Writing an Extended Literary
Analysis
A literary analysis presents a critical
understanding of a literary work or works.
**In a literary analysis you are NOT
repeating the plot or giving a “review” of
the short story or novel. You are looking at
the piece critically, analyzing and explaining
important aspects/specifics about the text.
The Basics
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This form of analysis should be based primarily on
your own interpretation of your subject. However…
Refer to important critics to support your main ideas
or to offer alternative interpretations.
An effective extended analysis synthesizes
information from multiple sources into a thoughtful,
unified essay.
You must cite directly from the text being discussed!
Use proper MLA documentation throughout your
paper. Be sure to include a works cited page at the
end as well.
(Authors last name, page number)
All papers should be at least 4 pages. (2000 words)
Getting Started
1. Establish a thorough understanding of your subject:
carefully read (and reread if necessary) the selected piece
of literature.
2. Think about features (possible focus points) from the
text that you could write about:
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Analysis of Theme
Analysis of Character (s)
Plot structure
Analysis of Setting
Symbolism
Analysis of Style
Interpretation
Analysis of Images/figurative language
3. Take notes to ensure comprehension of the text.
4. Make sure that you can support your focus with direct
references to the text. (MLA documentation)
Introduction
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Be sure to name the work and its author early in the
first part of the paper.
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“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the most wellknown novels of the Romantic era. The story is one that
has seeped into the popular imagination…”
Explain your points of interest. What are you
analyzing? What is your focus?
Start with a quotation from the book and then
comment upon its importance in terms of your focus
for the analysis.
Explain a possible disagreement, textural problem or
overall structural problem that you see with the text.
Express your praise for how the author may have
capitalized on a certain aspect of the piece.
Thesis statement should be clear and illustrate the
focus of your paper.
Body
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All paragraphs must support your thesis and work toward a
solution to the problem you have stated OR praise the area of
interest you have discussed in the introduction.
Be sure every paragraph has a unified topic which helps
develop your argument.
Use specific quotes and examples from the work you are
discussing.
Analyze characters carefully:
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What they do
What they say
How others treat them
How they treat other people
What others say about them
What the narrator says etc..
Isolate main issues and find words, lines, to justify your
emphasis.
Cite important critics who support your thesis.
Answer critics who argue against your thesis.
Use your best arguments and strongest examples last.
Conclusion
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Review the argument which you have
pursued and restate the thesis. Highlight
the importance of your argument. Leave
your reader feeling satisfied that you
know the material, discussed it fairly, and
argued your thesis convincingly.
Never end a paper with another critic’s
words or raise a question!
Go out with a direct statement in your
own words.