WARM-UP Talk to your elbow partner...What is a literary analysis?

LITERARY ANALYSIS A literary analysis examines and discusses the author’s choices within the text: word choice, themes, symbols, imagery, character, setting, irony, ambiguity, and foreshadow as well as many other literary devices. When you write your analysis, you will use portions of the text, as well as your own reasoning, to demonstrate how the evidence supports your interpretation.

STEPS FOR CREATING YOUR CLAIM… Identify the author's purpose.  Ask yourself, what theme or main idea did the author want the reader to understand after he or she had finished reading? Think of the characters, tone, setting, word choice, themes, symbols, imagery, irony, ambiguity, foreshadow, plot, etc. as devices or tools that help ensure that the reader "gets" the meaning that the writer intended him or her to learn. Ask yourself, why did the author choose to use these devices, in these particular ways?  How does this kind of character, plot event, or type of imagery help the reader understand the theme?

ANALYSIS OF FAIRY TALES Sample Story Summary Analysis! Robin Hood Robin Hood stole goods and money from the rich residents of his town to give to the town’s poorer residents.  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 Snow White falls into a deep, death-like slumber when she takes a bite of a poisoned apple.  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.   Cinderella Cinderella tells the story of a young girl whose evil stepmother tries to keep her from her true love. The author of Cinderella paired lazy female characters with a hard–working female protagonist to show that hard work leads to love and happiness. 

TASK 1) In small groups, analyze one element of The Paper Bag Princess. 2) You must connect this element to a deeper meaning in the text. Think about a how this element leads you to understand a theme of the story to help you. 3) Make a poster which lists your element, and a sentence which explains how this element leads the reader to a greater understanding by connecting this element with a major theme. This is your CLAIM statement. Include three quotes below this statement which helped lead you to this conclusion. Paper Bag Princess Elements Character Setting Tone Plot Symbols Word Choice The author uses ________________ to show that _________________________________________________.