Literary Analysis

What is the Literary Analysis requirement?   Understanding the techniques that make a literary work effective Identifying them in the story/stories you read Writing an essay explaining what you’ve identified.

You may be asked to identify Theme How the author approaches a subject Characters Setting Plot (conflict) elements Figurative Language

Universal Themes in Literature Man verses nature Man verses man The reward of freedom at any cost Good wins over evil Honesty pays in the end Doing the right thing is always right Hard work pays off

Author’s approach Point of view First person Third person Third person omniscient Genre Poem Story Play Factual

Characters Protagonist Antagonist Character Qualities Direct characterization Indirect characterization Inferences

Setting Where – place When – time How does the setting affect the plot? Why did the author choose this setting? How would the story change if the setting were different?

Plot (conflict) elements Event 1 Event 2 Climax Resolution suspense

Figurative Language Similes are as sweet as sugar. Metaphors are a breeze. Hyperboles are a million times better. Personification makes your pencil soar! Irony twists the plot or character PUNS! at the theatre was a play on words.

Literary Analysis might also include vocabulary: Context clues Connotation Prefixes, suffixes Greek and Latin Roots

How to write a literary analysis essay!

Thesis: What are you going to say?

The purpose of this essay is to identify a similar theme between Boy’s Life and “Emancipation: A Life Fable,” and to determine the approach each author used to develop this theme.

Intro: How are you going to develop it?

A similar theme in Boy’s Life and “Emancipation: A Life Fable” is, “Happiness can be found in having liberty.” In the Boy’s Life text, Cory is anxious to gain his freedom and get out of school on the last day. When Mrs. Neville finally released him, Cory stated that he “ran out along the corridor, my arms unencumbered by books, my mind unencumbered by facts and figures, quotations and dates.” In the same way, the animal in “Emancipation: A Life Fable” discovers its freedom “So does he live, seeking, finding, joying and suffering.”

Support with: facts examples stories details quotes  

The comparison of each author’s approach between the two texts is alike because both authors use a story (narrative) approach to the theme, and both authors build suspense by delaying the freedom. For example, Cory must wait on his teacher to dismiss him, and then she calls him up to her desk to delay him even longer. In the same way, the animal must make the decision whether or not to leave the cage.  

 However there are several contrasts in the two authors’ approach to the theme. First, is point of view. The first author chose to write the story from a first person perspective while the second author wrote in third person. Second, the genres are different. The first story is realistic fiction or perhaps biography while the second story is written as a fable. Third, the plot is developed differently with Cory excited about the summer and freedom to come while the animal is fearful of what may be out there.

 Conclude: “In conclusion,” (summarize your thesis)

In conclusion, both stories approach the theme of freedom in a narrative, but the authors’ approaches are somewhat different.