Writing the Literary Analysis Paper
Thinking about Your Topic
The literary
analysis paper is meant to gauge your understanding of what you have read,
to demonstrate your ability to evaluate the literary elements of the text,
and to communicate your ideas in a manner appropriate in a college
freshman-level essay.Your interpretation should come from your own reading
and thinking about the workânot from a critical or literary analyses you have
read about it. The following questions will help you find and explore a topic
for analysis. I recommend keeping these questions in mind as your read.
- Do you like the text? What, specifically, do you
like or dislike about it?
- Do you like or dislike any of the characters? Make
a list of the characters who made an impression on you, and say why you like
or dislike them.
- Do you identify with any of the characters? Which
ones? Why?
- What recurring images or objects did you notice in
the text? What might they mean?
- What is the title of the text, and why did the
author choose that title?
- Who is "telling" the story? Why did the author
select this character to tell the story? How would the story be different if
told from someone else's point of view?
- Why might the author have written this text?
Developing a Thesis
After you have answered the questions for "Thinking
about your Topic," think about which of those questions interested you the most?
Your answer to that question is your thesis. You may need to rewrite the answer
as a concise and affirmative thesis statement.
- What is your thesis statement?
- Is the thesis complex enough to allow for a
reasonable and lengthy argument?
- Is there sufficient evidence in the text to
support this thesis?
Gathering the Evidence
Search the text for evidence to support your thesis.
You should be looking for passages in the text that are relevant to your
argument.
- 1st Piece of Evidence: Briefly note relevant
textual evidence from the literary work that you plan to quote or paraphrase
to support your argument.
- 2nd Piece of Evidence: Briefly note relevant
textual evidence from the literary work that you plan to quote or paraphrase
to support your argument.
- 3rd Piece of Evidence: Briefly note relevant
textual evidence from the literary work that you plan to quote or paraphrase
to support your argument.
- Etc. -- More is always better when it comes to
evidence.
Writing the Paper
-
In the first paragraph
-
Each body paragraph should develop a single argument.
-
You should have at least one quote or paraphrased
passage per body paragraph.
-
Keep in mind the following:
- Write what you know and
feel, not what you think somebody wants to hear.
- Pause now and then to
rethink the direction of the paper.
- Write portions of the
paper when you are ready; if necessary, leave blank spots on the page to
remind you that more evidence will be required.
- Initial drafts are
attempts to get words on the page rather than to create a polished
document; write without fear or delay.
- Cite the names of the
sources in your text.
- Enclose quotations in
the text.
- Supply page numbers to
the sources.