Short Story Analysis Essay
This assignment is worth 70 points
Introduction
Point-of-View
Setting
Characterization
Theme
Conclusion
Mechanics
10 Points
See requirements on next 2
pages
See requirements on next 2
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pages
Paragraphs are indented.
Quotations and citations are
formatted properly. 0 errors
in punctuation.
5 Points
Undeveloped or Missing 1
requirement from description
Undeveloped or Missing 1
requirement from description
Undeveloped or Missing 1
requirement from description
Undeveloped or Missing 1
requirement from description
Undeveloped or Missing 1
requirement from description
Undeveloped or Missing 1
requirement from description
Missing 1 10 point element
0 Points
Missing 2 or more
requirements
Missing 2 or more
requirements
Missing 2 or more
requirements
Missing 2 or more
requirements
Missing 2 or more
requirements
Missing 2 or more
requirements
Missing 2 or more 10
point elements
How to Write Your Analysis
Step One: Select your story.
Story and Author
“The Pit and the
Pendulum” Edgar Allan Poe
“To Build a Fire”
Jack London
“The Secret Life of Walter
Mitty” James Thurber
“The Handsomest Drowned
Man in the World”
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
“Game” Donald Barthelme
Page
279
546
Synopsis
A man wakes up in darkness, tied to a table, with a deadly pit below him
and razor sharp pendulum above him
A man. A dog. The Alaskan wilderness.
781
Walter Mitty finds escape from life in his own head
1008
The title pretty much says it all
973
It’s by Donald Barthelme (“The School” “Some of Us Had Been
Threatening Our Friend Colby”)
Step Two: Read your story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Step Three: Read your story again, and take notes on POV, Setting, Characterization, and
Theme. Note taking is an important skill no matter what you do after high school, but
especially so if you will be reading or studying texts.
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Step Four: Write your introduction. The introduction must include the title and author of your
story. It must also include a brief, one-sentence synopsis of your story (don’t steal mine).
Develop a thesis that your paper will follow (we will do this in class in case you are concerned).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Step Five: Write your support paragraphs. These topics can be in any order, and are not
limited to a single paragraph per topic. It is a good idea to use the strongest, most prevalent
topics first and last, with the weaker topics in the middle.
Point-of-View – this section of your paper needs to cover what the point-of-view is,
what the author gains and loses with this point-of-view and why it is important to your
story. Use examples from the text for evidence and refer to page numbers in our
textbook.
Setting – this section of your paper needs to cover what the setting is, its effect (creates
conflict, sets mood, etc.) and why it is important to the story. Use examples and page
numbers from the text.
Characterization – this section of your paper needs to cover the characterization of your
story’s main characters (no more than 2). Include character traits, whether the
character is flat/round, and whether the character is static/dynamic. Use examples and
page numbers from the text.
Theme – this section of your paper will cover a theme from your story. Explain what the
theme is (more than a single word or concept), and how the author develops the theme.
This section should use a lot of examples and quotes from the text, with page numbers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Step Six: Write Your Conclusion. The conclusion should wrap up your essay by trying to tie
together any common themes you have developed in your essay. Leave the reader with
something to think about. (We will cover conclusions in class)
Notes
POV
What is the pov?
Setting
What time and place is this story set in?
What is your evidence/proof?
Is the physical environment important (a room, for
example)?
What do we gain from this perspective?
Is there an important element of setting missing?
Does the setting set a mood or tone?
What do we lose from this perspective?
Does the setting create conflict? How?
How is the POV important?
Characterization
List your character’s traits
Theme
Ideas, symbols, concepts that are repeated:
Lessons you or the characters learn:
Flat or round?
What is your proof?
What is the theme?
How can you prove it?
Static or dynamic?
What is your proof?
Remember, no common phrases or single word
themes.