Writing a Literary Analysis
Character Analysis (for example, but this
would apply to whatever you’ve chosen to analyze)
While reading a story, choose a character that you like or that
you can identify with. As you read, take notes about your
character in regards to the following considerations:
• Character – static or dynamic?
• Conflict – internal or external or both?
• Complications he/she faces
• Involvement in climax of the story
• Motivations
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Figurative language used by the character
• Other characters’ perception of your character
Write a Thesis Statement
From the information you have gathered about your
character, write a statement about him/her that
coincides with what you’ve discovered. It should be
written in third person and in present tense.
EX: Jay Gatsby’s naivety is the tragic flaw that ultimately
prevents him from achieving his American Dream.
Introductory Paragraph
After you have written your thesis, you can write your
introductory paragraph, which can include a brief plot
summary that is relevant to the characterization of
your character. It MUST include the author’s name
and title of the work as well.
EX:
What is the American Dream and how does one go
about achieving it? Many things may determine an individual’s
fulfillment of his dream; perhaps it is measured by social status,
personal wealth or success in a chosen career. And the means
by which he achieves his goals may include discipline, ambition
and perseverance. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald,
Jay Gatsby is the protagonist in search of his American Dream.
Unfortunately for him, the one piece of it that he is missing is
something he can never have; throughout the novel, he is
completely unaware that Daisy is not the dream girl he created
in his own mind when they met before the war. Jay Gatsby’s
naivety is the tragic flaw that ultimately prevents him from
achieving his American Dream.
Incorporating Evidence from the
Text to Support Your Thesis
Now you will need to look through the literature to find
a quote/passage that SUPPORTS YOUR THESIS! This
can include:
• An observation made by the narrator or another
character
• Something your character says/does
• Something another character says/does in response to
your character
EX: If my thesis is:
Jay Gatsby’s naivety is the tragic flaw that ultimately prevents him from achieving his
American Dream.
Then which of the following evidence (quotes) from the text would BEST support it?
a) “In the Argonne Forest I took two machine-gun detachments so far forward that there
was a half mile gap on either side of us where the infantry couldn’t advance” (Fitzgerald
66).
b) “There must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not
through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone
beyond her, beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 101).
c) “Now and then she moved and he changed his arm a little, and once he kissed her
dark shining hair” (Fitzgerald 150).
d) “….-and I was looking at an elegant young roughneck, a year or two over thirty, whose
elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd” (Fitzgerald 48).
Since I would be looking for evidence in the text that
illustrates Gatsby’s naivety, choice (b) would be the
best one:
“There must have been moments when Daisy tumbled
short of his dreams-not through her own fault but
because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had
gone beyond her, beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 101).
Now that you have your evidence (Data), you must
incorporate it successfully and with analysis (Warrant).
Following these 3 steps will be helpful:
#1. Introduce your quote with brief explanation of
why it is relevant:
EX:
When Gatsby met Daisy Fay in October of 1917,
he knew he had found the woman of his dreams.
Daisy was beautiful, popular and wealthy;
characteristics Gatsby deemed necessary qualities in
his future wife. However, when the call to war
separated them, five years passed before they would
meet again, but Gatsby was persistent in his ideal.
#2. Next, add your quote, which should always
be introduced by something like “Nick observes,”
or “Tom says,”
EX:
When they reunite for the first time, Nick
observes that, “there must have been moments
when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not
through her own fault but because of the colossal
vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her,
beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 101).
#3. And finally, include the analysis. Explain how the
quote you selected proves your point (supports your
thesis).
EX:
Nick uses words like “dreams” and “colossal”
specifically to illustrate the significance of Gatsby’s loss
of touch with reality. Gatsby set himself up for failure
by foolishly counting on Daisy to wait for him and
marry for love. Because he made her a necessary part
of his American Dream, he was bound to fall short of
achieving it.
All together, it looks like this:
What is the American Dream and how does one go about achieving it? Many
things may determine an individual’s fulfillment of his dream; perhaps it is measured by
social status, personal wealth or success in a chosen career. And the means by which he
achieves his goals may include discipline, ambition and perseverance. In The Great
Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is the protagonist in search of his American
Dream. Unfortunately for him, the one piece of it that he is missing is something he can
never have; throughout the novel, he is completely unaware that Daisy is not the dream
girl he created in his own mind when they met before the war. Jay Gatsby’s naivety is
the tragic flaw that ultimately prevents him from achieving his American Dream.
When Gatsby met Daisy Fay in October of 1917, he knew he had found the
woman of his dreams. Daisy was beautiful, popular and wealthy; characteristics Gatsby
deemed necessary qualities in his future wife. However, when the call to war separated
them, five years passed before they would meet again, but Gatsby was persistent in his
ideal. When they reunite for the first time, Nick observes that, “there must have been
moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not through her own fault but
because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond
everything” (Fitzgerald 101). Nick uses words like “dreams” and “colossal” specifically to
illustrate the significance of Gatsby’s loss of touch with reality. Gatsby set himself up for
failure by foolishly counting on Daisy to wait for him and marry for love. Because he
made her a necessary part of his American Dream, he was bound to fall short of
achieving it.