Journal #32: Iceberg Theory of Literature and Writing Good Analysis Learning Targets: Students will be able to explain the iceberg theory of literature. Students will be able to carefully examine the contents of their analysis. Students will be able to explicitly think about the levels of meaning in a text.

The Iceberg Theory of Literature The iceberg theory states that any work of literature has two different levels of complexity and meaning. The first level is the Surface Knowledge. The second level is Deeper Knowledge. Why might an iceberg be a good metaphor for literature?

The Iceberg Theory: Animal Farm Let’s look at Animal Farm: The top of the iceberg contains the plot of Animal Farm. A bunch of pigs take the farm from their mean owner and set up a government that ultimately fails to improve the lives of the average animals. According to the Iceberg Theory this only makes up about 10% of the novel.

The Iceberg Theory: Animal Farm Let’s look at Animal Farm: What sort of things would the bottom; or hidden deeper knowledge of the novel contain?

With your table, create a definition for the Iceberg Theory

Application to Writing a Literary Analysis Essay What relationship might the Iceberg Theory have to writing Body Paragraphs?

Application to Writing a Literary Analysis Essay What relationship might the Iceberg Theory have to writing Body Paragraphs? In body paragraphs we can think that our EVIDENCE is surface level information from the text, i.e. a quotation. Our ANALYSIS is explaining how that evidence works to prove our thesis’ claim on a deeper level. We are essentially explaining the deeper contents of the literary work.

Application to Writing a Literary Analysis Essay: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE: The pig Napoleon lies about the windmill and chases Snowball out. ANALYSIS: This connects allegorically to Stalin using propaganda to remove Trotsky from power and relates to theme of power causing corruption.

2-3 sentences of Analysis per evidence 2-3 sentences of Analysis/Elaboration/Commentary ONLY IF UNCLEAR: explain what it means in context to narrative. Elaboration Interpret evidence’s deeper meaning From literal/narrative to figurative or analytical meanings Explain your citation’s relation to the claim How is your evidence an example of your arguable claim? Justify its value and relevance to your point Make a ‘leap’ in explaining: Connections Conclusions cause and effect literary term Explain the connection of evidence to thesis’ “so what” ANALYSIS IS FROM YOUR BRAIN– not things explicitly said in the text.

Let’s look at an exemplar… Look back at the good body paragraph Smith gave you before break: Does the author explain quotations (ANALYSIS) in a way that fits in with the Iceberg theory? Where? / How?