Literary Analysis
A How-to Guide
Introduction
O Opens with a hook
O Catch the reader’s attention
O Universal idea (like the motif chart items…)
O A description of the novel in connection to youridea, NOT A SUMMARY
O MUST INCLUDE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR OFTHE WORK
OTitles are in italics with proper capitalization
OTill We Have Faces or The Stranger
O Information should logically lead to the thesis
Thesis
O There are two goals of a literary analysisthesis:
1.Relate the theme of the work
2.Indicate how the author creates the theme
O Thesis should be the LAST sentence of theINTRODUCTION
O There is NO PERSONAL OPINION in the thesis
O I, me, my WILL NOT be part of this essay
Examples
1.Through Paul’s experience behind the lines at aRussian prisoner of war camp, and especiallyunder bombardment in the trenches, Erich MariaRemarque realistically shows how wardehumanizes a man.
2.The boys’ evolving relationship with the conchillustrates Golding’s theme that humans, whenremoved from the pressures of civilized authority,will become evil.
Examples
3.The fate of the main characters inAntigone illustrates the danger ofexcessive pride.
4.The imagery in Dylan Thomas's poem“Fern Hill” reveals the ambiguity ofhumans’ relationship with nature.
Body Paragraphs
1. Has a TOPIC SENTENCE
O Identifies focus of the paragraph and how thatrelates back to the thesis
2. Uses TEXTUAL EVIDENCE to support thesis
O This is a specific example, either paraphrased ordirectly taken from the text
O Cited with PROPER MLA (Author’s Last Name Pg. #)
Body Paragraph Cont.
O Evidence needs:
O Introduction: Set up or context for the quote
O Analysis: Explanation or interpretation of how thisevidence proves the thesis
O Rule of Thumb: For every sentence of evidence, two isneeded for analysis
O Transitions between evidence
O Connect evidence/ideas within the paragraph
O Conclusion Sentence:
O Wraps up the paragraph by showing how it all linkstogether
Conclusion
O Returns to your main points
O Does NOT summarize each point butgenerally references them.
O Returns to your thesis statement
O Shows how all the points are linked together.
O Provides analysis how the theme wasultimately achieved
O The overall significance of the themeand/or novel as a whole
Lasting Thoughts
O Write in the PRESENT TENSE
O NO personal pronouns or opinions
O You are NOT part of this essay
O DO NOT SUMMARIZE the novel
O You are providing minimal context for the novelwhen you provide evidence
O You are an interpreter or explainer of the work inrelation to your specific thesis
O Title should be creative representation of yourapproach