A compilation run through of basic literary analysis techniques intended for use with freshman composition students. Sources include the Bedford Guide for College Writers (Lottery examples).

1. Literary
Analysis
Some notes on writing a
literary analysis

2. ―We tell each other
stories in order to live.‖
—Joan Didion

3. Key Features: Language of the
Text
 Thekey to analyzing a text is looking
carefully at the language, which is the
foundation of the text’s meaning.
 Specific words, images, and metaphors are
where analysis begins.
 Contextual information, such as
cultural, historical, or biographical facts.

4. Key Features: Patterns or
Themes
 Literary
analyses are usually built on
evidence of meaningful patterns or
themes within a text or among several
texts.
 Patterns,
themes, and issues reveal
meaning.

5. Key Features: Evidence
 Literaryanalysis demonstrates the
plausibility of its thesis by using evidence
from the text.
 Your claims must be tied directly to the
text using:
 Quotes
 Paraphrases

6. Generating Ideas & Text
 Study the text with a critical eye.
 Go beyond initial reaction.
 Think about HOW THE TEXT WORKS.
 What does it say? How does it say it?
 Does the text lead you to think or feel a certain way?
What in the text makes you feel that way?
 How does the text fit into a particular context (of
history, culture, genre, etc.)?

7. Generating Ideas & Text
 Choose a method for analysis
 The text itself: Traces the development and expression
of themes, characters and language.
 Response as a reader: Explore the way the text affects
you or develops meanings as you read through it from
beginning to end. Notice how one element of the text
leads you to expect something, confirming earlier
suspicions or surprises.
 Context: Analyze text as part of a larger context—
time, place, history, culture, the author’s biography.
 Critical Review: How have others interpreted the text?
Do their views support yours? Use text and sources to
interpret themes, etc.

8. Generating Ideas & Text
 Find evidence: Treat a literary analysis like
any other argument. Discuss how the text
creates an effect or expresses a
theme, and then show evidence from the
text:
 Significant plot or structural elements
 Important characters
 Patterns of language
 Imagery
 Action

10. Thesis Statement
 Arguable Thesis
 A literary analysis is a form of argument. You
are arguing that your analysis/interpretation
of a literary work is valid. Your thesis, then
should be arguable.

11. Thesis Statement
 How to make a stronger thesis:
 Don’t focus on your general opinion of the
piece.
 What can we learn from the piece—about
America, about race, about childhood,
about coming of age?

12. Building a Thesis Statement
 Beginby identifying what about the text
you’re going to write:
 THEME?
In “The Lottery,” Shirley
Jackson reveals the theme.

13. Building a Thesis Statement
 OK.But what is the theme you want to
explore?
 Tradition?
In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson,
the theme is tradition.

14. Building a Thesis Statement
 Better!But still vague. You need to state
the theme more clearly.
 What is important or significant about
tradition in the story?
In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson,
one of the major themes is that
outmoded traditions can be
harmful.

15. Building a Thesis Statement
 Wow!
This is really getting good. But can
we make it clearer?
 What does outmoded mean? How are the
traditions harmful?
In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson,
one of the major themes is that
traditions that have lost their meaning
can still move people to act without
thinking.

16. Building a Thesis Statement
 Somuch better! But can you make this
arguable?
 What is your evaluation of Jackson’s
theme?
In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson
reveals the tragic theme that traditions
that have lost their meaning can still
move people to abnormal and
thoughtless action.

17. Building a Thesis Statement
 Welldone! How else might you organize
your thesis?
 Can you also preview the main points your
essay will consider?
In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson
effectively uses symbolism and irony
to reveal the theme that traditions that
have lost their meaning can still move
people to abnormal action.

18. Thesis Statement
 Weak vs. Strong
 Weak: Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is a
great American novel.
 Why is this weak? Remember that in any
essay, the thesis statement must answer a
specific question about your topic and
forecasts the content of your essay. This
statement is not specific and forecasts a
generalized, summary-style essay

19. Thesis Statement
 BetterWorking Thesis
 In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast
between life on the river and life on the shore.
 This is better; it focuses your analysis on specific
aspects of the piece.
 What is still missing is that specific question: SO WHAT?
 You need to ask, ―Why is this contrast important?
What does it signify?‖

20. Thesis Statement
 Strong thesis statement:
 Through its contrasting river and shore
scenes, Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests
that to find the true expression of American
democratic ideals, one must leave
"civilized" society and go back to nature.

21. Thesis Statement
 What makes it stronger?
 Clarifies why the contrast matters
 Presents an interpretation of a literary work
based on an analysis of its content

22. Thesis Statement
 Which is the best thesis statement?
 Moby-Dick is about the problem of evil.
 Moby-Dick is about a big, white whale.
 The use of ―whiteness‖ in Moby-Dick illustrates
the uncertainty about the meaning of life that
Ishmael expresses throughout the novel.

23. Thesis Statement
 Which is the better thesis statement?
 In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne struggles to
understand her daughter Pearl’s strange behavior.
 In The Scarlet Letter, Pearl may appear to be a living
embodiment of Hester’s sin, but her ultimate fate
suggests that she is an embodiment of true love, and
that her flaws are caused only by her father’s refusal
to claim her.

24. Assessing Thesis Statements
 Let’s Evaluate:
 Edgar Allen Poe’s work was affected
greatly by the current events of his life,
covering his family life, his childhood, and
his career; these events changed his style
and subject of his works.
 Does it work? What’s missing?

25. Assessing Thesis Statements
 Let’s Evaluate:
 There is a lot of symbolism in The Scarlet
Letter.
 Does it work? What’s missing?

26. Assessing Thesis Statements
 Let’s Evaluate:
 The character of Edward Bloom in Daniel
Wallace’s Big Fish is an unforgettable
character.
 Does it work? What’s missing?

27. Anatomy of Literary Analysis
 Introduction:
 As with the introductory paragraph of any
essay, the goals are to:
 Arouse interest in the reader
 Introduce the topic of the essay
 Include any background information
 State the essay’s thesis

28. Intro: Connecting & Engaging
 Focus on a character’s universal appeal:
How is the character like us?
 Focus on a theme’s universality: Where do
we see a major message in our own
world?
 Quote a striking or significant line from the
piece.
 Ask a question: ―Who would think that
…?‖ or ―Why would someone do …?‖

29. Intro: Providing Background
 At the very least, introduce the text and its
author.
 If appropriate to your thesis, include
context for the text (time period, author
bio, etc.)
 Summarize an important scene in the text
as representative of your thesis argument.

30. Intro: Thesis Statement
 Last sentence in the intro paragraph
 A single statement—not a question!
 Precisely worded
 Includes author’s name and the name of
the text
 Should be able to stand by itself as your
declaration of interpretation.

31. Body of the Essay
 The body paragraphs are where we
support our thesis.
 Must contain explanation of ideas and
evidence from the text:
 Summary
 Paraphrase
 Specific Details
 Direct Quotations

32. Body Paragraphs: Structure
 Each paragraph has a topic sentence.
 To tie the details of the paragraph to the
thesis.
 To Tie the details of the paragraph together

33. Body Paragraph: Structure
 Explanations
 Summaries
 Specific
Details
 Quotes and paraphrases

34. Body Paragraph
Possible Organization:
 Begin with topic sentence that states your
focus for the paragraph and ties to thesis.
 Make a ―universal‖ connection.
 Specific details and other evidence that
support your topic sentence.
 Concluding sentence that explains again
what all the details mean and why they’re
important.

35. The main affair that takes place in the book is
between Daisy and Gatsby. Having been separated
for years, their new time together is truly magical for
both of them. Both Daisy and Tom attend a party at
Gatsby’s home. Nick watches Gatsby and Daisy
dance with each other: ―I remembered being
surprised by his graceful, conservative fox trot – I had
never seen him dance before. Then they sauntered
over to my house and sat on the steps for a half hour
while at her request I remained watchfully in the
garden…‖ (112). Daisy leaves Tom for a long period
of the evening to be with Gatsby, a man Tom
doesn’t even know really anything about. Neither
Gatsby nor Daisy appear to care much about the
suspiciousness and bluntness of their behavior. This
attitude intensifies later in the book when Gatsby is
at Daisy’s, and as Tom leaves the room, ―she got up
and went over to Gatsby, and pulled his face down,
kissing him on the mouth‖ (122). She is not afraid to
show public affection toward Gatsby, even so close
to her husband. This is because although she has
vowed her commitment to her husband, she really
seems to love Gatsby, and not Tom.

36. Conclusion
 Restate your thesis—IN DIFFERENT WORDS.
 Don’tjust summarize the big points in your
essay, but also suggest why they’re
important, what we can learn from them,
the text, etc.
 Draw connections between the text and
―real‖ life or other contexts.