How to write a great literary essay: OEDIPUS

Thesis Thesis should state the main argument or claim that your essay will prove with reasons and evidence. Thesis should include the title and author of the work(s) discussed. Thesis should be arguable—not a fact or obvious plot interpretation. Thesis should be clear and concise—not a run-on sentence or fragment. Thesis should show a relationship between the technique the author uses and what it is used to achieve. Thesis (and rest of essay) should avoid first and second person pronouns. Thesis should not use “to be” verbs—only active, present verbs.

THESIS STATEMENT: Essay main idea or claim Formula: In [title], [author] uses [technique] to show [message]. THESIS MODEL: In Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses stichomythia and repetition to build up the dramatic tension for the audience.

INTRODUCTION: Attention grabber and thesis ATTENTION GETTER: A stimulating comment on your general topic, not specific to the book itself. ATTENTION GETTER MODEL: Performers and actors often say, “timing is everything.” In modern film and television, pacing determines dialogue and action and its impact on the audience.

BODY PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE: This is the first sentence of a body or support paragraph. It identifies one aspect of the thesis and states a primary reason why the thesis is true. It is the first subtopic listed in a three-prong thesis. TOPIC SENTENCE MODEL: Sophocles creates heightened suspense for the audience by increasing the pace of dialogue through stichomythia.

QUOTE INCORPORATION SUPPORTING QUOTE: Choose brief quotes and incorporate them into your own original sentences SUPPORTING QUOTE MODEL: Tiresias: “What will come will come. Even if I shroud it all in silence.” Oedipus: “What will come? You’re bound to tell me that” (178). ANALYSIS: Specific explanation of how the quote supports your thesis. ANALYSIS MODEL: Sophocles increases the audience’s tension in the quick reactive comments of Oedipus, who repeats Tiresias’ comment of “what will come” (178), with the forceful insistence that the prophet reveal what he had hoped to “shroud in silence” (178).