LITERARY ANALYSIS?
Basic Tips
It’s literary. It’s an analysis. It’s . . . literary analysis!
Think of literary analysis as an argument. It may also involve research on and analysis
of secondary sources.
Usually, literary analysis involves a discussion of a text as writing, thus the term literary,
which means ―having to do with letters.‖ This involves the use of certain concepts that
are specifically associated with literature. The purpose of literary analysis is to examine
and sometimes evaluate a work of literature or an aspect of a work of literature and
convince your reader that you have proven the point stated in your thesis. As with any
analysis, this requires you to break the subject down into its component parts.
The Basics
Plot
Setting
Narration/point of view
Characterization
Symbol
Metaphor
Genre
Irony/ambiguity
Other Key Concepts
Historical context
Social, political, economic contexts
Ideology
Multiple voices
Various critical orientations
Literary theory
For discussion of these concepts, there are various handbooks of literary terms
available in most libraries. Additionally, there are numerous introductions to literary
criticism and theory that are widely available.
An analysis of a literary work may discuss the following:
How the various components of an individual work relate to each other
(How do the parts work together to make the whole)
How two separate literary works deal with similar concepts or forms
(Similarities/differences between two or more works dealing with one idea)
How concepts and forms in literary works relate to larger aesthetic, political,
social, economic, or religious contexts. (How does it fit in our world or how does
it represent the human condition)
How is literary analysis an argument?
When writing a literary analysis, focus on specific attributes of the text(s).
When discussion these attributes, make sure that you are making a specific,
arguable point (thesis) about these attributes.
Defend this point with reasons and evidence drawn from the text (think like a
lawyer!)
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Thesis Statements:
Thesis statements tell your reader what to expect. A thesis statement is a restricted,
precisely worded declarative sentence that states the purpose of the essay – the thing
you are trying to prove. Following are thesis statements which could work for a 500-700
word literary analysis essay:
Gwendolyn Brooks’s 1960 poem, ―The Ballad of Rudolph Reed,‖ demonstrates how the poet uses
the conventional poetic form of the ballad to treat the unconventional poetic subject of racial
intolerance.
The fate of the main characters in Antigone illustrates the danger of excessive pride.
The imagery in DylanThomas’ poem, ―Fern Hill,‖ reveals the ambiguity of our relationship with
nature.
 Which is the best thesis statement?
Moby-Dick is about the problem of evil.
Moby-Dick is boring and pointless.
Moby-Dick is about a big, white whale.
The use of ―whiteness‖ in Moby-Dick illustrates the uncertainty about the
meaning of life that Ishmael expresses throughout the novel.
The last statement will make the best thesis and paper. The first statement, although
dealing with a large theme, is far too broad and vague for a college-level paper. The
middle two are not acceptable for a literary analysis.
The Introduction:
The introduction to a literary analysis should do all the same things it usually does: create
interest, provide background, orient the reader, and assert the purpose of the paper.
Be sure to include the title of the work of literature and the name of the author in the
introduction.
Following is a satisfactory introduction including the thesis statement:
The setting of John Updike’s story ―A & P‖ is crucial to our understanding of Sammy’s decision to
quit his job. Even though Sammy knows that his quitting will make life more difficult for him, he
instinctively insists upon rejecting what the A & P represents in the story. When he rings up a ―No Sale‖
and ―Saunter[s]‖ out of the store, Sammy leaves behind not only a job but the rigid state of mind
associated with the A & P. Although Sammy is the central character in the story and we learn much
about him, Updike seems to invest as much effort in describing the setting as he does Sammy. The title,
after all, is not ―Youthful Rebellion‖ or Sammy Quits‖ but ―A&P.‖ In fact, the setting is the antagonist of the
story and plays a role that is as important as Sammy’s.
Building support for your thesis statement:
Use examples from the text
Quotations - if you feel your reader will benefit from experiencing the exact words
of the text.
Summaries
Paraphrases
Other critics’ opinions
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Historical and social context
Read carefully, and as you do, highlight useful passages and quotes – annotate.
For example, looking at the Moby-Dick thesis, find instances in the book where the color
white is used and discuss how its use supports your assertion of Ishmael’s uncertainty
about the meaning of life. Evidence/support can come in several forms – see above.
Be sure to include only information that PROVES your thesis.
Body Paragraphs:
Each of the paragraphs of your essay should contain a topic sentence which states one
of the topics associated with your thesis, combined with some assertion about how the
topic will support the central idea. The purpose of the topic sentence is twofold:
1.
Tie the details of the paragraph to your thesis statement
2.
Tie the details of the paragraph together
The following paragraph provides strong support for the topic sentence by way of
quotation, summary, detail, and explanation. (Notice how it relates back to the thesis
statement we saw in the introductory paragraph example.)
Topic Sentence
Sammy’s descriptions of the A&P present a setting that is ugly,
monotonous, and rigidly regulated. We can identify with the uniformity Sammy
describes because we have all been in chain stores. The fluorescent light is as
blandly cool as the ―checkerboard green-and-cream rubber tile floor‖ (486).
Explanations and
Evidence
The ―usual traffic in the store moves in one direction (except for the swim
suited girls, who move against it), and everything is neatly organized and
categorized in tidy aisles. The dehumanizing routine of this environment is
suggested by Sammy’s offhand references to the typical shoppers as ―sheep,‖
―house slaves,‖ and ―pigs.‖ These regular customers seem to walk through the
store in a stupor; as Sammy tells us, not even dynamite could move them out
of their routine (485).
Following is an example of building support using a poem by W.H. Auden:
Specific tool used
by the author
and what you
want to prove
Throughout the entire poem, Auden relies on subtle
use of diction to persuade his readers that they should
Analysis of
the author’s
technique
become as cold and callous as the ―Old Masters‖ (1). By
using the term Old Masters, Auden is appealing to our sense
of authority—our sense that we should respect the view of
the Masters or experts, for ―they well understood‖ (2)
Smooth integration
of direct quote form
text.
suffering. The reader must question the logic behind that
appeal. Authorities in one field (art) are not necessarily
experts in another (suffering.)
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Analysis of
author’s appeal
to authority
Secondary sources:
A book or article that discusses the text you are working with
A book or article that discusses a theory related to the argument you are making
A book or article that discusses the social and historical context of the text with
which you are working.
Integrating secondary sources:
When using secondary sources, be sure to show how they relate to your thesis
Don’t overuse any one secondary source, or for that matter, secondary sources
in general
Remember that this is your paper, your argument – the secondary sources are
just helping you support your argument.
Never, ever, not even a little bit, plagiarize. If you are concerned about it, talk
with your instructor or the Writing Center tutor. Remember, it’s okay to use the
thoughts and ideas of others in your own writing AS LONG AS you document.
Claiming another’s thoughts or ideas as your own is plagiarism and is a serious
offense at any academic institution. TCC is no exception.
Some Things You’ll Want to Keep in Mind:

Assume your reader has read the work to which you are referring. It is not
necessary to explain or describe every detail – just refer to it.

Use the present tense when discussing and writing about literature – literary
works are considered to exist in the present.
Sources:
Bucks County Community College Online Writing Lab
TCC, SEC Writing Center, Sp 2004
University of Purdue Online Writing Lab
Utah Valley State College Writing Center
(Some examples quoted from websites)
Useful Websites:
Poem Analysis Checklist: http://www.bucks.edu/~tutor/poem%20checklist.htm
Literary Terms:
http://www.bucks.edu/~tutor/literms.htm
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