1. British Literature

2. What is Analysis? Separation or breaking up of a whole into its fundamental elements or component parts.

3. What is literary analysis? A detailed examination of the component parts of complex literature (a novel, poem, play or short story) made in order to understand its nature or determine its essential features.

4. Types of Literary Analysis

5. Analyzing an Element in Literature In this type of analysis, the writer chooses one or more elements of literature and focuses on how well the author used the element(s) and for what purpose. Notice the focus of the analysis is very narrow. Works well for almost any novel, short story, play, or poem.

6. Example Assignment Discuss the author’s intent in using a particular element of literature and the effect of that element: characterization imagery figures of speech symbolism plotting/sequencing point of view Thesis: Smith’s use of symbols allows us to see Mr. X’s moral degradation more clearly as the story progresses.

7. Thematic Analysis In this type of analysis, the writer focuses on analyzing the major theme(s) of a text and how the author crafted that theme through the elements of literature. Works well for novels and plays because there is more time to develop the theme

8. Example Assignment Discuss the theme of the story with supporting evidence from the text. Thesis: Oedipus Rex centers on the idea that we cannot fight our fate and that doing so brings disaster.

9. Style or Prose Analysis This type of analysis involves a close reading of the text in order to analyze the author’s style. Works well for poems and for any piece of literature that has an unusual style or structure

10. Discuss the author’s style and its effect through an analysis of: *diction *use and choice of details *point of view *organization (non-linear plotting) Thesis: Hemingway’s use of short, almost brutal, sentences aligns with the nature of his characters and contributes to the themes of his novels.

11. Critical Analysis This very sophisticated type of analysis involves critiquing a text using a well-known method of literary criticism. Works well for any piece of literature or philosophy that comes from a readily identifiable author, era, and philosophical tradition. Works best when you can find a lot of autobiographical information on the author.

12. Example Assignment Critique a text using one of the following critical theories: Historical Criticism (examining the work in light of the time in which it was written OR in light of current values and norms) Multicultural Criticism (examining what is says about the state of interaction between cultures) Feminist Critical Theory (examining what it says about the relationship between genders)

13. Marxist Critical Theory (what it says about power relationships) Deconstructionism (examining how the writer creates meaning) Thesis: Using feminist critical theory to examine Hamlet’s relationship to Ophelia allows us to see her as a more rounded character.

14. Point of View A literary analysis is a formal academic essay in which the writer presents a thesis, or opinion on a subject. In such formal academic writing, the proper point of view for the essay is third person (using the pronouns he, she, it, they). It’s redundant to use first person (using the pronoun I) in an essay that requires a writer’s opinion. The audience already knows it is your opinion!

15. Example: INCORRECT: First Person I think that the death of Piggy in William Golding’s Lord of Flies symbolizes the death of civilization. CORRECT: Third Person The death of Piggy in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies symbolizes the death of civilization.

16. Evidence And Citations Literary analysis essays rely on the inclusion of direct evidence from the text. You will need to quote extensively to be successful. Why use quotes? 1. They demonstrate you read the text closely. 2. They serve as concrete evidence to support a generalization (or opinion statement). 3. They provide a deeper level of detail and understanding.

17. Where can evidence come from? What can I quote from? You can only use three things for a literary analysis essay: the text itself, criticism of the writer written by other writers or literary critics, and (in very small amounts) biographical or autobiographical works on the author. What can’t I use? Wikipedia, encyclopedias, other student essays, etc.