Literary Analysis

Mack Gipson, Jr.

Tutorial and Enrichment Center

Gayla S. Keesee

Education Specialist

Literature focuses on the search for reasons, values, and interpretations in all areas of human interest and experience.

Because literature presents us with more than one possible meaning, interpreting

literature requires more care and attention than does responding to an essay.

Read slowly and carefully.

Plan on reading the work several times.

Ask questions to establish the literal meaning first; then work on interpretation.

Annotate as you read.

Identify themes and patterns.

How to proceed

An analysis explains what a work of literature means, and

how it means it.

Critical Thinking and Reading

Responding to literature with a critical temperament means always being willing to analyze, interpret,

question, synthesize, and evaluate.

Critical Thinking and Reading

ANALYZE What does the passage mean, literally?

INTERPRET: What does it mean figuratively? Are there symbolic overtones? Can it mean more than one thing? What passages in the text lead you to believe this

is a valid interpretation?

Critical Thinking and Reading

QUESTION: What problems are suggested by the reading? What's confusing? If you had the author here, what would you ask? What philosophical question(s) does the reading

inspire?

Critical Thinking and Reading

SYNTHESIZE: How does this reading compare or contrast what

you’ve read previously? How does it fit into your scheme, either

thematically or formally?

Critical Thinking and Reading

EVALUATE: Is it a first rate piece of writing or fifth rate piece of

writing? What criteria do you use to establish this

judgment? If you are evaluating a poem, for instance, what

defines a first rate poem? How does this particular poem match up to that

standard? Can you point to the exact places in the text to

support your reading?

What is Literary Analysis?

It’s literary

It’s an analysis

It’s—

An Argument!

Uses evidence from the text

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

How to Analyze a Story

• Essential Elements of the Story• Structure of the Story• Rhetorical Elements• Meaning of the Story

How to Analyze a Story

Essential Elements of the StoryPlot: Relationship and patterns of eventsCharacters: people the author creates

Including the narrator of a story or the speaker of a poem

Setting: when and where the action happensPoint of View: perspective or attitude of the

narrator or speakerTheme: main idea—what the work adds up to

PlotExposition: Introductory material giving setting, tone, charactersRising Action: series of complications leading up to the climaxConflict: Person vs…Person, Nature, Society, Supernatural, SelfCrisis/Climax: Turning point in the conflict—moment of highest interest and/or emotionFalling Action: Events after the climax which close the story.Resolution (Denouement): Concludes the action

Introduction

RisingAction

Crisis/Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

Plot Sequence

Complications leading to Conflict(s)

Characterization

ProtagonistMain character

AntagonistCharacter or force that opposes the main character

FoilCharacter that provides a contrast to the protagonist

RoundThree-dimensional personality

FlatOnly one or two striking qualities—all bad or all good

DynamicGrows and progress to a higher level of understanding

StaticRemain unchanged throughout the story

Point of View

First Person Narrator is a character within the story—reveals own

thoughts and feelings but not those of others

Third Person Objective: narrator outside the story acts as a reporter

—cannot tell what characters are thinking Limited: narrator outside the story but can see into the

mind of one of the characters Omniscient: narrator is all-knowing outsider who can

enter the mind of more than one character.

Setting

Time period

Geographical location

Historical and cultural context Social Political Spiritual

Instrumental in establishing mood

May symbolizes the emotional state of characters

Impact on characters’ motivations and options

Theme

Main idea or underlying meaning of the literary work.What the author wants the reader to

understand about the subject In fables, this may also be the moral of the

story

Common Themes in Literature

Questions, issues or problems: what is right or wrong; good or bad; worthwhile or unimportant

Abstract ideas: love, death, honor

Conflicts: freedom vs. restraint, poverty vs. wealth

Common topics: self-realization, mortality, fall from innocence, search for the meaning of life.

How to Analyze a Story

Structure of the Story: design or form of the completed actionMay philosophically mirror the author’s

intentionsHow the author uses the elements of the

story to reveal his/her themeLook for repeated elements in action,

gestures, dialogue, description as well as shifts in direction, focus, time, place, etc.

How to Analyze a StoryRhetorical Elements: Identify the author’s use and explain their importanceForeshadowing

Use of hints or clues to suggest event that will occur later in the story

Builds suspense—means of making the narrative more believable

ToneAuthor’s attitude—stated or implied—toward the

subjectRevealed through word choice and details

Rhetorical Elements

MoodClimate of feeling in a literary workChoice of setting, objects, details, images,

words

SymbolismPerson, place, object which stand for larger

and more abstract ideasAmerican flag = freedomDove = peace

Rhetorical Elements

Irony: contrast between what is expected or what appears to be and what actually isVerbal Irony—contrast between what is

said and what is actually meant Irony of Situation—an event that is the

opposite of what is expected or intendedDramatic Irony—Audience or reader knows

more than the characters know

Rhetorical Elements

Figurative Language: language that goes beyond the literal meaning of wordsSimileMetaphorPersonificationOxymoronHyperbole

How to Analyze a Story

Meaning of the Story (Interpretation) Identify the theme(s) and how the author

announces it.Explain how the story elements contribute to

the theme. Identify contextual elements (allusions,

symbols, other devices) that point beyond the story to the author’s life/experience, history or to other writings.

How do I support a thesis statement?

Examples from the textDirect quotationsSummaries of scenes/actionParaphrases

Other critics’ opinions

Historical and social context

Supporting Your Thesis

The Text (Primary Source)As you write, consistently refer to the text

to support your purpose.Use the author’s own words—quotes.No right or wrong interpretation as long as

you can support it from the text.

Secondary SourcesLiterary Criticism