Part 4: THE CRITICAL LENS
Reading and Writing for Critical
Analysis
There is NO multiple-choice for this
section so take your time on the
writing.
This is the last section…you are almost
done. Stay focused, dig deep.
The Critical Lens
 What is your task?
 Write a critical essay in which you
discuss two works of literature
 In your essay, provide a valid
interpretation of the Critical lens
 Agree or disagree with the statement as
you have interpreted it
 Support your opinion using specific
references to appropriate literary
elements from the two works.
Development
 The ideas are elaborated using
SPECIFIC and RELEVANT evidence
 Did you use specific details from the
text?
 Did they support your main idea?
 Did you avoid plot summary?
 Did you include at least 5 (five)
paragraphs?
 Do those paragraphs explain the
relevance of Literary Elements as
Related to Your Thesis?
Organization
 Shape
 Did you have an Introduction, 3-4 body
paragraph(s), and Conclusion?
 Did you Include Your TAGs for Each Literary
Work
 Remember CIA-Thesis Format for Introduction
 Direction
 Did you state your point, then support it, then
conclude?
 Coherence
 Did you stay focused, use a wide range of
details, develop ideas clearly?
 Did you use transitional words and phrases?
Meaning
 The response shows:
 Sound understanding of the task
 Did you know what they asked?
 Interpretation
 Did you show you understood… AND
AVOIDED PERSONAL PRONOUNS?
 Analysis
 Did you discuss BOTH texts, not just
Summarize?
 Did you use at least 7 (seven) literary
elements throughout the Entire Essay?
Such as……..
TAG for Each Work You Study
Major Literary Elements such as:
Characterization
Theme
Conflict
Symbolism
STUDY Lens Review Packets
Go On Spark Notes to Review ANALYSIS Sections
Here is a chart that you could fill out for review:
title
author
Lord of William
the Flies Golding
character
s&
setting
summary &
symbols
theme
Ralph
Jack
Piggy
Simon
Roger
Boys crash on an
island; no adults; w/o
rules of society they
become increasingly
savage;
start to turn on each
other; Ralph tries to
stand up to Jack; the
boys are afraid of the
‘beast’; Piggy and
Simon are killed
It is man who is
capable of every
evilness.
symbols:
conch = law and order
fire = unchecked
power
glasses = wisdom or
understanding
Mankind’s path of
war / technology is
killing wisdom and
spirituality, without
which mankind will
be plunged into
savage destruction.
So first, read the quote..
“…the strongest man upon earth is he
who stands most alone.”
-Henrik Ibsen
“An Enemy of the People”
From Ghosts: An Enemy of the People: The Wild Duck,
1890
Then ask yourself, what do I think this means?
Take your time. Think about it. Write down some
thoughts on your scrap paper. BRAINSTORM!
“…the strongest man upon earth is he
who stands most alone.”
-Henrik Ibsen
“An Enemy of the People”
From Ghosts: An Enemy of the People: The Wild Duck, 1890
So what do you think?
(student sample): Those who are isolated in their lives
develop an inner strength that cannot be rivaled by the
more engaged in society.
Now agree or disagree with what you have decided it
means.
Decide what works of literature you can use to support
your opinion.
“…the strongest man upon earth is he who
stands most alone.”
-Henrik
Ibsen
“An Enemy of the People”
From Ghosts: An Enemy of the People: The Wild Duck, 1890
Select your titles and make some notes.
Lord of the Flies
William Golding
Character of Ralph
• wants to keep order
• isolated in sense and
wisdom
• strength to resist
• ends up standing
alone
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Character of Hester Prynne
* ostracized by society
ᇫ Symbol of Letter
* redemption through
sacrifice
* required great inner
strength
How to begin….
According to Henrick Ibsen, “The
strongest man upon earth is he who stands
most alone.” In other words, those who are
isolated in their lives develop an inner
strength that cannot be rivaled by those
more engaged in society. Loneliness can
challenge the human spirit to triumph over
adversity. This idea is clearly evident in the
novels The Lord of the Flies by William
Golding and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel
Hawthorne. In both of these works of
literature, the protagonists find a
tremendous degree of inner strength and
power as they drift farther away from being
considered accepted members of society.
Restate the Critical Lens
Interpret the quote:
State what you think
the quote is saying
BUT No Personal
Pronouns
Name and TAG
the two books
you are going to
use and their
authors
Make Thesis Statement
that includes both works.
Statement must be Specific,
Provable and Arguable.
Student Body Paragraph
In The Lord of Flies, William Golding depicts a
character in Ralph whose strength develops as he is
further ostrasized from society. On an island inhabited by a
large group of young children, Ralph attempts to establish a
civil form of life for the duration of their stay. Ralph is
characterized as a strong leader who establishes order on
the island, but as more and more children begin to follow
Jack, Ralph’s nemesis and antagonist, chaos erupts. Jack
and his savages wander the island, hunting pigs, setting up
forts, and ultimately ensuing the lives of true barbarians. As
fear of the symbolic “beastie” mounts, tensions on the island
elevate, and Jack’s followers increase in numbers due to a
desire for protection from what lies atop the island’s hills.
Ralph, on the other hand, finds himself isolated in his wisdom
and sensibility, both major themes in the novel. While all
other boys lose their senses of humanity, Ralph realizes that
fear, the true monster, exists within all of them.
Introduce title and
author, link to Critical
Lens
Specific details
about Ralph’s
Characterization –
Plus Theme and
Symbolism
Good language:
ostrasized,
nemesis,
espouses a more
savage form of life
Tyranny
Link to the
Interpretation to
the Critical Lens
CONGRATULATIONS!
 You have just finished the
REVIEW
 Good Luck !!
 XoXo, Ms. L <3