Literary Analysis Power Point
Writing a Literary Analysis
What Is Literary Analysis?
•
•
•
•
•
It’s literary.
It’s an analysis.
It’s
An Argument!
It may also involve research on and analysis of secondary sources.
How Is It “Literary”?
• Usually, a literary analysis will involve a discussion of a text as writing, thus the term literary, which means “having to do with letters.”
• This will involve the use of certain concepts that are very specifically associated with literature.
Important Literary Concepts
• The Basics
– Plot
– Setting
– Narration/point of view – Characterization
– Symbol
– Metaphor
– Genre
– Irony/ambiguity
• Other key concepts
– Historical context
– Social, political, economic contexts
– Ideology
– Multiple voices
– Various critical orientations – Literary theory
How Can I Learn More?
• There are various handbooks of literary terms available in most libraries.
• There are numerous introductions to literary criticism and theory that are widely available.
• Example: A Handbook to Literature.
Harmon/Holman
What Is an Analysis?
• An analysis of a literary work may discuss: – How the various components of an individual work relate to each other.
– How two separate literary works deal with similar concepts or forms.
– How concepts and forms in literary works relate to larger aesthetic, political, social, economic, or religious contexts.
How is Literary Analysis an
Argument?
• When writing a literary analysis, you will focus on specific attribute(s) of the text(s).
• When discussing these attributes, you will want to make sure that you are making a specific, arguable point (thesis) about these attributes.
• You will defend this point with reasons and evidence drawn from the text.
Which is the Best Thesis
Statement?
•
•
•
•
MobyDick is about the problem of evil.
MobyDick is boring and pointless.
MobyDick is about a big, white whale.
The use of “whiteness” in MobyDick illustrates the uncertainty about the meaning of life that Ishmael
What Is Literary Analysis?
•
•
•
•
•
It’s literary.
It’s an analysis.
It’s
An Argument!
It may also involve research on and analysis of secondary sources.
How Is It “Literary”?
• Usually, a literary analysis will involve a discussion of a text as writing, thus the term literary, which means “having to do with letters.”
• This will involve the use of certain concepts that are very specifically associated with literature.
Important Literary Concepts
• The Basics
– Plot
– Setting
– Narration/point of view – Characterization
– Symbol
– Metaphor
– Genre
– Irony/ambiguity
• Other key concepts
– Historical context
– Social, political, economic contexts
– Ideology
– Multiple voices
– Various critical orientations – Literary theory
How Can I Learn More?
• There are various handbooks of literary terms available in most libraries.
• There are numerous introductions to literary criticism and theory that are widely available.
• Example: A Handbook to Literature.
Harmon/Holman
What Is an Analysis?
• An analysis of a literary work may discuss: – How the various components of an individual work relate to each other.
– How two separate literary works deal with similar concepts or forms.
– How concepts and forms in literary works relate to larger aesthetic, political, social, economic, or religious contexts.
How is Literary Analysis an
Argument?
• When writing a literary analysis, you will focus on specific attribute(s) of the text(s).
• When discussing these attributes, you will want to make sure that you are making a specific, arguable point (thesis) about these attributes.
• You will defend this point with reasons and evidence drawn from the text.
Which is the Best Thesis
Statement?
•
•
•
•
MobyDick is about the problem of evil.
MobyDick is boring and pointless.
MobyDick is about a big, white whale.
The use of “whiteness” in MobyDick illustrates the uncertainty about the meaning of life that Ishmael