critical literary essay how and why. critical literary essays provide students with the opportunity...
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Critical Literary EssayHow and Why
Critical Literary Essays Provide students with the opportunity to
look critically at literature and question what they are reading (and why).
Students can become empowered to take on, discuss, and question issues and themes that are interesting to them.
Starter critical questions to ask Who produced the text? What is the text about? Why was the text written this way? What are the implications of the authors
choices? Who and what is left out of the text?
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
Consider 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.
What constitutes a “secondary text”? A book or article that discusses the text
you are discussing A book or article that discusses a theory
related to the argument you are making A book or article that discusses the
social and historical context of the text you are discussing
Integrating Secondary sources When you use secondary sources, be sure
to show how they relate to your thesis/ argument
Don’t overuse any one secondary source, or for that matter, secondary sources in general
Remember that this is your paper, your argument—the secondary sources are just helping you out
Never, never, never plagiarize.
Introduction Introductions to critical literary essays
take the same form as introductions to any other expository essays. (start general and end specific)
Make sure to modify your opening, use judgment on the broadness of your introduction.
Introduction samples• Too broad:
A lot of authors have written about Shakespeare’s reconstruction theory in many different ways. Some of these authors think Shakespeare reconstructed drama and some think he was not original.
Direct Ann Petrusky, a writer of the 19th
century Shakespeare theory movement, explored the notion that Shakespeare meant to emulate classical Greek tragedies. In her article, she discusses the reconstructionist theory in relation to Shakespeare’s “Much Ado about Nothing”.
Always mention your secondary and primary
sources in your introduction, allowing
your broad statement to have a specific direction
Topic versus thesis A topic is the subject that you are
writing about. A thesis is a specific point you are
making about the topic. You should be able to say a thesis is true or false, it needs to be a provable theory.
Topic Thesis
Interpreting Shakespeare’s characters
While many write off Gertrude as a paltry secondary character in a overly ambitious play, it is apparent that her involvement….
How to go about creating this paper
Read the primary sourceRead the secondary sourceDon’t concentrate on the paper per se, ask yourself: How do I feel about these sources? Is there a reason I feel a specific way? Re-examine the primary source in relation to the argument presented by the questions you have asked.Decide which side you land on (basis for your thesis)Collect examplesStart to write
Ultimately, how deeply and elegantly you develop your literary thesis will depend on
how much you like and understand the material used. You will not always like the
material, but you can strive to comprehend it to the best of your ability.
This is your chance to tell the author/teacher how YOU feel about the
text and why.
MLA 2009Formatting and Style Guide
What does MLA regulate?MLA regulates:
Document Format
In-text citations
Works Cited
(a list of all sources
used in the paper)
MAJOR CHANGE:MLA Style now requires italicization for all
titles of books, journals, films, etc.
Formatting the 1st Page No title page
Double space everything
In the upper left corner of the 1st page, list your
name, your instructor's name, the course, and date
Center the paper title (use standard caps but no
underlining, italics, quote, or bold)
Create a header in the upper right corner at half
inch from the top and one inch from the right of the
page (include your last name and page number)
Sample first page
Indent everything after first line
Center title
Last page of essay
Alphabetical order
Books Basic Format:
Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of
Publication. Medium of Publication.
• Books with translation * Start out with the author's name and a period. The author's name
should be listed in the order of last name, first name, middle initial. Therefore, if the author's name is Gabriella Lupe Lopez, then your citation should begin: Lopez, Gabriella L.
Follow the author with the title of the book and another period. Add the name of the translator. The translator's name will be listed
with the first name first, and preceded by the abbreviation "Trans." End this part of the note with a period. If Jodine Lester translated the book, then the citation should now read: Lopez, Gabriella L. Suburban Culture in Brazil. Trans. Jodine
Lester.
In-Text Citations: the Basics MLA uses parenthetical citations
Parenthetical citations depend on the medium
(e.g. Print, Web, DVD)
Parenthetical citations also depend on the source’s
entry on the Works Cited page
Signal word in the text is the first thing in the
corresponding entry on the Works Cited page
Scholarly journals Article in Scholarly Journal Format:
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal
Volume.Issue (Year): pages. Medium of
publication.
Example: Duvall, John N. "The (Super)Marketplace of
Images: Televisionas Unmediated
Mediation in DeLillo's White Noise."
ArizonaQuarterly 50.3 (1994): 127- 53. Print.
Author-Page StyleIn-text Example:
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow
of powerful feelings" (263).
Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful
feelings" (Wordsworth 263). Wordsworth extensively explored the role of
emotion in the creative process (263).
Corresponding Works Cited Entry:
Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. London: Oxford
U.P., 1967. Print.
Print Source with AuthorIn-text Example:
Human beings have been described by Kenneth Burke as "symbol-using
animals" (3).
Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke
3).
Corresponding Works Cited Entry:
Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays
on Life, Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of California P,
1966. Print.
Short quotation examples (less than three lines)In-text Examples:
According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality"
(Foulkes 184), though others disagree.
According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of
personality" (184).
Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality"
(Foulkes 184)?
Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened there / That's all I
remember" (11-12).
Long text examples (indent & single space)In-text Example:
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her
narration:
They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room,
and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping
it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing
his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on
quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was
obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and
inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)