Basic Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis THE IDEAS

Why Write a Literary Analysis? A literary analysis broadens understanding and appreciation of a piece of literature

Difference between analysis and summary Sample Story Summary Analysis! Robin Hood Robin Hood stole goods and money from the rich residents of his town to give to the town’s poorer residents.  The use of a monarchy or kingdom setting in Robin Hood allowed the author to portray the abuses of power that often occur among the wealthiest members of a community. Snow White Snow White falls into a deep, death-like slumber when she takes a bite of a poisoned apple.  The use of certain plot elements in Snow White, such as the poisoned apple and resulting slumber, help readers understand that being too trusting can lead to dire consequences.   Cinderella Cinderella tells the story of a young girl whose evil stepmother tries to keep her from her true love. The author of Cinderella paired lazy female characters with a hard–working female protagonist to show that hard work leads to love and happiness. 

Shrek and Theme of Things Are Not What They Seem Characterization Conflict Setting Thesis Example: William Steig uses characterization, conflict, and setting to portray the theme that things are not what they seem in the movie Shrek.

Characterization Shrek/Appearances Shrek is a giant scary ogre, but underneath, he’s a really nice guy. Lord Farquaad seems like he’s royalty and someone to be feared, but he’s very short.

CONFLICT Shrek/Appearances Fiona is tormented by the fact that she turns into an ogre at night. No one else suspects it because during the day she is a beautiful princess.

Setting Shrek/Appearances Shrek’s swamp seems disgusting and a terrible place to live, but eventually, it becomes known as a safe place for all fairy tale creatures.

THINK The author attempts to convey what themes? The author employs which techniques to convey the theme, mood, characterization, and etc.? What ideas lie beneath the text? What significance/importance does the reader find in the work?

Ways to Think Big Picture Ideas How character is revealed using… How author conveys theme using… How setting creates a certain mood of…by using… How the author’s purpose of…is revealed using… How the author reveals a philosophy (feminism, racism, Mormonism, Christianity) using…

Smaller Pieces for investigation Ways to Think Smaller Pieces for investigation Setting Figures of speech (similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration,hyperbole) Rhyme Plot (foreshadowing, suspense, conflict, exposition rising action) Characterization Theme Dialogue Speaker/narrator Point of view Connotation

Your thesis will be made up of the big pictures and small pieces. Your thesis should be the last sentence in your first paragraph. Examples Steig reveals the theme of things not being what they appear in the movie Shrek by using characterization, conflict, and setting. In the story, “Marigolds,” Collier uses the marigolds as a symbol of hope using juxtaposition, connotation, and characterization.

Remember: It is not enough to say that these things occur. You must prove that they occur with examples. (below is a body paragraph example) Steig reveals that things are not what they appear in the movie Shrek using characterization. First, Lord Farquaad is presented as a very intimidating figure, particularly when he is interrogating the gingerbread man. The gingerbread man actually says, “You’re a monster.” However, he is not what he appears to be because the audience discovers later that he is a very short man that needs help getting down from his horse. Another character that is not what he appears to be is Shrek himself. Shrek tells Donkey that “ogres are like onions. They have layers.” This quote shows how Shrek is aware that there is more to him than meets the eye. This quote shows that one has to peel away the layers on the outside of an ogre to see what’s really underneath. In addition, this proves true in the story since Shrek really is a nice guy who is very brave. Both Farquaad and Shrek prove that things are not what they seem in this movie.

Basic Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis THE STRUCTURE

Always include the name of the poet or author. Example: Langston Hughes creates a feeling of discomfort in “A Dream Deferred.” NOT: “A Dream Deferred” makes the reader uncomfortable.

Write in present tense Example: In Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” the townspeople visit Emily Grierson’s house because it smells bad. NOT: In Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” the townspeople visited Emily Grierson’s house because it smelled bad.

Refer to authors by their full name or last name only. Example: Langston Hughes uses similes to create a feeling of discomfort in “A Dream Deferred.” Or Hughes uses similes to create a feeling of discomfort in “A Dream Deferred.” NOT: Langston uses similes to create a feeling of discomfort in “A Dream Deferred”.

No 1st or 2nd person POV Normally, you should not use 1st or 2nd person when writing a literary analysis. Keep I, me, my, you, your, yourself out of your paper! Example: The narrator in “Thank You Ma’m” undergoes a transformation when he meets Ms. Luella Washington Bates. NOT: I believe the narrator in “Thank you Ma’m” undergoes a transformation when he meets Ms. Luella Washington Bates.

Avoid passive voice Your subject should be doing an action not receiving an action. Avoid the verbs of being (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been). Example: Connell strengthens the Zaroff character using both power and money. Or Power and money strengthen the Zaroff character. NOT: The character of Zaroff is strengthened by his power and money.

Passive Voice continued Your subject should be doing an action not receiving an action. Avoid the verbs of being (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been). NOT: Rainsford is frightened by the dogs, Ivan, and Zaroff’s skill as he tries to escape. Example: The dogs, Ivan, and Zaroff’s skill all frighten Rainsford in his attempt to escape.

Try to rewrite these sentences in active voice! Now you try… Your subject should be doing an action not receiving an action. Avoid the verbs of being (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been). NOT: Leonard Meade is harassed by the police car without cause. NOT: The future is a dark and lonely place. Try to rewrite these sentences in active voice!

Basic Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis THE MECHANICS

TITLES Titles of poems and short stories are always in quotation marks. Play titles and book titles are italicized (or underlined when handwritten).

DIRECT QUOTATIONS When you quote more than one line of a poem, use a forward slash/ to separate each line of the poem. Example: The speaker states, “I don’t enjoy it here/Squatting on this island/Looking picturesque and mythical.”

DIRECT QUOTATIONS You should always have a lead-in when quoting in your paper Example: The speaker states, “I don’t enjoy it here/Squatting on this island/Looking picturesque and mythical.”

DIRECT QUOTATIONS You should always have a lead-in when quoting in your paper Example: The speaker states, “I don’t enjoy it here/Squatting on this island/Looking picturesque and mythical.”

2 types of lead ins for our focus 1. Somebody said lead-in 2. Blended lead-in

EXAMPLES OF SOMEBODY SAID LEAD IN In the book, Nelson says, “It is really hard to be this amazing”(Nelson 99). Mr. Nelson states, “I’ve never seen her acting like a ninja because she is that good” (Nelson 45). “Ninjas Are Awesome” adds, “Nelson can levitate with the best of them” (99). “You can try to be like me, but it would be impossible,” argues Nelson (22).

Examples of Blended Lead Ins Nelson, a well-known ninja, believes her “skills are higher than all others” (Nelson 23).   Mr. Nelson argues that “no one on earth can imagine the things she can do” (Nelson 13). Even though Nelson is one of the top ninjas in the world, she “works daily” on her skills (Nelson 35).