Literary Analysis Guide
How to Analyse Literature
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Literary Analysis Guide
Literature is a term used to describe a wide range of written material. Derived from the Latin
for ‘writing formed with letters’, the word ‘literature’ usually refers to creative works, such as
poetry, novels, short stories, plays and songs, rather than non-fiction texts.
Literary analysis means to closely study a text; interpreting themes and
ideas and exploring why the author made certain choices regarding
their use of language. When analysing a piece of literature, you are
putting the author’s choices under a microscope and exploring why
they have written what they have.
The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to analyse elements
such as figurative language and structure of the text to explain
how the author uses literary devices to convey ideas. Your writing
should take the form of an argumentative essay, not a summary
of the plot or a book review. You are exploring the ‘how’ and ‘why’
of a written text, not the ‘what’.
How to Structure an Essay
A well-written essay is organised into clear paragraphs, each with a specific purpose. Essays
and similar forms of academic writing follow a standard format and are made up of an
introduction, a main body where the main points are presented and a conclusion.
1
2
3
Introduction - tells the reader what your essay will be about.
Main Body - divided into several paragraphs, building up an
argument using evidence from the text.
Conclusion - clearly summarises the argument that you
have developed with your analysis in the main body
paragraphs. This has a clear link to the introduction and
are often both written last.
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Literary Analysis Guide
Literary Analysis Step One - Understanding
the Question
If you are asked to answer a specific question, you must make sure that you understand
exactly what the question is asking. A good literary analysis needs to be specific in its content,
therefore you must ensure you only include information that is relevant to the question being
asked. You will never be asked to write down absolutely everything that you know about a
text. Instead, you will need to interpret the requirement about one specific aspect of that text
raised by the question and keep your writing to that area of discussion only.
Command Words
Start by underlining or highlighting the key words or phrases in your question. Use the context
around each key word to help you understand what is required, for example, ‘discuss briefly’
or ‘ discuss in the context of…’
The context means the circumstances or situation behind an event, statement or idea. It is
sometimes difficult to understand the specific meaning of a word without this context.
Instruction or command words indicate what the assessor wants you to present in your written
assignment. It is vital that you understand the meanings of these command words so that you
can answer all parts of the essay question.
Here are some examples:
• Compare
• Contrast
• Describe
• Define
• Discuss
• Evaluate
• Explain
• Illustrate
• Justify
• Outline
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Literary Analysis Guide
Activity One:
Can you think of any other command words often used in essay questions?
Activity Two:
Students who understand the specific meanings of command words are in a better position to
answer any essay question they are presented with in a way required by the assessor.
To check you understand the meaning of these command words, match the following words to
their appropriate definitions.
Compare
Give the precise meaning. Examine the different possible
definitions.
Contrast
Examine how two or more things relate to each other.
Focus on similarities.
Describe
Make something plain and clear; give reasons for.
Define
Examine how two or more things relate to each other.
Focus on differences.
Discuss
Give a short description of the main points. Don’t include
minor details but give more of a summary.
Evaluate
Give a detailed, full account of the topic.
Explain
Assess the value of something; define and explain.
Illustrate
Investigate by writing an argument or debate; give
reasons both for and against.
Justify
Explain, clarify, make clear by using lots of concrete
examples and quotations.
Outline
Explain, with evidence, why something is the case,
answering the main reasons for your view as you go along.
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Question Analysis Top Tips
Literary Analysis Guide
The following steps can be used to analyse all essay questions, regardless of topic:
1
2
3
4
Read the whole question twice.
Look for topic words.
These tell you the specific topic or theme that you need to focus on.
Look for command words.
These tell you exactly what the assessor is asking you to do with the information
about a topic. Two or more command words in a question means that you will have
to answer each part of the question in order to produce a good essay.
Rewrite the question in your own words.
This step is good practice to make sure that you understand exactly what you are
being asked to do.
Literary Analysis Step Two - Close Reading
of the Text
To support your argument, you will need to include textual evidence - specific parts of the
text that demonstrate your point. Therefore, it is useful to skim through the text in search of
quotations relevant to the question before you start writing. You might not use everything you
find, you might still need to look for more textual evidence as you develop
your argument, but finding the bulk of your evidence before you
start writing will help you to organise your writing and make
your arguments sound authoritative and complete.
As you look through the text, make a note of the things
that are interesting or surprising - it is these elements
you can use as a basis for your analysis.
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Literary Analysis Guide
Here are the key elements about the language choices of the author that you should consider
as you read:
1. Narrative voice
• Who is telling the story?
• Is it a first-person narrative - written from their own point of view, using the
pronoun ‘I’?
• Is it a third-person narrative - from an outside point of view, seeing the events unfold
at a distance, using the pronoun ‘they’?
• How knowledgeable is the narrator? Do they know everything about the characters?
What are their motivations? Are they likely to be giving an unbiased account or could
their view be distorted?
• Has the narrator given you, the reader, more information than is known by the
characters in the story? Look out specifically for the use of dramatic irony - where
the reader’s understanding of events in a story is greater than that of its characters,
meaning that there is double meaning in the words, thoughts or actions of characters.
2. Tone
• What is the mood of the text? Is it solemn, emotional,
dark, full of suspense or is it upbeat and humorous?
Are there any specific quotations that illustrate this?
• How realistic is the story? Is it focused on reality?
Is it a fantasy? Or is it somewhere in between?
3. Structure
• How are sentences structured? Are they short and
to the point or are they long and verbose? Are there any
sentences that stand out because their structure is different to
the rest of the text? Are there many adjectives and adverbs or is the
text full of action words and fast moving?
• How is the overall text organised? Why has the author chosen to divide up the chapters
(novels), scenes (plays) or stanzas (poems) in the way that they have?
• Consider the use of time in the story. Do the events unfold in chronological order?
How has the author used past, present and future tense in their writing?
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Literary Analysis Guide
4. Literary Devices
• What language choices stand out as interesting or unusual? A literary device is
any language technique used by writers to communicate larger themes, ideas and
meaning in the writing. Pick out specific examples where the writer has played with the
language.
• Is there use of figurative language - where words are used to convey meaning beyond
the literal meaning of the text, to illustrate an image, meaning or idea - such as similes,
metaphors and idioms?
• Can you spot any imagery in the text - recurring images that create an atmosphere or
communicate an important message?
Literary Devices
There are many different ways in which a writer can play with words in order to communicate
themes and ideas in a piece of writing. Many of the techniques used by writers to play with
language have specific names. Below are examples of some of the most commonly used literary
devices found in literature.
Similes
A simile is a phrase or sentence which compares an object or person with something else, to
make a description more relatable to the reader. Key words to use are like and as.
Example:
The corridor was as dark as night.
Some well-known similes are:
as sharp as a pencil
as brave as a lion
like a raging bull
as fast as lightning
with the speed of a…
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Metaphors
Literary Analysis Guide
A metaphor is a phrase or sentence in which the author creates an image in the reader’s
mind by saying that a person or object is something else.
Key words to use are was and were.
Example:
The poisoned light dripped off everything it touched.
Some famous metaphors are:
‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely
players. They have their exits and their entrances.’
William Shakespeare, ‘As You Like It’
‘The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor[.]’
Alfred Noyes, ‘The Highwayman’
Personification
Personification usually involves an author describing a non-living object with verbs and
adjectives that make it seem as though it is alive.
Example:
Fresh rain tapped its fingertips on the roof.
Some famous metaphors are:
The trees whispered in the wind.
The flames licked the sides of the walls.
Even the walls seemed like
they were listening.
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Pathetic Fallacy
Literary Analysis Guide
Pathetic fallacy is everywhere, though you might not notice it often! It happens when a
writer makes the weather or setting match the mood of the story. Have you noticed how it is
often raining in movies during the saddest moments?
Example:
The inside of the cottage glowed with warmth and bright colours.
Can you match this weather to the most
appropriate atmosphere?
sunshine
mystery
mist
anger
heavy rain
happiness
thunderstorm
sadness
Oxymoron
Oxymoron is created by putting together two or more words which don’t usually belong
together but create an interesting mental image for the reader. They are often words with
very different, even opposite, meanings.
Example:
There was a deafening silence.
He was perfectly horrid.
The chocolate was awfully tasty.
A famous example of oxymoron is:
‘Parting is such sweet sorrow.’
William Shakespeare, ‘Romeo and Juliet’
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Onomatopoeia
Literary Analysis Guide
Onomatopoeia is a common form of figurative language, in which an author creates a sound
for the reader by using a word which physically makes the required sound when read.
Example:
The wolf threw him into a dank cell
and clanged the door shut.
crash
rumble
cackl
bang
e
click
roar
thump
whisper
smash
drip
knock
tap
patter
chirp
murm
ur
slap
How many examples of onomatopoeia
can you think of?
Alliteration
Alliteration is a well-known device in which
the author puts together two or more words with the same first letter. The words do not have
to be right next to one another. This helps to create a pleasant sound when the words are
read and adds to the atmosphere.
Example:
Marble pillars supported cool, shaded balconies and
clear, crystalline pools filled stone basins.
These ‘C’ sounds are crisp and clean and remind the reader of cold water.
A famous alliterative phrase is:
“I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation where they
will not be judged by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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These ‘C’ sounds are hard
and strong and help
the speaker to sound
determined and confident.
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Literary Analysis Guide
Assonance
Assonance is a useful device in which the author puts together words which have similar
vowel sounds. The words do not need to be right next to one another. This helps to create a
sound when read that supports the atmosphere.
Example:
Marble pillars supported cool, shaded balconies and clear,
crystalline pools filled stone basins.
These ‘oo’ sounds make the sentence relaxing and calm.
Can you think of another ‘oo’ word that
could be added to the sentence?
beautiful
smooth
blue
unusual
room
Hyperbole
A hyperbole is a phrase or sentence which uses exaggeration to emphasise a point. It is
often used to make something sound much more dramatic than it really is.
Example:
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!”
This is not meant to be taken literally – this person could not
actually eat a horse – but it emphasises how hungry they are.
Some more examples of hyperbole are:
“There’s enough food in the
cupboard to feed an entire army!”
“This is the worst day
of my life!”
“I love you to the moon
and back!”
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Literary Analysis Guide
Idiom
An idiom is a phrase that, when used as an expression, has a well-known meaning.
Example:
She got cold feet.
This doesn’t mean that the person literally has cold feet.
When used in this way, the generally accepted meaning is that the person decided
not to continue with something because they had doubts about it.
There are lots of idioms in the English language.
How many do you recognise below?
Do you know what they mean?
To cut corners.
To have bitten off more than you can chew.
Under the weather.
The best of both worlds.
Puns
A pun is a play on words, used in a humorous way. Puns take advantage of the fact that a
word or phrase can have different possible meanings or that two words can sound the same
but mean different things.
Example:
After hours of waiting for the bowling alley to open, we finally got the ball rolling.
Here, ‘got the ball rolling’ is a play on words because, as an expression, it
means to get something started. However, as the sentence also refers to a
bowling alley, it is a humorous play on the action of bowling as well.
Here are some more examples of puns.
Can you explain how they work?
Did you hear about the
lumberjack who couldn’t hack
it? They gave him the axe.
Why is it so wet in England?
Because many kings and
queens have reigned there.
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Jungle animals are very fair.
Cheetahs are always spotted.
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Literary Analysis Guide
Spoonerisms
A spoonerism is when a speaker mixes up the beginning sounds or letters from one word
with those from another word in their sentence. Often, this is done accidentally but the
results can be quite funny!
Example:
belly jeans (jelly beans)
They are named after a British man called Reverend William Archibald Spooner,
who used to do this quite often.
Some more examples of spoonerisms are:
flutter by
(butterfly)
I hit my bunny phone.
(I hit my funny bone.)
She has very mad banners.
(She has very bad manners.)
He delivered a blushing crow.
(He delivered a crushing blow.)
brunday sunch
(Sunday brunch)
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is when two contrasting things are placed together side by side in order to
highlight their differences. It is often used as a literary device to create themes, develop
characterisation, add suspense or invite readers to compare and contrast.
Example:
Making a mountain out of a molehill.
This is a famous proverb. It juxtaposes size by comparing a mountain,
which is enormous, to a molehill, which is very small. It means to blow a
problem way out of proportion by making it seem much worse than it actually is.
Some more examples of juxtaposition:
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
All’s fair in love and war.
Better late than never.
When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
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Allusion
Literary Analysis Guide
An allusion is used by writers to add famous quotes from books, mythology, life events or
poetry into their writing. It alludes to these things but does not elaborate on them. It helps
the reader to discover new ideas or literature within the body of a text. It creates a visual
image for the reader to highlight the meaning within the text.
Example:
Some well-known allusions are:
“Chocolate cake is my achilles heel”
• ‘Achilles heel’ comes from Greek Mythology. Achilles was a hero
and his ankle was said to be his one weakness.
• Chocolate cake is referred to as a weakness.
“He is such a Scrooge!” He never pays for tickets.
• Scrooge is a fictional character from Charles
Dickens’ famous novel, ‘A Christmas Carol’.
He was a miser who would not spend his money.
• ‘He’ is being referred to as a miser.
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Literary Analysis Guide
Activity Three:
Can you spot which literary device has been used in each of the examples in the cards on the
next few pages? Write the number of the example in the grid below. Alternatively, cut out the
cards and sort them into seven groups according to which literary device is featured.
Literary Device
Examples
Metaphor
Alliteration
Simile
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Idiom
Hyperbole
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Literary Analysis Guide
1. You’ve already
told me that story a
million times.
2. Peter Piper
picked a peck of
pickled pepper.
3. Bethany could
sleep through an
earthquake.
4. My bag
weights a tonne.
5. The spicy food
danced around my
taste buds.
6. The floorboards
moaned as I tiptoed
across the room.
7. The fabric
cascaded out of
the cupboard in a
rainbow of colours.
8. As the fighter jet
went supersonic,
a deep boom
was heard
across the sky.
9. Don’t you feel
well? You’re as
white as a ghost.
10. The champion’s
tennis racket
whooshed
as it sliced
through the air.
11. Good friends will
always stick up for
each other.
12. The models
beautiful teeth were
pearls in his smile.
13. Those new
Crispy Crunch
Cream biscuit bars
sound delicious!
14. The pool was so
cold I was surprised
that there weren’t
any penguins
swimming in it.
15. Wasps and flies
buzzed around
our picnic in
the garden.
16. You are the
sunshine of my life.
17. Tell me this joke
then - I’m all ears.
18. I rode down the
Red River on a raft.
19. The electric car
hummed to itself at
the traffic lights.
20. Ten
calculations!?
That will take days!
22. The steam train
hissed as it waited
in the station.
23. Tim, Sam
and Ali are great
friends; they’re
like the three
Musketeers.
24. The wind sighed
through the field
of wheat.
21. The bouncing
baby babbled as he
drank his bottle.
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Literary Analysis Guide
25. My brother and
I have to share the
new games console
because it cost an
arm and a leg.
26. Finally, my
temper exploded.
27. It was his
birthday and Dean
felt as happy as a
dog with two tails.
28. We gathered
green leaves in
the garden.
29. Doves cooed
softly in the trees
as evening fell.
30. The maths test
was a piece of cake.
31. Tyler’s room
is a tip.
32. We haven’t
got any plans for
Saturday - we’re
just going to play
it by ear.
33. The children
played in the
sandpit like a litter
of puppies.
34. The talking
usually drags on
for hours.
35. I passed the
times tables test
by the skin of
my teeth.
36. I smacked
my head on the
open door.
37. Scowling,
Sara stormed off
and slammed her
bedroom door.
38. Trying to get
you lot to agree is
like plaiting fog.
39. Dad was
almost as hairy as
a gorilla.
40. The FA Cup
is in the bag
for my team.
41. The single chair
sat miserably in the
corner of the room.
42. The TV
beckoned to me as
I struggled through
my maths work.
43. My mum’s got
eyes in the back of
her head.
44. Tom says he’s
stuck as regularly
as clockwork
45. Our new car
is faster than the
speed of light.
46. The magician
snapped her fingers
and my watch
disappeared.
49. The movie star’s
dazzling diamonds
were draped around
her neck.
48. The ivy hugged
the walls of the old
building tightly.
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Literary Analysis Step Three Decide What to Argue
Literary Analysis Guide
After you have looked closely at the text, you need to decide what your core argument is going
to be. This is sometimes known as the thesis statement.
Your thesis statement should answer the question that you have been asked to answer. Deciding
this before you start writing will give your essay a clear direction and prevent it from becoming
a list of observations.
The thesis statement should be an opinion that can be backed up with evidence from the text.
Your close reading of the text in step two should lead you to formulate how you want to
answer the question and decide what your core argument is going to be.
Themes and Ideas
Typically, several different themes are explored and interwoven
in a piece of literature. A theme is a subject or central idea that
has many applications beyond the scope of the literature or
the characters in a story.
A theme is an idea that people can relate to and apply to
the context of their own lives outside the reading of the
piece of literature. Themes are ideas that are common to
many human experiences.
Themes in literature are rarely explicit; you have to read
between the lines, think about the hidden messages
communicated through the author’s choice of language and join
the dots in order to identify them.
The best literature analysis essays examine how the themes presented in the written work
apply to people’s lives in the wider world. Your thesis statement should therefore also address
what the effect of the story is on its intended audience. How does the story apply to your
understanding of the world and the society in which you live? How have you been personally
affected by the ideas communicated in the piece of literature? Has your reading of the text
altered the way you think about a particular subject?
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Activity Four: Literature Theme Park
Literary Analysis Guide
Many theme parks around the world have used themes. This idea of theme parks can also be
used in literature as a basis to develop ideas in the text.
Have a go at designing a theme park based on your favourite book.
Planning process:
• Select an inspirational story - to explore your main theme.
• Identify what it is really about: the main theme and smaller themes.
• Create a ride or a zone for each theme – how can you bring the idea to life?
• Map it out – include explanatory annotations.
Pitch your theme park to a family member or friend. It is helpful to ask for an opinion on your
themes and links before you develop your ideas further. What may seem clear and logical to
you may not appear so to someone else. Ask them the following questions:
• Is it clear what the themes are?
• Is the pitch strong enough to entice you in - would you want to read the book?
Why/why not?
Literary Analysis Step Four Write an Introduction
In a literary analysis essay, the introductory paragraph will
need to outline your answer to the question.
Introductions should be:
• short - no longer than one paragraph
• focused on the essay question, statement,
title or topic
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Literary Analysis Guide
Exactly how you start your essay will depend on the question or title. However, there are some
general tips that you can follow that will help you write an effective introduction to any essay.
Tip 1: Catch the Reader’s Attention
An introduction will give the reader their first impression of your ideas. It is therefore useful
to spend time thinking and planning your opening sentence. Aim to grab the attention of
the reader. There are different ways to do this. You could use:
• a relevant quotation from the text that summarises your thesis statement
• a thesis statement that deliberately tries to surprise the reader
• literary techniques like alliteration or a rhetorical question
Tip 2: Provide Context
It can be useful to give some brief background to the essay in the introduction. This could be:
• historical - what point in time is the literature set in?
• location - what country, town or area is the literature about?
• societal - does the reader need to know anything about the society
or culture at the time?
Tip 3: Present Your Argument
This is the most important part of your introduction. An introduction should give the
reader an insight into your thoughts on the subject. The goal is to clearly outline your own
position in an argument or your central point in response to the question you have been
asked. This is also known as your thesis statement. You should briefly:
• introduce your main idea or key point
• highlight your other supporting points
You might want to explain or explore any interesting or ambiguous words from the essay
question that can be interpreted in different ways.
You should make it clear in your introduction what is interesting or important about the
topic you are going to discuss.
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Literary Analysis Guide
Things to Avoid in Your Introduction:
• Avoid using dictionary definitions for obvious words that everyone knows the meaning
of. Definitions should only be provided for key words where the exact meaning is open to
interpretation and you should explain in your own words what the term means to you.
• Avoid phrases like, ‘In this essay I’m going to write about…’ Phrases like this are
overused and not very interesting.
• Avoid a detailed analysis of the text in your introduction. The
point of an introduction is to be brief and specific. You will
explore the ideas in more detail later on in the essay.
• Avoid including irrelevant information. Stay focused on
the exact question you have been asked to answer.
It is often easier to write the introduction once you know how
the essay will develop so you include all the key points you
are about to make. The introduction must also link with
the conclusion at the end of your essay which is why
they are often best planned out together.
Activity Five:
Fill in the missing words to complete the passage below.
The paragraph of an essay is called the introduce the It can also and your interpretation of the . It should
your main ideas.
. An introduction
might also provide context and try to grab the attention of the reader.
It should not be too long or contain detailed or information.
attention
briefly
introduction
opening
question
background
clarify
irrelevant
outline
topic
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Literary Analysis Step Five Develop an Argument
Literary Analysis Guide
Once you have written an introduction to your essay, the next step is to write several paragraphs
that explore your ideas in more detail. The paragraphs in the main body of your essay should
include all the analysis and textual evidence in between the introduction and conclusion.
The number of paragraphs will depend on how many points you will make in response to
the question, however, a typical literary analysis essay will have at least three main body
paragraphs, plus the introduction and the conclusion. The length of the essay will also depend
on the time limit and word count of the assignment as it is prescribed.
The aim of the main body of the essay is to develop a clear argument, with well-explained
points, supported by evidence wherever possible. If you are writing an essay to analyse a piece
of literature, for example, you should use quotations from the text as your evidence. If you are
writing a history essay, for example, you would use facts and examples of historical events as
your supporting evidence.
A common method used to structure the main body paragraphs is the PEEL method.
PEEL stands for:
• Point
• Evidence
• Explanation
• Link
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Literary Analysis Guide
P
PEEL
oint
The first sentence of your paragraph states
the point or the topic of the paragraph. This
is sometimes also called the topic sentence.
It is important because it tells the reader
what the paragraph will be about.
For example:
First of all, plastic bags are disastrous for
our environment.
I believe dogs make better pets because they
encourage your family to be more active.
E
E
vidence
Next, you support your idea with
evidence or examples. Evidence adds more
credibility to your argument. The readers
will see you as knowledgeable and reliable.
Evidence could be data, expert opinions,
quotations or facts.
For example:
Studies show that shoppers use 500 billion
plastic shopping bags every year.
xplanation
Explain how and why your evidence
supports your point. Write one to three
sentences interpreting and explaining the
evidence and how it supports your point.
For example:
Many of these single-use bags are thrown
out and eventually end up in landfill or in
the ocean. Plastic bags leak toxic chemicals
into our oceans. In addition, sea animals
can ingest them as they mistake pieces of
litter for food.
As a result of this, pet owners need to
ensure their animals are getting the
exercise they need.
Vets recommend that dogs have between
30-120 minutes of activity every day
depending on their breed.
L
ink
The last sentence should link back to
your point in the first sentence or it can
transition to the next paragraph. The link
concludes the paragraph.
For example:
Reducing plastic bags would ensure less
rubbish is stored in landfill and it would
help to keep the oceans clean.
This would encourage families to be more
active and to exercise more.
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E
Evidence
Use evidence and
examples to support
your point of view.
P
Point
Clearly state
the topic of the
paragraph.
Explain how your
evidence and
examples support
your point of view.
Explanation
E
Use your final
sentence to link to
the next paragraph
or back to the
original question.
Link
L
Use the PEEL paragraph to make your writing more effective.
PEEL Paragraph
Literary Analysis Guide
PEEL Paragraph Example One
Literary Analysis Guide
First of all, plastic bags are disastrous for our environment. Studies show that shoppers use
500 billion plastic shopping bags every year. Many of these single-use bags are thrown out and
eventually end up in landfill or in the ocean. Plastic bags leak toxic chemicals into the ocean.
In addition, sea animals can ingest them as they mistake pieces of litter for food. Reducing
plastic bags would ensure less rubbish in landfill and help to keep the oceans clean.
PEEL Paragraph Example Two
I believe dogs make better pets because they encourage families to be more
active. Vets recommend that dogs should have between 30-120 minutes of
activity every day, depending on their breed. As a result of this, pet owners
need to ensure their dogs are getting the exercise they need. This would
encourage families to be more active and to exercise more.
Using Quotations
While the purpose of an essay is to present your own thoughts and opinions, in order to be
authoritative, you need to demonstrate objectivity by presenting evidence to support your
points. One way to evidence your views in an essay is to use quotations from the text you have
been asked to analyse or discuss.
It is important that you know how to use quotations correctly so you cannot be accused of
plagiarism - presenting someone else’s words as if they are your own.
Quotations should be brief. You should do most of the work to explain an idea in your own
words and use the quotation simply to support what you’ve said.
If you are studying literature, then you may need to quote words or phrases from the poem or
passage you are analysing or discussing. When using quotations, there are various rules that
you must follow.
• You must quote exactly, including any punctuation marks or spelling errors - copy the
quotation exactly as it is, without trying to correct any mistakes.
• Use single quotation marks ‘ ... ’ around the quoted words if you only wish to quote
a single word or phrase. Double quotation marks - also known as speech marks or
inverted commas - “ ... ” are used to punctuate quotations that are longer than a short
sentence. If the quote is longer than about three lines, it should be put in its own
paragraph and set in further from the margin.
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Literary Analysis Guide
• If you add a word of your own in the middle of a quotation to explain the meaning of
a particular word or to make the sentence make sense, then put square brackets [ ... ]
around it.
• If you leave out a word or phrase from a quotation to shorten it or include only the
relevant words, then show what you have done by including an ellipsis … where the
word or phrase was before being removed.
• It is common practice to introduce a quotation with either a comma or a colon.
One of the most common questions about using inverted commas (or quotation marks) is whether
the end-sentence punctuation goes inside or outside the quotes. In almost all circumstances,
punctuation should go inside the quote marks. Exceptions are when the quotation is very short
or one word.
Literary Analysis Step Six Write a Conclusion
To finish a literary analysis essay, you need to write a strong concluding
paragraph to summarise the points you have made and make your
answer to the original question unquestionably clear.
A conclusion is the final idea left with the reader at the end of an
essay. Without a concluding paragraph, it would be unclear whether the
original essay question has actually been answered. If you think of your
essay as a type of argument, where you are persuading the
reader to agree with a particular point of view, then the
purpose of the conclusion is to bring together the most
important aspects of your argument.
Many people lack confidence when it comes to writing a
conclusion to their essays, as it can be the hardest paragraph
to write well. One strategy some people prefer to use is to
write their concluding paragraph first along with their
introduction, before they start the detail in the main body
paragraphs. This ensures that the essay has a clear direction.
However, this is a matter of personal preference. You should
practise writing literary analysis essays and find the method
that works best for you.
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Literary Analysis Guide
To recap: The purpose of writing a conclusion is to summarise all the important points you
have detailed in your main body paragraphs, while also providing a clear and concise answer
to the original essay question. You should aim to show why the question and your answer
is important by asking yourself ‘so what?’ when writing the conclusion. A conclusion often
includes a final thought or reflection to highlight the importance of the essay question.
A conclusion should link back to the essay question and briefly restate your main points
drawing all your thoughts and ideas together so that they make sense and create a strong
lasting impression on the reader.
How to Write a Concluding Paragraph
The starting point for writing a conclusion is to look back at your introductory paragraph.
You can write something similar with different wording, making sure that you
have stated your answer to the essay question clearly in one or two sentences.
Keep your conclusion focused by linking back to the original question of the
essay. This can be achieved by using the key words from the essay question.
You also need to summarise your main points in your concluding paragraph,
such as the ideas that have led to your response to the question. If you
have followed the PEEL format for your main body paragraphs, you could
select the ‘point’ sentence from each paragraph and rewrite those into
your concluding paragraph. It is a good idea to try to reword the sentences,
otherwise your essay will come across as repetitive and
dull for the reader.
You should end your concluding paragraph by
answering the question: ‘so what?’ A great essay ends with
some sort of reflective statement where the importance
of the topic is highlighted. This shows the reader that
you have thought deeply about the topic in question and
considered its wider implications.
Literary Analysis Templates
Practise analysing various pieces of literature using the
templates on the following pages. These will help you to organise
your ideas and to structure a cohesive argumentative essay.
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• Can you find any examples of figurative
language or literary devices that are
relevant to the question?
Literary Devices:
that are relevant to the question?
4. Themes
3. Structure
2. Tone
1. Narrative
• What points can you make about the:
Close Reading of the Text:
• Is there context relevant to the question
that needs to be briefly explained?
• Are there any words in the question that
are open to interpretation?
• What is your response to the essay
question? Write in one sentence.
Introduction:
Literary Analysis Essay Plan
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Literary Analysis Guide
• What is the lasting effect on the reader?
• What is the importance of this question?
• What is your response to the essay
question? Rewrite using different wording
to the introduction.
Conclusion:
• List the main point for each of your
main body paragraphs - summarise in a
few words.
Main Body Paragraphs:
• What quotations can you pick out from the
text that support your argument?
Relevant Quotations:
Literary Analysis Essay Plan
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Literary Analysis Guide
• What is the context behind the literary work (relevant
to the question)?
• Are there any words from the question that require
further explanation?
• Is there a key quotation from the text that illustrates
this core argument?
• What is your core argument in one or two sentences?
Introduction
• Why is this important? How is this message relevant
for people today?
• Why have you come to this opinion? List the main
point of each of your main body paragraphs.
• What is your core argument or response to the
question (worded differently from your introduction)?
Conclusion
Introduction/Conclusion Plan
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Literary Analysis Guide
Explanation
Link
Explanation
Link
Point
Evidence
Explanation
Link
Point
Evidence
Explanation
Link
Main Body Paragraph 4
Evidence
Evidence
Main Body Paragraph 3
Point
Main Body Paragraph 2
Point
Main Body Paragraph 1
Main Body Paragraphs
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Literary Analysis Guide
but...
but
...
» as long as
» whereas
» disagree
» the evidence for
this suggests
» for instance
» some people do
not believe
and...
and
...
» claim that...
» a further point
» in addition
» moreover
so...
so
...
» I believe that
» in the end we decided
» the reason that
» the main
reason for this
» also
» the main reasons
against
» so
» after much thought
» furthermore
» this causes
» in conclusion
» although
» because of this
» finally
» one reason is
» thanks to this
» first of all
» many people believe
this is an important
issue because
because...
because
...
» when
» this results in
» as a result
» for instance
» after all
» consequently
» therefore
Cause
and effect
» in other words
» for example
Explaining /
listing
» anyway
» besides
Reinforcing /
in addition
» looking at it
another way
» in contrast
» instead
» but
» on the other hand
» nevertheless
» however
Opposition
just then
next
in due course
in the end
after that
later
finally
eventually
a month later
then...
then
...
» meanwhile
» concurrently
» simultaneously
Parallel (at the
same time)
» in the meantime
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
Following (afterwards)
Prior (at the beginning)
» at first
» before
» in the beginning
» until then
» up to that time
» firstly
Time
Conjunctions and other Connective Devices
Literary Analysis Guide
Imagery
Example of Use in Text
Symbolism/Theme
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Authors use recurring images to create a mood or underline a theme. Images are symbolic – they represent more than they seem
to be on the surface. Can you identify any imagery used by writers in literature you’ve been reading? What is the significance
or symbolism?
Exploring Themes
Literary Analysis Guide