Literary Analysis Essays

Odysseus is an EPIC hero!He’s holding on till the end of the night.He’s gotta be strong, He’s gotta be fast,He’s gotta be larger than life!

Your Splendid Introduction

• 3 Key Parts

• An OPENING to capture the reader’s attention

• Your (the point you will prove in your essay)

• Outline the main points of your essay (what you will talk about in your body paragraphs)

Thesis

Title and Author

• You must include the title and author in your introduction

Homer

The Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer **Sample Introduction

• Epic heroes must represent the values and beliefs of a culture. In The Odyssey by Homer Odysseus proves himself worthy of the title epic hero. He does this by being both brave and clever.

Introduction

• Quote, Statement or Question

• ______________________________

• Thesis- In “The Odyssey” by Homer Odysseus proves himself to be an epic hero by being both ______ & ______.

• Outline key points.

• Odysseus had to be ____ when. He had to show ____ because ________.

Body Paragraphs

• Topic Sentences- the first sentence in

your body paragraph. It MUST havecommentary (your opinion) Topic Sentences

tell your reader what your paragraph will be about

If my essay was about how Harry Potter is a fabulous hero because he is good at quidditch and defeats “he who must not be named” what are some sample topic sentences for my paragraph on quidditch?

Topic Sentences- the good, the Topic Sentences- the good, the bad and the uglybad and the ugly

• Good Example- Harry Potter is by far the is by far the best quidditchbest quidditch player at Hogwarts

• Bad example- Harry Potter plays quidditch.

• Ugly example- I love Harry Potter! (this has nothing to do with your thesis)

The Odyssey

• Topic Sentences- If my essay is about Odysseus being brave and clever. One body paragraph is on him being brave.

Odysseus shows he is an epic hero by being brave in many dangerous situations throughout The Odyssey.

Remember topic Sentences- are the first Remember topic Sentences- are the first sentences of your body paragraph. sentences of your body paragraph. They include a subject and an opinion.They include a subject and an opinion.They do NOT include specific facts!They do NOT include specific facts!

Now in your row come up with a sample topic sentencefor a body paragraph on Odysseus

Concrete Details

Concrete Details= your EVIDENCE. CDs (concrete details)are quotes or facts from the story that you will use to prove your topic sentence.

Concrete detail sentences present examples that supportwhat you said in your topic sentence

Concrete Details

• Harry Potter often captures the golden snitch winning the game for Gryffindor.

* One exampleOne example of Odysseus’s bravery is when he goes to find his men who have been turned into pigs by Circe

This is an example of why HP is an excellent quidditch player.

Transitions

• Transitions are words that go in

Of your concrete details

One example, First, Another One example, First, Another example, For instance, In example, For instance, In additionaddition,

FRONT

Commentary- your opinion and analysis

• Commentary is your opinion and analysis of your concrete detail.

The job of commentary is to PROVE how your Concrete detail proves your topic sentenceWhen you write commentary, you are Commenting on how the concrete detail proves the truth of your topic sentence

Commentary is the WHY or the FEELINGSWhy did Odysseus do something? Or how do you imagine he felt?

Commentary Help

• Commentaries are to add analysis and insight to your CDs.

Insight and analysis = something I don’t already know

Evil/Bad Commentary- Odysseus was brave when he traveled to Hell to meet Tiesias.

This states the obvious! Of course you have to be brave if you are goingInto Hell. Tell me something I don’t know!

Fabulous Commentary- Odysseus felt it was hopeless, he was still willing to travel to Hell because of his love of Penelope was worth the danger

The job of commentary is to show how your CD proves your topic

sentence • One example of

Odysseus being brave is when he goes to rescue his men, who have been turned into pigs, from the Goddess Circe

This shows that Odysseus could have just left thembehind, but he would have felt guilty and plus Odysseus likes to play the hero. Odysseus was probably afraid, but he knewit was his fault his men where turned into pigs so it was his jobto save them.

Magical List of Commentary Starters

Obviously, This means, This example shows, It is clear that, It seems like, Most would agree

that, It is as if, This example reveals, This illustrates that, This proves that,

Commentary starters go in front of your commentary. Remember the whole point of commentary is to ANALYZE your CDs. Tell me why/how your CDs prove your topic sentence!

Organizing your Essay

• Introduction

• Body Paragraph

• Conclusion

Hook, Thesis, Outline your main points

TS (topic sentence)CD (concrete detail – don’t forget your transition*)CM-commentary (analyze not summarize)CDCMCDCMCS- concluding sentence

Restate your thesis, summarize your main ideas,closing statement/idea

The End!Time to write your fabulous essay!

You are a hero! You are brilliant! You can and willWrite a fabulous essay!