ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS
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Analyze- to break down; to examine carefully.
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Analysis writing- to break down a literary element or something that is not directly stated
in a piece of literature.
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Summary- simply restating the events that happened in a piece of literature.
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Your short story analysis is NOT a SUMMARY !!
OREO EFFECT
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Commentary – your thoughts; your thoughts about something. (top cookie)
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Support- textual evidence that supports your thoughts (crème filling)
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Explanation- explain the textual evidence. (Bottom cookie)
LITERARY ANALYSIS EXAMPLE
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Arthur Miller uses characterization in The Crucible to show how John Proctor is a tragic
hero. John Proctor exemplified many characteristics of a tragic hero throughout the play,
The Crucible. John was an honorable man and chose to die with his dignity. (top cookie).
In Act IV, he asserts “I’ve given you my soul; please leave me my name!” (Miller, 186).
(crème filling) This quote shows that even as John was about to be put to death, he
decided to go as respectful and honorable. (bottom cookie) He could have easily jumped
on the bandwagon of confessing to something that he did not do. This action shows just
how heroic John Proctor really was.
INTRODUCTION
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Introduce the story you are analyzing
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Briefly summarize the story but pertain it to the focus of your paper
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Lead to thesis statement (last sentence in intro paragraph) .
BASIC TIPS FOR WRITING A LITERARY ANALYSIS
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1. Write in present tense
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2. Write in 3 rd person
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3. Avoid summarizing the plot
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4. Clear thesis statement
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5. Use literary terms to discuss your points
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6. Do not confuse characters’ viewpoints with author’s viewpoints
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7. Support your points with quotes, but rely your paper’s argument with your words
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8. Form your own opinion. Do not rely on critics opinions.
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9. Cite all sources
LET’S PRACTICE THE OREO EFFECT
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TOPIC SENTENCE
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CM
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CD
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CM
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CM
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CD
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CM
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CONCLUSION SENTENCE
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Here is an example of literature commentary about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
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Sentence #1 (topic sentence): One technique Twain uses in the development of Huck’s selfdiscovery is pseudo-deaths or fake deaths.
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Sentence #2 (CM): Every time Huck supposedly dies he becomes another person. After tricking
Jim in the fog Huck realizes the feelings of Jim.
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Sentence #3 (CD): Jim says, “My heart wus mos’ broke bekase you wus los,’ en I didn’ k
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Yer no’ mo’ what becomes er me en de raf” (Twain 83).
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Sentence #4 (CM): A shedding of the childish, immature attitude seems to occur in Huck, and
this illustrates how he is beginning to view Jim as just another person rather than a slave.
One technique Twain uses in the development of Huck’s self-discovery is pseudodeaths or fake deaths. Every time Huck supposedly dies he becomes another person.
After tricking Jim in the fog Huck realizes the feelings of Jim. Jim says, “My heart wus
mos’ broke bekase you wus los,’ en I didn’ k Yer no’ mo’ what becomes er me en de raf”
(Twain 83). A shedding of the childish, immature attitude seems to occur in Huck, and
this illustrates how he is beginning to view Jim as just another person rather than a
slave.
BASIC TIPS FOR WRITING A LITERARY ANALYSIS
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1. Write in present tense
•
2. Write in 3 rd person
•
3. Avoid summarizing the plot
•
4. Clear thesis statement
•
5. Use literary terms to discuss your points
•
6. Do not confuse characters’ viewpoints with author’s viewpoints
•
7. Support your points with quotes, but rely your paper’s argument with your words
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8. Form your own opinion. Do not rely on critics opinions.
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9. Cite all sources
HOW WELL DID YOU DO?
• Answer the following questions:
• 1. How much time did you spend on this assignment?
• 2. Did you get help with any questions that you had about
this assignment?
• 3. How well do you think you did?
SHORT STORY ANALYSIS #1
• yellow highlighter means you have paid for turnitin.com
• Highlighted portions show your grammar and structural
mistakes
• I read the introduction and the 1 st body paragraph.
From these notes, the next paper will have these
mistakes corrected and any of these same mistakes in
the following body paragraphs and conclusion
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
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What do you gain from reading a criticism written by a literary scholar?
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How does analysis differ from summary?
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How do we incorporate expert opinions with our own?
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How do you state our opinions objectively?
BELL RINGER #11
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After reading some of the criticisms from the packet given to you last class period, how
have the critiques been similar or different than your essay?