Order 1338676: Literary Analysis for book: Battleborn
tutorthammy
BattlebornLecture1.pptx
Literary Analysis
Theme
An idea that is prominent, frequently recurring, and/or unifying
What the author is trying to convey
Can be the central idea of the story or an important aspect of it.
Examples: love, hate, guilt, etc.
Battleborn Prompt
First, journal on your general impressions of the stories. Did you like them, dislike them? What stood out for you? Then attempt to identify any themes you can derive from them.
To Analyze
The word Analysis is derived from the Greek analuein, meaning to “ to undo.”)
Literary Analysis- Thematic technique
Often focuses on one significant component of a literary work and then explains how this part relates to the whole
A broad idea in a story, or a message or lesson conveyed by a work
Often about life, society or human nature.
Usually implied rather than explicitly stated
Stories inherently project some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme (regardless of the intent of the author)
Analysis of changes in dynamic characters can provide insight into a theme
Battleborn Themes
Violence
Guilt and Blame
Courage
History
The need to revise or interpret history
Confession as technique or theme
Loyalty
Betrayal
Loyalty & betrayal
Story setting and influences on the characters
Searching
Review of Story components
Imagery - the author’s attempt to create a mental picture in the mind of the reader
invoke an emotional, sensational (taste, touch, smell, etc.) or even physical response
Symbolism - when an object is meant to be representative of something
Bald Eagle - America or Patriotism
Senses and signs
Imagery - the author’s attempt to create a mental picture in the mind of the reader
invoke an emotional, sensational (taste, touch, smell, etc.) or even physical response
Symbolism - when an object is meant to be representative of something
Bald Eagle - America or Patriotism
Perspective
Narrator - person telling the story who may or may not be a character in the story
Point of View - pertains to who tells the story and how it is told.
First-person - Narrator is participate with limited knowledge (I, me)
Second person - Narrator addresses the reader directly (You)
Third Person (Objective) - Narrator is detached observer (he, she, it)
Omniscient - All-knowing narrator (multiple views)
Character
How the characters are revealed to readers- their speech and actions, author’s comments, other characters’ comments
Motivations of characters
Interactions with other characters
Striking traits- physical, mental, emotional
Symbolic or stereotyped
Do the characters grow or change?
Plot
the arrangement of ideas and/or incidents that make up a story
Exposition - Background information regarding the setting, characters, plot.
Rising Action - The process the story follows as it builds to its main conflict
Climax - A significant turning point in the story that determines how it must end
Resolution/Denouement - The way the story turns out.
Exposition
Rising Action
Falling action (not always
present)
Resolution – end of
conflict
Climax-point of most intense emotion or action
Plot Diagram
Setting & characters are exposed
Conflict
Time & place
Foreshadowing - clues the reader in to something that will eventually occur in the story
explicit (obvious) or implied (disguised)
Conflict - Struggle between opposing forces
Internal conflict (man vs. man) and external conflicts (man vs. nature, man vs. man, man vs. society)
Setting
When and where the story takes place
Provides the historical and cultural context for characters (Why is the story set here?)
Often symbolizes the emotional state of characters (What is the atmosphere? What is the social environment? How does it affect the characters?)
Example – In Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling old mansion reflects the decaying state of both the family and the narrator’s mind.
Structure- the way that the writer arranges the plot of a story
Repeated elements in action, gesture, dialogue, description
Shifts in direction, focus, time, place- flashbacks
Tone - the author’s implied attitude towards the subject
Is it hopeful, pessimistic, dreary, worried?
Thesis Statement
The most important part of your paper
The announcement of your analytical argument that you intend to prove
Tells the reader what to expect
Should be specific and later should be supported with specific evidence from text
Usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper
Summary vs analysis examples
Robin Hood
Summary: Robin Hood stole goods and money from the rich residents of his town to give to the town’s poorer residents.
Analysis: The use of a monarchy or kingdom setting in Robin Hood allowed the author to portray the abuses of power that often occur among the wealthiest members of a community.
Snow White
Summary: Snow White falls into a deep, death-like slumber when she takes a bite of a poisoned apple.
Analysis: The use of certain plot elements in Snow White, such as the poisoned apple and resulting slumber, help readers understand that being too trusting can lead to dire consequences.
Thesis Statement
Formulate a thesis statement from the theme list or one of your own invention.
Remember your goal is to analyze the subject not just giving a description or summary.
Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis to reflect exactly what you discuss.
Tips for Writing a Literary Analysis
Choose a symbol, a theme, an image or a character that you think is rich in meaning, important to the overall story, and that you understand and can discuss clearly.
DO NOT SUMMARIZE, repeat, or paraphrase what the passage or the tale is about.
Let the text be your guide, your marker, to which your discussion should return again and again.
You don’t have to come up with the same interpretation as an expert or the teacher, you just have to make sure that you have LOTS of evidence/support for whatever interpretation you offer.
Interpreting the Text
Your discussion should interpret the text. To interpret “you need to jump off the track of chronological sequence—one thing after another—and consider the meaning of particular events” or images. For example if you are discussing a character you should consider:
“How does [a character’s] action affect the development of the story? “To answer [such] questions, you must consider the role [the characters] play in the story” thoroughly.
[From Writing: A College Handbook, 5th ed., by James Heffernan et al, New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2001, p. 632]
Give evidence from text (actually quote from story you are analyzing).
Literary Criticism Methods
An Argument
A literary critic feels that the poem or story is predominately about a certain thing, theme, etcetera. You agree or disagree with evidence.
An Evaluation
You liked or didn’t like the work. Construct a list of criteria for an effective (or ineffective) piece of literature and compare the works in question to them.
Methods (cont.)
An Exploration
Find a theme, motif, and image within the work and speculate as to the purpose or importance of them.
Search other criticisms of the work and either agree or disagree with them.
Relevance
Consider how this work is from another time and culture. How is it relevant to Humanity today?
Character
Character Analysis
One route for analyzing this work could be a dual approach of character analysis combined with at least one theme that impacts the person.
Compare/Contrast
Compare and/or contrast the literature with other works. This can include films.
Conventions and Cautions
It is acceptable to use first person perspective in the introduction and conclusion. Limit or avoid using it in other parts of the text.
Action is ongoing. For example, “ Grendel knifes Beowulf,” not, “Grendel knifed Beowulf.”
Do not create a ‘cut and paste’ essay. Your words and thoughts must dominate.
Introduce the source and consider the follow up comment.
DO NOT JUST SUMMARIZE TEXT!
Use MLA citation. This means parenthetical (In text) along with a Works Cited Page.
Character Analysis
Most characters contain a complex balance of virtues and vices. Internal and external forces require characters to question themselves, overcome fears, or reconsider dreams. The protagonist may undergo profound change.
A close study of character development maps, in each character, the evolution of motivation, personality, and belief.
Group Work
Group One: You are to discuss the first three stories.
Within the text, identify evidence of at least two themes of either of the following: Loyalty, betrayal or violence in at least one story. You will present at least one sentence or passage for each theme as evidence of your selected themes.
Group Two: You are to discuss stories 4 to 6. Within the text, identify evidence of at least two themes of the following from at least one story: Loyalty, betrayal or violence. You will present at least one sentence or passage for each theme identified.
