Introduction to Literary Analysis

There is Only One Story What it means to be human. All literature is a part of the bigger Story. Everything is connected in some way. There is no such thing as a truly original story.

Introduction to Literary Analysis Our first reading and response to a text is (and should be) an emotional one Did you like it or not? Why?

Introduction to Literary Analysis When doing a close reading, look for: Allusions Symbols Character Types Plot Devices and Patterns

Where Have I Seen This Before? There is no such thing as an original story. Authors make purposeful references to other works of literature, and play off of our responses to those works. “Intertextuality”

Where Have I Seen This Before? Almost all allusions come from: Shakespeare The Bible Fairy Tales Mythology (mostly Greek & Roman)

Shakespeare Every generation reinvents Shakespeare in its own way. Borrowed titles, lines, names, etc. Why? Sacred text Sounding board

The Bible Judeo-Christian influence on European and American culture and literature. Read the Bible as a work of literature. The Bible contains the most basic human conflicts and struggles: Loss of innocence Redemption

The Bible Many stories come out of authors’ own spiritual struggles. Many writers from the past were lay ministers and clergy. Borrowed titles, situations, characters, quotations, names, etc. Most popular: The Fall Christ Figures Prodigal Sons

Fairy Tales Everyone knows children’s stories. Authors use what is familiar to help make sense of what is unfamiliar. Hansel & Gretel: Lost children trying to find their way home.

Mythology Myth: a story told to help make sense of the world. Go back to cultural roots. Mythology is so imbedded in our culture that we don’t often recognize it when we see it.

Mythology Homer gives us the four great struggles: Man vs. Nature Man vs. Divine Man vs. Others Man vs. Ourselves Or put another way: Protecting our family Maintaining our dignity Remaining faithful Returning home

Is That a Symbol? Short answer: Sure it is. More difficult question: What does it mean? Symbols can be objects or actions. Stories where everything is symbolic = Allegory Allegories fall apart when there is ambiguity. Stories lose their value when symbolism becomes overly simplified.

Is That a Symbol? Different writers give objects and actions different meanings. We must consider the writer’s world and experiences.

Is That a Symbol? Some common symbolic elements: Journeys Meals Weather Seasons Flight Baptism Physical Impairments

Journeys Elements of a Quest Narrative: Quester, Place to Go, Reason to Go, Challenges, Real Reason to Go. Most often, the Quester must face the challenges alone. Stated reason for the Quest is never the Real reason for the Quest. Real Reason = Self-knowledge.

Meals A meal = communion = peace & community Shared meals have nearly universal cultural and religious significance, but need not always be sacred. A meal in literature needs a reason to be there. A shared meal highlights our shared experiences.

Weather Rain = cleansing, judgment, restoration. Rain can have religious significance. Rainbows = redemption, divine promise Rain can be: plot device, atmosphere, mood Rain is democratic (falls on everyone)

Seasons Seasons have pretty universally accepted meaning: Age Seasons of Life Moods & Emotions Imagery & Setting Fall = Harvest = Task Accomplished

Baptism How a character gets wet and responds to the water can have important symbolic implications. Coming up out of water = rebirth (baptism). A character must be ready to receive the baptism.

Physical Impairments Physical Impairments are most often identified early in the story. Can (used to) signify moral imperfections. Questing hero (war hero) often injured or marked.

Physical Impairments Common Types of Physical Impairments: Blindness Heart Disease Illness

Blindness Blindness = special insight The Blind often help other characters to see what is obvious to the rest of us. Metaphorical Blindness (“Blinded by…”)

Heart Disease Heart Disease is the perfect metaphorical illness. It usually represents some social, emotional, or moral ailment.

Other Illnesses Every era has its disease of choice. Before the discovery of germs, there was a great deal of mystery surrounding illness. Some authors made up illnesses to suit their needs.

Other Illnesses An illness should be: Symbolic Picturesque Mysterious Characters’ responses to illnesses (their own and others’) is what is important.

Character Types Two Common Character Types: Christ Figures Vampires

Christ Figures Why? Christian values and ideals are foundational in our culture and literature. Author is trying to make a point by using a Christ figure in his story. But… don’t force it or try to read too much into it.

Christ Figures Characteristics: Humble (everyman) Attractive Divisive Self-sacrificing Redeems others Usually symbolic, not a perfect likeness.

Vampires Dracula was very attractive and alluring. He violated young women, took their usefulness, and left them helpless. Characteristics: Selfish Exploitative Feeds off of others Refuses to respect autonomy of others Often a human character that consumes others.

Plot Devices Authors use certain devices and patterns to achieve certain purposes. Common Plot Devices: Violence Sex

Violence Violence against another person can be a very intimate act with important implications. In real life, violence just is. In literature, violence usually contains meaning and metaphor. Two types of violence in literature: Violence among characters Narrative violence Look for thematic implications, resemblance to other acts of violence, and method of violence.

Sex Blame our fascination with sexual meaning on Freud. In literature, normal objects and actions can take on sexual meaning. In literature, sex is always about something else.

Other Important Considerations There are several other important elements to consider when reading a work of literature: Geography Politics Context

Geography Why does the author choose particular locations for the setting of his story? Geography carries certain cultural, political, and economic implications. Geography = people inhabiting spaces and spaces inhabiting people.

Geography Consider the geography’s impact on: Character (psychology & motivations) Plot structure

Geography Consider the opposites in geography: North vs. South East vs. West City vs. Nature High vs. Low South = running amok

Politics Consider the politics of the time and place of publication. Some say that every work is either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Context: Don’t read with your eyes. Try to read with the eyes of the original audience; understand the context. What is the author really getting at? Understanding ≠ Acceptance

Irony IRONY TRUMPS EVERYTHING. Irony = devices not used in traditional ways, or not used at all. We have to understand the accepted uses of a device to understand its ironic usage. The signifier remains the same, but the significance changes. The signifier may mean many things, but irony employs a unconventional, unexpected meaning.

Conclusion: Does He Really Mean That? In good literature, assume that all symbolism and allusions are intentional. But we can’t know for sure. Good writers are good readers. Old writers were very well-versed in the classics. Lateral Thinking & Intertextuality What does he do and what can we discover from it?

BOOK BY THOMAS C. FOSTER SUMMARY PRESENTATION BY RYAN M BLANCK How to Read Literature Like a Professor