Writing a Literary Analysis

Ms. Stutts10th Grade English

Literary Analysis Like other essays it includes:

Introduction Body Conclusion

BUT, the construction of an analysis is different from the persuasive essays you are used to writing.

Introduction Full name of

author & title of the work “Short Story” Novel

Use last name throughout the rest of the paper.

Make an assertion or claim as a controlling idea for your paper aka THESIS.

Thesis- explains your interpretation about theme of work you’re analyzing (overall meaning of story)

Body The body is not a plot summary.

Exclude personal pronouns and personal statement. Example- I think… OR In my opinion…

The body of a literary analysis has three parts to each paragraph: CLAIM EVIDENCE COMMENTARY

CLAIMSupport thesis by asserting a claim, which connects

thesis to one or more literary techniques.

Claim= topic sentence

Literary Techniques= symbolism, point of view, characterization, etc.

EVIDENCEProvide evidence from work

Quote short phrases directly or paraphrasing examples from work in your own words

COMMENTARYInclude commentary

Commentary- statement that links claim to evidence

Each claim with evidence should have at least two sentences serving as commentary.

Conclusion Summarize your main evidence

Leads logically to a conclusion where you can expand upon your thesis.

Similar to persuasive essay; you are restating your information to show that you have backed up your thesis.

Now to break it down a little further…

Paragraph One: Introduction/Main Idea

What is the THESIS of your paper?

The thesis should include a theme.

Write a thesis that includes the overall meaning from the story.

Paragraph Two: Element Body Paragraph

1) CLAIM sentence- Author uses characterization to…

2) Textual EVIDENCE- Directly quote element example from text.

3) COMMENTARY- How does the evidence support thesis? Use your own words.

Literary Elements: plot, setting, characterization, tone, mood, theme etc.

Paragraph Three: Device Body Paragraph

1) CLAIM sentence- Author uses alliteration to…

2) Textual EVIDENCE- Directly quote device example from text.

3) COMMENTARY- How does the evidence support thesis? Use your own words.

Literary Devices: alliteration, simile, metaphor, personification, imagery, etc.

Paragraph Four: Conclusion

Restate your thesis in a different way.

Discuss your element, your device, and how they both support the overall meaning that the author

shows.

AssignmentUse what you have learned from

reading “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe and from viewing The Masque of the Red Death with Vincent Price to write an essay analyzing which approach was more successful at portraying the red death and the black room as an ominous and unstoppable force.

Our First Step Develop your Thesis:

Accusation (Thesis)- The Masque of the Red Death staring Vincent Price was more successful at portraying, through imagery and symbolism, the red death and the black room as an ominous and unstoppable force.

OR Accusation (Thesis)- “The Masque of the Red

Death” by Edgar Allan Poe was more successful at portraying, through imagery and symbolism, the red death and the black room as an ominous and unstoppable force.

Next Step Develop a Claim for first body paragraph:

Claim: Vincent Price uses (imagery/symbolism) to show how the red death and the black room are ominous and unstoppable.

OR Claim: Edgar Poe uses (imagery/symbolism)

to show how the red death and the black room are ominous and unstoppable.

Final Two Steps Provide Evidence:

This could be quotes from the book or scenes from the movie that prove your claim is correct.

Share Commentary: This is where you will connect the evidence back to the claim. You explain how the evidence proves your point.

Disclaimer This is only just the beginning of writing

a complete literary analysis. We have worked through the skeleton part of an introduction paragraph (thesis) and the first body paragraph (CEC). There would still be another body paragraph and a conclusion paragraph to complete the literary analysis. But, we are going to

start basic and move up.