Story Analysis

H101 LITERATURE. Critical-Creative Analysis of a STORY. Assignment. Choose one story or fictional excerpt from the links provided on the Week 7 Discussion page to write your own analysis of it. Aim: Develop your close reading, critical, interpretive, and expansive thinking abilities by answering prompts in STEPs II + III. Note: No outside research, necessary - I want to hear what you have to say. If you quote someone else, be sure to use quotations marks, and credit your sources - avoid even the appearance of plagiarism. Length: 400 to ~ 500 words. Earn 15 points for analysis, plus 5 points for substantial replies to two students, including one or more on a different story (75 words each). Add, in each reply, a friendly suggestion for development or improvement. Post by the assigned due dates.

STEP I. Save a copy of these instructions to your Humanities Folder. Read instructions through, two or more times. On a blank document, type your Humanities header, with your name and section number.

Open the links on the Week 7 Discussion page and browse through the stories. Choose ONE of the stories provided (no exceptions) to analyze. Copy the title and author of your choice to your page.

STEP II. Elements to Analyze . . . answer the lettered prompts - a through h - in paragraphs. You may want to answer prompts in a different order, but in your report, letter each paragraph and present them in sequence. Include evidence – brief phrases - to support your points (cite pages!). Single space each lettered paragraph. Double space between each one.

a Function of the Story/Plot. (Do not just summarize the plot). How is the action structured – chronological – psychological – fantastical – layered . . .? Explain. What drives the action? Is there more than one story tied together? How does the unfolding of the story appeal to our curiosity? What are the main, obvious outer, and less obvious inner conflicts or suspense elements in the action? Point out the instigating incident, or an ambiguity that suggests more than one meaning.

b Language. Describe the style of language. Is it realistic or altered from the usual? How? Explain

with examples. How does the style shape the tone, the mood or atmosphere of the story? How does the point of view it is written from shape our perceptions?

c Character. Given a set of troubling or challenging circumstances, what does the main character

or key individuals tend to do? Do the characters evolve, grow, fall, or come to some insight?

d Theme. What major underlying idea or theme do you detect that influences elements of the story?

How does it appear, and how does it develop? e. Images and Symbolism. What verbal images stand out for you? Why? What effects do they create? Symbolism. What symbols, metaphors, religious or mythical references does the author seem to use? How do they stand for something greater than the story’s literal reality?

g Poetry. Assume there is poetic use of language in the story. Do you detect poetic or rhythmic elements to the writing (such as repetitions or patterns of words, sounds, compressed phrases)? What kinds of resonance, or associations, do some words or phrases bring to the story?

h. Messages. How does this story go beyond entertainment and description? What social or philosophical statement could it be making?

STEP III. CONCLUSION. Reflect on your findings to develop broader conclusions from your analysis. What insights did you gain about the meaningfulness of the story, and how the content was affected by language style and symbols. Look also for insights into the “human condition:” how might the story help us face or

cope with significant questions of our lives and time. Thanks - I look forward to reading your work!

Prof. Carter