Honor’s literary analysis directions
1. Create a double entry journal. Log onto my webpage and download the
journal entries. Once you have filled it out, save it on your desktop or in a file.
You will be responsible for printing them out on the due date to turn in.
2. The left hand column of the double entry journal is the space you record key
quotes. You must have 3 key quotes per section. Your quotes must be in MLA
form. If it is a quote within a quote, then do that correctly. Put the author’s
name and page number with the quote.
3. The right hand column of the double entry journal explains why the quote is
key based on one of the following:
Theme
The story's ideas? Author's attitude towards those ideas? Author's "statement"
about those ideas? The story's message or main point? Your attitude?
Conflict (specify: man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. nature, man vs. society)
What people/forces/ideas/interests/values/institutions oppose
each
other? What decisions must the characters make? Between what two things is
he/she deciding? What do these things represent?
Characterization
What kinds of person/people are the character(s)? Their
beliefs/hopes/dreams/ideals/values/morals/fears/strengths/weaknesses/vices/
virtues/talents? How do they conduct themselves? What do they say and do to
reveal themselves? What do others say and do about them? What are your opinions
or feelings about them? Classifications of types of characters include: protagonist,
antagonist, foil, stereotype, flat, round, static, dynamic.
Figurative Language (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole)
Metaphor – a comparison not using like or as
Simile – a comparison using like or as
Personification – giving an inhuman object human qualities
Hyperbole – an extreme exaggeration
Symbolism
What concrete, specific objects have been used to represent abstract ideas? What
colors, names, settings, recurring objects have been referred to? What ideas do
these represent?
Setting
Setting refers to TIME and PLACE: Time: of day, year, era/age? Place: city, country?
Outside, inside? Rich and opulent or poor and simple? Stark and barren landscape?
Rainy or sunny? Beautiful or adversarial? Dark or light? Dangerous or safe? The
weather? How does all this affect meaning? What feelings (atmosphere) are evoked
just by the setting?
Style
The way the writer chooses to arrange his sentence structure (syntax) as well as the
words (diction) he chooses. What is the overall effect of the way he writes? Simple,
involved, poetic, colloquial, humorous, pedantic, child-like? How does it contribute
to the author’s message and the overall effect the author wishes to create?
Tone
The author’s attitude towards what (s)he is writing that translates into your
attitude: or -what is the feeling of the whole work and the writing/artist's craft?
Joyful? Melancholy?
Fatalistic? Angry? Peaceful? Scary? Mysterious?
Use a variety of those listed above. Do not list 5 conflict quotes in a row. I want
to see that you really ANALYZED your novel.
Remember, this is ENGLISH class. Read over ANYTHING you are turning in.
DUE DATE: March 7
EXAMPLE:
“The Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
“Now we come to the most important
thing. I’ve been thinking…We
want to have fun. And we want
to be rescued” (Golding 58).
This quote symbolizes how Ralph
is stuck between two courses of
action. He wants to be carefree
but he also wants to be
responsible and lead the younger
kids to safety. He is stuck between
the adult world, represented by
Piggy, and the world of childish
wants represented by Jack. It is
unclear as to which way he takes.