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 ThesisInterpreting 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 FormatIn-text citationsWorks 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)