Writing a Writing a Literary AnalysisLiterary Analysis

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.

Author’s Purpose

Theme Conflict Characterization

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.