english essay

The Literary Analysis Research Assignment

Assignment Instructions

• Your paper must follow MLA documentation style.

• It should be 3-4 pages, and no longer than 5 pages (this does NOT include the Works Cited page). In addition to your primary source, the play, you must use a minimum of two additional, reliable, credible sources. The primary source is the play, Everyman.

• Use library databases and catalog. Remember that an analysis is NOT a summary. Be prepared to delve into your chosen topic with the help of critics/academics.

• Review this material for how to write a successful literary analysis.

Paper Organization

• Section 1. Introduction – State your thesis. What is the question that you are raising? What topic will you be analyzing in the literature text? • An introduction must be based on the powerful thesis statement, which is the main argument in your essay.

• Make sure to attract attention from the opening paragraph. • Involve a hook sentence, referencing the title of the chosen writing piece along with its author, and revealing the purpose of

writing in a clear, concise thesis sentence. • A good thesis includes at least three subtopics in the order the writer is going to write for the analysis: from the least to most

important.

• Section 2. Summary – Briefly, (one paragraph) summarize the literary text. Assume that the readers will not have read your selection. Bring the reader up to speed without using the summary as the basis of your paper.

• Section 3. Analysis – This is the section where you will address your thesis statement or question. Most of your sources will be cited here. Remember, if the reader may ask, "How did you know this?" you need to be sure to document your research within every paragraph. The rest of the essay has a typical academic paper structure.

• Section 4. Conclusion – End your paper by incorporating your opinion. This is the only section in the paper where you will be able to write in the first person. Sections 1 through 3 must be written in the third person. Write an impressive conclusion which will motivate the readers to agree with you.

Analysis Topic

• Through an analysis of the literature, prove that the play, Everyman should be considered a Renaissance play.

• Create your argument/analysis through any of the following means: • 1. Use of literary devices – symbolism; character analysis; style

• 2. Use of themes

• 3. Use of compare/contrast with historical and/or contextual ideas/concepts

The format for the assignment has been presented to you; now, you will need to decide the method of analysis.

Tips on How to Write the Literary Analysis Essay

The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to carefully examine and sometimes evaluate a work of literature or an aspect of a work of literature. As with any analysis, this requires you to break the subject down into its component parts.

For example, if you were to analyze (discuss and explain) a play, you might analyze the relationship between a subplot and the main plot, or you might analyze the character flaw of the tragic hero by tracing how it is revealed through the acts of the play.

The Thesis Statement

• The thesis statement tells your reader what to expect: it is a restricted, precisely worded declarative sentence that states the purpose of your essay -- the point you are trying to make. Without a carefully conceived thesis, an essay has no chance of success.

• The fate of the main characters in Gilgamesh illustrates the danger of excessive pride.

• The imagery in Dylan Thomas‟s poem “Fern Hill” reveals the ambiguity of humans‟ relationship with nature.

• Typically, the thesis statement falls at the end of your introductory paragraph.

Introduction

• The introduction to your literary analysis essay should try to capture your reader’s interest.

• To bring immediate focus to your subject, you may want to use a quotation, a provocative question, a brief anecdote, a startling statement, or a combination of these.

• You may also want to include background information relevant to your thesis and necessary for the reader to understand the position you are taking.

• In addition, you need to include the title of the work of literature and name of the author. The following are satisfactory introductory paragraphs which include appropriate thesis statements:

Intro Example

• What would one expect to be the personality of a man who has his wife sent away to a convent (or perhaps has had her murdered) because she took too much pleasure in the sunset and in a compliment paid to her by another man? It is just such a man—a Renaissance duke—who Robert Browning portrays in his poem “My Last Duchess.” A character analysis of the Duke reveals that through his internal dialogue, his interpretation of earlier incidents, and his actions, his traits—arrogance, jealousy, and greediness—emerge.

The Body Paragraphs

• Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence • Example: Sammy's descriptions of the A & P present a setting that is ugly,

monotonous, and rigidly regulated.

• The purpose of the topic sentence is twofold: • 1. To relate the details of the paragraph to your thesis statement.

• 2. To tie the details of the paragraph together.

The Body Paragraphs Continued

• Good literary analysis essays contain an explanation of your ideas and evidence from the text (short story, poem, play) that supports those ideas.

• Textual evidence consists of summary, paraphrase, specific details, and direct quotations, as well as use of your research to support your ideas.

The Conclusion

• Your literary analysis essay should have a concluding paragraph that gives your essay a sense of completeness and lets your readers know that they have reached the end of your paper.

• End your paper by incorporating your opinion. • This is the only section in the paper where you will be able to write in the first

person. Sections 1 through 3 must be written in the third person. Write an impressive conclusion which will motivate the readers to agree with you.

• Do not introduce a new topic in your conclusion.

Title your Analysis Essay

• It is essential that you give your essay a title that is descriptive of the approach you are taking in your paper. • Just as you did in your introductory paragraph, try to get the reader's

attention.

• For example: Theme in "The Secret Lion": The Struggle of Adolescence

The Audience

• Imagine you are writing for the other students in your class who have about as much education as you do.

• They have read the assigned work just as you have, but perhaps they have not thought about it in exactly the same way.

• In other words, it is not necessary to "retell" the work of literature in any way.

• Rather, it is your role to be the explainer or interpreter of the work—to tell what certain elements of the work mean in relation to your central idea (thesis).

• When you make references to the text of the short story, poem, or play, you are doing so to remind your audience of something they already know.

• The principle emphasis of your essay is to draw conclusions and develop arguments. Be sure to avoid plot summary.

Using Textual Evidence

• The skillful use of textual evidence -- summary, paraphrase, specific detail, and direct quotations -- can illustrate and support the ideas you are developing in your essay.

• However, textual evidence should be used judiciously and only when it directly relates to your topic.

• The correct and effective use of textual evidence is vital to the successful literary analysis essay.

• Review this document for ways to use textual evidence.

Remember . . .

• Your objective in writing a literary analysis essay is to convince the person reading your essay that you have supported the idea you are developing.

• Unlike ordinary conversation and classroom discussion, writing must remain with great determination to the specific point of development.

• This kind of writing demands tight organization and control.

• Therefore, your essay must have a central idea (thesis), it must have several paragraphs that grow systematically out of the central idea, and everything in it must be directly related to the central idea and must contribute to the reader’s understanding of that central idea.

A Note about Plagiarism

• Plagiarism Checker by Grammarly • Grammarly’s plagiarism checker detects plagiarism in your text and checks for

other writing issues.

• Commit to doing your own work. Cite your sources scrupulously. Academic dishonesty carries a penalty that is easily avoidable.

• Best Practices for Avoiding Plagiarism