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Writing a Literary Analysis

Mr. Naymik — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:40:04 +0000

When you read for pleasure, your only goal is enjoyment. You might find yourself reading to get caught up in an exciting story, to learn about an interesting time or place, or just to pass time. Maybe you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, or a reflection of your own life. There are as many different, valid ways of reading a book as there are books in the world.

When you read a work of literature in an English class, however, you’re being asked to read in a special way: You’re being asked to perform literary analysis. To analyze something means to break it down into smaller parts and then examine how those parts work, both individually and together. Literary analysis involves examining all the parts of a novel, play, short story, or poem—elements such as character, setting, tone, and imagery—and thinking about how the author uses those elements to create certain effects.

A literary essay isn’t a book review: you’re not being asked whether you liked a book or whether you’d recommend it to another reader. A literary essay also isn’t like the kind of book report you wrote when you were younger, where your teacher wanted you to summarize the book’s action. A high school- or college-level literary essay asks, “How does this piece of literature actually work?” “How does it do what it does?” and, “Why might the author have made the choices he or she did?”

The following notes provide a definition and explanation for writing a literary analysis. Writing about literature is the only way to really learn how to do it, but this presentation provides the background.

[goog doc="dc4kzt6f_12ff395nfv"]Writing a literary analysis[/goog]

One skill necessary for writing a literary analysis is summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. Also, refresh yourself on quoting material (quote sandwich).

An example is presented below. We will go over it in class. Use the practice sheet to select the right quotes and create your quote sandwiches for each main idea.

Writing an Analysis

Read carefully

Read carefully
Ask yourself question as you read
Take notes

Brainstorm

List ideas you might have and ask questions

What struck you?
Did you notice any patterns?
What confused you? Maybe you were surprised to see a character act in a certain way, or maybe you didn’t understand why the book ended the way it did.
Did you notice any contradictions or ironies?
What did it have to say about life?

At this point, you don’t need to know exactly what you’re going to say about your topic; you just need a place to begin your exploration. You can help direct your reading and brainstorming by formulating your topic as a question, which you’ll then try to answer in your essay. Question → Thesis statement

Write a thesis statement

Start with a thesis statement. You want to argue about what the author is doing in the story or how the story works. Here is a common pattern that can be modified:

In (title of poem/novel/play), (author’s name) uses (1st literary device), (2nd literary device), and (3rd literary device) to (show/criticize/explain/etc.) (some aspect of human nature).

The following is a possible thesis statement for a literary analysis based on a fairytale:

In “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Goldilocks is filled with misconceptions about the world around her but ultimately learns to accept things that are different.

Create an outline to visualize your support

I. Intro
a. Hook
b. Summary
c. Thesis
II. Goldilocks view of the world (bears)
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
III. How the bears actually are
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
IV. Goldilocks change
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
V. Conclusion
a. Restate
b. Interpretation
c. What’s the bigger meaning
I. Intro
a. Hook
b. Summary
c. Thesis
II. Goldilocks view of the world (bears)
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
III. How the bears actually are
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
IV. Goldilocks change
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
V. Conclusion
a. Restate
b. Interpretation
c. What’s the bigger meaning

Example essay

Example Essay

Click the picture to see how a lit analysis works

Goldilocks lit analysis practice Lit analysis practice Usher (2 hits)

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Letter from Birmingham Jail

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:37:05 +0000

Written in sitting in jail in 1963 following a protest of segregation and racism by the city government and retailers, Dr. King wrote a letter to some clergymen in Alabama in response to a letter that they published criticizing Dr. King’s actions (Letter from Clergy (7 hits)).

Here is Dr. King’s note regarding the text of the letter:

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This response to a published statement by eight fellow clergymen from Alabama (Bishop C. C. J. Carpenter, Bishop Joseph A. Durick, Rabbi Hilton L. Grafman, Bishop Paul Hardin, Bishop Holan B. Harmon, the Reverend George M. Murray. the Reverend Edward V. Ramage and the Reverend Earl Stallings) was composed under somewhat constricting circumstance. Begun on the margins of the newspaper in which the statement appeared while I was in jail, the letter was continued on scraps of writing paper supplied by a friendly Negro trusty, and concluded on a pad my attorneys were eventually permitted to leave me. Although the text remains in substance unaltered, I have indulged in the author’s prerogative of polishing it for publication.

In response to recent violence, they stated:

Demonstrations led by “outsiders” are “unwise and untimely”
Negotiation is the best way to solve racial injustice
Demonstrations “incite hatred and violence”
The police should be commended for the calm manner in which they have handled everything.

Here is short video with some background.

Dr. King uses expertly uses logos, ethos and pathos in his response as well as a variety of rhetorical techniques, including the use of aphorisms.

Here is the portion of his letter that we read in class: Letter from Birmingham Jail (3 hits)

“Letter from Birmingham Jail” Questions
Answer the following on a separate sheet of paper.

Why will Dr. King respond to the clergymen?
There are two aphorisms in the 3^rd paragraph. List and explain the meaning of one.
How are the steps in a nonviolent campaign similar to the Declaration of Independence?
Give an example of a failed negotiation.
What is the purpose of “direct-action?”
According to Dr. King, what is the difference between a just law and an unjust law?
Does Dr. King support evading or defying the law? Explain his reasoning.
Dr. King counters the claim “that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence.” What type argument does King demonstrate in his counter?
In your own words, describe who Dr. King describes as real heroes. What type of argument is he demonstrating?
In one sentence, state what you think is the main message of Dr. King’s letter.

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Declaration of Independence

Mr. Naymik — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:01:28 +0000

Perhaps the most influential document in American history, The Declaration of Independence details the Philosophy of the colonial revolutionaries and outlines their experiences with what they call a tyrannical king. The document is an example of an argument that uses logos, or logic to persuade its audience (for more info on argument, click here.) This logic is evident in the five parts of the the D of I.

Intro–Purpose of document
How things should work
How the King violated the ideal
How the colonist tried to correct it
What must now be done to reach the ideal

The following notes give a brief history of the colonist struggle against Britain, which reflects the parts of the D of I (the process that they went through to achieve their purpose is important, not the historical details).

[Show as slideshow]

As you read the document, note how the language and structure is appropriate for the audience and purpose.

Also, the final version is different from what Thomas Jefferson wrote. Jefferson wrote a couple passages dealing with slavery, which were deleted by the Second Continental Congress. To understand these passages, you need to translate Jefferson’s words into your own. Read this page for instructions on how to do this, then complete the worksheet with the deleted passages ( translating the declaration of independence).

Read it ( Declaration of Independance), or watch actors read below.

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Arguement and Logical Fallacies

Mr. Naymik — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:01:38 +0000

Update: take the quiz

[QUIZZIN 7]
The following presentations contains the notes for argument (logos, ethos, and pathos) and logical fallacies and the homework that goes with it. Remember, this is the foundation for most types of communication will help you to not only be a good student, but a good voter, citizen, consumer, employee, etc.
[goog doc="dc4kzt6f_109gtph32dm"]Logical Fallacies Notes[/goog]

These worksheets were completed in class and rely on the notes.

Name that Fallacy
How do they persuade

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