the piece of literature a plethora of times, noting important passages.noting important passages.
Decide upon the literature’s theme and Decide upon the literature’s theme and author’s purpose. Then explore the means by author’s purpose. Then explore the means by which he/she reveals the purpose.which he/she reveals the purpose.
Keep collecting information until you have Keep collecting information until you have enough to develop your topic thoroughly.enough to develop your topic thoroughly.
Organize your information.Organize your information.
If you are going to discuss how a character is If you are going to discuss how a character is revealed through dialogue, setting, and revealed through dialogue, setting, and symbolism (all literary categories), you would symbolism (all literary categories), you would group information under “dialogue,” “setting,” group information under “dialogue,” “setting,” and “symbolism.”and “symbolism.”
If you are going to explore how a story’s setting (literary category) portrays a climate of fear (psychological category) that turns into anarchy (political category), you would group information under “setting,” “fear,” and “anarchy.”
If you are going to explore how characterization (literary category), diction (literary category), and conflict reveal discrimination (social category), you would group information under “characterization,” “diction,” “conflict,” and discrimination.
Continue organizationContinue organization
Study the categories that Study the categories that you decide upon and you decide upon and look for relationships look for relationships amongst them.amongst them.
metaphor
symbolism
irony
theme
point of view
society
setting
diction
conflict
Determine what these relationships reveal about the work and what will increase the audience’s knowledge and appreciation of the work. This insight, which should be stated in one sentence, becomes the essay’s thesis statement.
IF THE SENTENCE MERELY SUMMARIZES, BUT DOES NOT ANALYZE THE WORK, REEVALUATE YOUR INFORMATION.
DRAFTINGDRAFTING
Use a funnel introductionUse a funnel introduction Be sure to include a brief summary of the story in Be sure to include a brief summary of the story in
either your introduction or its own paragraph.either your introduction or its own paragraph. In each body paragraph, take a different approach to In each body paragraph, take a different approach to
proving your thesis. Use concrete examples from the proving your thesis. Use concrete examples from the text, including direct, cited quotations, for support. text, including direct, cited quotations, for support. Explain how the choices prove the thesis.Explain how the choices prove the thesis.
Upside down funnel conclusion expression further Upside down funnel conclusion expression further implications of the work.implications of the work.