1. Writing a literary analysis essay The Things They Carried

2. Checklist 1.Read the book 2.Ask Relevant Questions: a.Why did the author write this? b.What is the theme? c.What are some symbols? d.How are the characters developed? e.How is the style relevant to the content? f.What do the characters learn? g.What literary terms are addressed and why?

3. Look for connections and patterns Ask some more questions: a. How are the characters connected to the themes? b. How are the themes, characters, and symbols connected? c. What does the format and style suggest about the story?

4. Do some research Maybe. Not all the time. a.Find out about the author. b.What do other critics say about the book? c. What is the historical context? d. How does Postmodern technique factor in?

5. Develop a thesis statement Thesis statements are not questions. Thesis statements are not mere observations Thesis statements function in two ways: a.They introduce the main idea that will be developed in the text of the essay. b.They analyze or illuminate the text, often in terms of literary elements.

6. Prompt Deconstruct and understand every aspect of the prompt “Analyze the structure of the novel. Why do the stories progress in a nonlinear manner, and how does this progression, and other features of its style that you can extrapolate, contribute to the theme that runs through the novel?” Analyze vs. summarize Stories, not a story Development, structure of novel Why and how, not just the what A theme, not a moral or platitude

7. Observation: Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things They Carried uses a non- linear structure with frequent flashbacks.

8. That is merely an observation on the part of the essay writer. It’s a good observation, but it is one most readers could recognize without your help. Think of your essay as a teaching tool that will help to analyze or illuminate the text.

9. Helpful hints for developing thesis statements: Use action verbs: a.Tim O’Brien mirrors the fragmentation of his characters’ lives in the structure of the novel itself. b.Not: The Things They Carried, written by Tim O’Brien, has a fragmented format that mirrors his characters.

10. When applicable, use three examples to support your main idea: a. Tim O’Brien mirrors the fragmentation of his characters’ lives through the novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through his use of flashback, the manner in which the stories comment on and contradict one another, and their shifts in point of view.

11. Main Idea: Tim O’Brien mirrors the fragmentation of his characters’ lives through the novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through his use of flashback, the manner in which the stories comment on and contradict one another, and their shifts in point of view.

12. Three ideas that support that idea: Tim O’Brien mirrors the fragmentation of his characters’ lives through the novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through his use of flashback, the manner in which the stories comment on and contradict one another, and their shifts in point of view.

13. Locate quotations that support your thesis statement. As a rule of thumb, try to find at least three direct quotations to support each element contained in the thesis statement. a.3 examples of flashback b.3 examples of stories commenting on and/or contradicting each other c.3 examples of shifts in point of view

14. Determine the order you will use this information. Flee map, tree map Traditional outline Notes that you can decipher

15. Begin to write the paper. It may be helpful to begin with your introduction and your thesis (though not always).

16. Writing an introduction. An introduction is one short paragraph Place the thesis statement at the very end of the introduction.

17. More on introductions… A guideline to follow is that your introduction should contain about 3-5 significant sentences, including your thesis statement.

18. An insignificant sentence: Literature often portrays characters who have many conflicts.

19. DUH!

20. All sentences should have weight and meaning. They may introduce background. They may introduce new concepts and/or definitions. They may provide transitions They may introduce quotations (do not do very much - or any - of this in the introduction) They may provide facts and support.

21. Empty sentences have no other purpose than to take up space. Tim O’Brien is a good author. He writes about the Vietnam War and soldiers. War is bad. The Things They Carried is a good book that deals with many issues relevant to literature.

22. Yuck!

23. Beginning the introduction, let us start with a general statement about writing, one that begins to address our prompt directly yet has not stated the novel or the thesis.

24. Experimental writers often subvert the traditional form of the novel by refusing to use a chronological plot line in favor of one less linear.

25. Now write more specifically by mentioning the novel and its author.

26. Experimental writers often subvert the traditional form of the novel by refusing to use a chronological plot line in favor of one less linear. The character of Tim O’Brien, and the varying omniscient narrators, do not convey The Things They Carried chronologically from Tim’s childhood to his writing of the novel after the war. Instead, these various voices tell the interrelated vignettes while skipping from one point in time (and place) to another.

27. Now add the thesis statement

28. Experimental writers often subvert the traditional form of the novel by refusing to use a chronological plot line in favor of one less linear. The character of Tim O’Brien, and the varying omniscient narrators, do not convey The Things They Carried chronologically from Tim’s childhood to his writing of the novel after the war. Instead, these various voices tell the interrelated vignettes while skipping from one point in time (and place) to another. Tim O’Brien mirrors the fragmentation of his characters’ lives through the novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through his use of flashback, the manner in which the stories comment on and contradict one another, and their shifts in point of view.

29. An effectively-written and well-organized introductory paragraph should act as a signpost for the rest of the paper.

30. A solid introduction essentially writes the rest of the essay for you.

31. The outline for the rest of this essay might look something like this: I. Introduction II. Body paragraph #1 The Things They Carried utilizes flashbacks to represent the characters’ own fragmented experiences with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as it is one of the chief symptoms. a. Example of flashback, analysis of how flashback relates to thesis b. Example of flashback, analysis of how flashback relates to thesis c. Example of flashback, analysis of how flashback relates to thesis

32. III. In addition to flashback, O’ Brien has the stories interrelate to each other to illustrate the fragmented state of his characters’ minds. 1.Example of verisimilitude and how it relates to the thesis 2.Example of verisimilitude and how it relates to the thesis 3.Example of verisimilitude and how it relates to the thesis *Don’t forget to add transitions between ideas or to introduce your quotations properly!

33. IV. O’Brien also employs a shifting point of view as a method of not only fragmenting the narrative but also to illustrate how trauma and memory connect each character. 1.Example of point of view and analysis on how it relates back to thesis. 2.Example of point of view and analysis on how it relates back to thesis. 3.Example of point of view and analysis on how it relates back to thesis.

34. V. Conclusion: It is sometimes helpful to think of the conclusion as a reversal of your introduction. You may want to begin by rephrasing your thesis statement.

35. Original: Tim O’Brien mirrors the fragmentation of his characters’ lives through the novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through his use of flashback, the manner in which the stories comment on and contradict one another, and their shifts in point of view. Rephrasing: Because of O’Brien’s innovative use of basic literary elements like flashback, verisimilitude, and point of view, he is able to produce a powerful text that reflects the chaotic and broken lives of his characters.

36. Now we work backwards to something a little more general. Original: The character of Tim O’Brien, and the varying omniscient narrators, do not convey The Things They Carried chronologically from Tim’s childhood to his writing of the novel after the war. Instead, these various voices tell the interrelated vignettes while skipping from one point in time (and place) to another. Conclusion: By constructing the novel in what at first appears to be unrelated pieces, unanchored in chronology or point of view, O’Brien actually achieves a kind of unity that supports the development of the story and his characters.

37. We finally add the “clincher” or “Food for Thought” In doing so, O’Brien creates a new kind of American novel, one not tied to a form rooted in tradition. The book takes on an utterly organic form where the book itself exhibits P.T.S.D, and cathartically seeks a way of renewing itself before the reader.

38. The final conclusion looks something like this: Because of O’Brien’s innovative use of basic literary elements like flashback, verisimilitude, and point of view, he is able to produce a powerful effect that reflects the chaotic and broken lives of his characters. By constructing the novel in what at first appears to be unrelated pieces, unanchored in chronology or point of view, O’Brien actually achieves a kind of unity that supports the development of the story and his characters. In doing so, O’Brien creates a new kind of American novel, one not tied to a form rooted in tradition. The book takes on utterly organic form where the book itself exhibits P.T.S.D, and cathartically seeks a way of renewing itself before the reader.

39. Your essay is complete!