How to Write a Literary Analysis

Transcription

1 Hw t Write a Literary Analysis Understanding the Task and Getting Started Literary analysis is a skill in which the elements that make up a whle unit are examined. The unit can be a pem, a shrt stry, an essay, a nvel, an advertisement, artwrk, r a film. Cnsider that authrs (and their editrs) make many chices that result in what the audience sees, hw the wrk can be interpreted, and hw it affects readers. Analysis helps readers t understand hw a piece f literature wrks and hw it cnveys specific ideas r creates specific effects n readers. Think like a scientist wh examines the individual aspects f a specimen. Fr literary analysis, the elements t cnsider are the fllwing: Title Dictin Setting Characterizatin Metaphr Figurative Language Imagery Structure Plt, Actin, Pacing, and Timing Tne Expsitin (rder f ideas) Prse Style Scansin Allusins and References As a writer, yu are asked t d the same thing as the scientist make careful bservatins abut the different elements f a literary wrk, such as theme, setting, character, r plt. Remember that yu are making these bservatins fr a reasn, which is the claim r thesis statement that yu set up in the intrductin. The details and examples f yur analytical investigatin will becme the supprting evidence that prves yur essay s central claim r thesis. Cllecting the Infrmatin and Catalguing the Elements Cmpleting a successful analysis invlves time t inspect the wrk. Fr literature-based assignments, read the wrk nce t becme familiar with just the surface details, like characters, plts, setting, etc. This initial reading will help yu t identify the specific and bjective facts and evidence that will help t supprt yur interpretatin f the text. Facts and evidence, in this cntext, are what actually appear n the page (wrds, the actual text and the bvius cncrete details the text cnveys, such as the basic plt). There are tw main types f infrmatin that can be cllected during the text explratin prcess: Subjective and Objective. Bth types have value when analyzing literature; hwever, it is imprtant t understand the difference t avid writing a persnal essay and t ensure the fcus remains n literary analysis. Subjective infrmatin is ften gathered frm yur first reading f the material r during the jurnaling and prewriting phase f literary analysis. Subjective infrmatin is persnal in that it reflects an individual s respnse t smething. It is imprtant t recgnize that yur reading f the text is in itself subjective. Feelings that arise while reading are ften useful in generating the initial cnnectins between what yu already knw abut an aspect f the human experience and what is expressed in the wrk. While reading, anntate this subjective infrmatin in the margins f yur text. Much f this data may be unrelated when yu write yur essay, but by taking ntes, the idea will be preserved in case it is needed later. Once yu have cmpleted yur initial read, g back thrugh the subjective reactins yu experienced t analyze yur respnse and narrw yur thughts t an bjective and specific argument that can be supprted with textual evidence. Objective infrmatin is verifiable within the text and will be the fcus f yur literary analysis. If yu can see it, then anther persn can t, as ppsed t subjective thughts and feelings which can t be prven. Objective BCCC Tutring Center Rev. 9/2015

2 infrmatin stays clsely cnnected t the text and will be the material used t supprt the argument being develped. This type f infrmatin identifies the specific literary devices being explred and examines hw and why the specific details f the literature are wrking t express the idea r theme yu will present in yur analysis. Varius types f details frm the text lend cncrete supprt t the develpment f the central idea f yur literary analysis essay. These details add credibility t the pint yu are develping. Once yu have identified a general claim and the bjective infrmatin t supprt it, think abut hw the parts relate t ne anther and hw they relate t the develpment f the deeper meaning r theme. This phase will help yu t narrw yur fcus and craft yur argument. Ask questins abut hw the individual elements f the wrk relate t a specific theme r verall effect. The questins yu ask will be specific t the tpic and wrk yu selected, but sme general examples are: Which literary device are yu explring? Hw is the literary device being used? What impact des this literary device have n the develpment f the text? Which evidence is present t supprt yur interpretatin f the impact? Fr help cnstructing yur argument, visit ur Thesis Statement, Intrductin, Cnclusin and ther literary handuts. The Parts: Where They G and Hw They Wrk The Title It is very imprtant t chse a title fr yur literary analysis that is different frm the title f the literary wrk being explred. It is als imprtant nt t call it Literary Analysis f [title]. Instead, it is essential that yu give yur essay a title which is descriptive f the apprach yu are taking in yur paper. Try t get the reader's attentin by prviding a glimpse int what the paper is ging t d. Fr example, will it examine r explre? Are yu stating that the text is an allegry r satirical representatin f smething r smene? An example f a strng title might be The Odysseys f Max and Mickey: Imagery and the Immigrant Experience in Sendak s In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are. The Intrductin and Thesis Statement The thesis can be described as the main pint, central argument, r the fcus f the paper, but mre than that, it can ften give sme indicatin as t what prf yu intend t use and the rder in which that prf may be presented in the bdy f the essay. Yur thesis statement shuld be a clear and direct claim and shuld entice yur audience t read further. Each subsequent paragraph in the bdy f yur paper shuld supprt yur thesis statement and prve yur claim. Fr mre infrmatin n Intrductins and Thesis Statements, see the Tutring Center s Intrductin and Thesis Statement handuts. Organizatin and Essay Structure As with ther types f academic writing, a literary analysis shuld adhere t the intrductin, bdy paragraphs, cnclusin mdel. Yur argument and yur vice must carry the weight in a literary analysis paper. Therefre, avid plt summary, and cnstruct a specific thesis statement that cnveys a claim that yu will prve in yur bdy paragraphs using textual evidence. Each paragraph must include tpic sentences, and these tpic sentences, as well as the cntent f each paragraph, must supprt the thesis statement. Even if yu incrprate research in yur paper, be sure that it supprts yur wn argument and des nt vertake yur vice and yur psitin. Writing Style and Vice Use frmal, academic dictin (wrd chice) in a literary analysis. Therefre, write in the third persn. First persn (I, BCCC Tutring Center Rev. 9/2015

3 me, ur, we, etc.) and secnd persn (yu, yur) are t infrmal fr academic writing, and mst literature prfessrs prefer students t write in third persn. Refer t yur specific assignment fr exact guidelines frm yur instructr. The Literary Present Literary wrks are cnsidered t exist in the present tense. As a result, in academic writing, it is expected that yu will write a literary analysis in the present tense. Differentiatin between Speaker and Authr Often in literature, the speaker is nt the authr. One aspect f literary analysis invlves explring the relatinship between authr and speaker. Carefully analyze pint f view and tne, and cnsider the impact f the text s cnstructin. Lking clsely at the rle f the speaker can help readers t understand hw the text is wrking. Questins t cnsider when explring the rle f the speaker: What persn is the piece written in? Is the narratr mniscient (des the narratr knw the thughts and feelings f all ther characters even if they have nt been expressed)? Is the narratr an active part f the stry, r are events being expressed frm utside the immediate actin? Hw can the authr s chices regarding the rle f the speaker r narratr affect the characters in the stry? Using Textual Evidence: Integrating Qutatins and Prper Citatins Effectively Always intrduce the text in the intrductin. Give a clear, full reference t the wrk and its authr smewhere in yur intrductry paragraph. Thrughut yur literary analysis, use the crrect frmat fr referring t the wrk yu are discussing. The titles f shrt stries, pems, and essays shuld be placed in qutatin marks; the titles f nvels, plays, films, and TV shws shuld be italicized. Pem- "My Last Duchess" Play- Antigne Shrt Stry- "The Secret Lin" Mvie- Frest Gump Nvel- Pride and Prejudice Televisin shw- The Simpsns Use qutatins sparingly. Remember that qutatins are meant t supprt yur argument. Therefre, saturating yur paper with veruse f qutatins will shift the reader s fcus away frm yur ideas. Use nly relevant qutatins t supprt yur claims, and limit quting t key statements and ideas. Integrate qutatins smthly. When yu use qutatins, wrk them int yur writing as smthly as pssible. This is ften referred t as embedding r sandwiching qutes. T d s, pay attentin t style and punctuatin. Use signal phrases, such as, accrding t r Grdn writes t intrduce a qutatin. It is best nt t end a paragraph with a qutatin. Yur wn interpretatin r analysis shuld always fllw a qutatin because, again, yur pints are the central fcus f this type f writing. See the fllwing examples f in-text qutatins and citatins: BCCC Tutring Center Rev. 9/2015

4 Example 1: In her essay The Ghsts f Ellis Island, Mary Grdn bserves, The minute I set ft upn the island I culd feel all that it std fr: insecurity, bedience, anxiety, dehumanizatin, the terrified and careful deference f the displaced (392). Grdn uses vivid imagery t blend the histrical perspective f the immigrant experience with her persnal pint f view that these new arrivals suffered a sense f prfund dispssessin. Wrk Cited Grdn, Mary. The Ghsts f Ellis Island. The Writer s Presence: A Pl f Readings. 3 rd ed. Ed. Dnald McQuade and Rbert Atwan. New Yrk and Bstn: Bedfrd/St. Martin s, Intrduce the qute t prvide cntext fr the reader. Include the title and authr if yu are using the surce fr the first time. Use a signal phrase t intrduce the qute (authr s name + verb). 2. Direct Qutatins and Paraphrasing Use a direct qute when an authr writes in specialized r particularly pwerful language and when such textual evidence enhances yur paper s argument. Be precise. D nt use a qute frm an utside surce (secndary surce) if it is nt well written r if yu can state the pint mre clearly in yur wn wrds. In that case, yu might summarize r paraphrase the authr s ideas. If yu summarize r paraphrase, yu must still cite the surce t credit the authr. Refer t the Tutring Center s Aviding Plagiarism handut fr additinal paraphrasing tips. Be sure t use prper punctuatin fr all qutatins and citatins. See the bx belw fr detailed explanatin f punctuatin rules. Yu can make use f paraphrase and summary when yu need the details f the riginal piece, but nt necessarily the wrds f the riginal. Paraphrase t put smene else's wrds int yur wn wrds. Paraphrasing will require a citatin. It is imprtant that the authr s ideas remain intact, even if yu present that message in yur wn wrds. 3. Yur Analysis / Interpretatin f the Qute Explain and discuss hw the quted material is significant. Relate the qute t yur purpse in yur paper. Demnstrate that this qute serves t make a particular pint in yur argument. Example 2: The fllwing excerpt is frm Jill May s article, Thery and textual Interpretatin: Children s Literature and Literary Criticism. Yung readers can uncnsciusly understand the signs and cdes placed in their illustratins and texts. Fr instance, Marilyn Apselff explains, Children can pre ver the pictures and create their wn narratives fr what is happening beynd the rhymes (qtd. in May 85). Wrk Cited May, Jill P. Thery and Textual Interpretatin: Children s Literature and Literary Criticism. The Jurnal f the Midwest Mdern Language Assciatin (1997): Print. BCCC Tutring Center Rev. 9/2015

5 Imprtant Frmatting and Punctuatin Ntes Eliminating Wrds r Lines frm a Qute: Yu must use ellipsis if yu mit any wrds frm the riginal surce yu are quting. Ellipsis can be used at the beginning, in the middle, r at the end f the qutatin, depending n where the missing wrds were riginally. Ellipsis is frmed by either three perids fr part f a sentence r fur t indicate the missin f a full sentence with a space between each perid. Use a single line f spaced perids t indicate the missin f an entire line f petry. Frmatting Blck Qutatins: 1. Prse qutatins lnger than fur lines shuld be set ff in blck qutes, indented ne inch frm the left margin and duble spaced, withut qutatin marks. 2. Petry qutatins lnger than three lines shuld be set ff as a blck qutatin, and duble spaced, withut qutatin marks. The line breaks and punctuatin shuld be as they appear in the riginal text. Cnsider that line breaks are an intentinal element f petry that can help t infrm the reader. Indicate page numbers fr prse and line numbers fr petry. 3. If yu have questins abut citing surces, ask them befre turning in yur paper. Ideally, make an appintment t see yur instructr and/r a Writing Tutr. Punctuating Qutatins and Citatins: Yu will be able t punctuate quted materials accurately if yu bserve the fllwing cnventins used in writing abut literature: 1. When the quted material is part f yur wn sentence, place perids and cmmas inside the qutatin marks. Ex. Mr. Jnes recunted in the cnversatin, He had never seen a mre brilliant prductin f a Shakespeare play. 2. When the quted material is part f yur wn sentence, but yu need t include a parenthetical reference t page r line numbers, place the perids and cmmas after the reference. Ex. Jnes described in Great Expectatins: America and the Baby Bm Generatin that demgraphic transitin thery, nt t mentin sund scilgical reasning, backed it up (17). 3. When the quted material is part f yur wn sentence and cntains a questin mark r exclamatin pint, the punctuatin appears befre the clsing qutatin mark. Then write the parenthetical citatin fllwed by the punctuatin clsing the sentence. Ex. The Duke shws his indignatin that the Duchess culd like everyne and everything when he says, "Sir, 'twas all ne!" (Brwning 25). 4. When the riginal material yu are quting already has qutatins marks (fr instance, dialg frm a shrt stry), yu must use single qutatin marks within the duble qutatin marks. Ex. Lengel tries t stp Sammy frm quitting by saying, Sammy, yu dn't want t d this t yur Mm and Dad'. Refer t the Center s citatin guides fr mre cmplete infrmatin abut hw t prperly incrprate and punctuate qutatins. BCCC Tutring Center Rev. 9/2015

6 Literary Analysis Checklist Is the tpic yu have chsen t write abut manageable fr the length f the paper yu are writing? Is it t narrw r t brad? D yu have enugh material frm the text t supprt sub-pints as well as yur thesis? Is yur title engaging? Des it suggest the apprach yu are taking in yur paper? Des yur first paragraph intrduce yur tpic, name the writer and the wrk, and end with yur thesis statement? Will it get the reader's attentin? Is yur thesis clear? Des it state the central idea f yur paper? Is yur paper rganized in a way that yur reader will be able t fllw? Are yur develpmental paragraphs unified (everything in the paragraph relates t the tpic f the paragraph) and cherent (everything in the paragraph is arranged in a lgical rder)? Have yu used transitinal wrds where necessary within each paragraph? Are there transitins linking all the paragraphs f yur essay? Des yur cncluding paragraph prvide a sense f clsure? Have yu used technical terms crrectly? Have yu used brief summary, paraphrase, specific details, and direct qutatins? Have yu explained why yu are using them and hw they supprt yur central idea? If yu have used infrmatin frm surces utside the actual wrk f literature (fr example, bks f criticism), have yu dcumented this infrmatin prperly? T prvide dcumentatin fr literary papers, yu need t use MLA dcumentatin style, which can fund in mst English handbks and in bks n hw t write research papers. Have yu prfread yur final draft? BCCC Tutring Center Rev. 9/2015