Intro Literary Analysis

Writer’s Prompt: v Listen

to Janis Ian’s haunting song, “At Seventeen.”

v Write

what you think Ian’s message is

v Write

song

v How

your reaction to this

would you characterize this song?

Janis Ian “At Seventeen”

Assignments v Read,

Reason, Write – Read page 718 through page 721

v Read

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin – page 726

v Answer

#6

questions #2, #5 and

Literary Analysis

What is Literary Analysis? v It’s

literary

v It’s

an analysis

v It’s-v An v It

Argument!

may also involve research on and analysis of secondary sources

What is an Analysis? v An

analysis of a literary work may discuss  How the various components of an individual work relate to each other  How two separate literary works deal with similar concepts or forms  How concepts and forms in literary works relate to larger aesthetic, political, social,

How is It “Literary”? v Usually,

a literary analysis will involve a discussion of a text as writing, thus the term literary, which means “having to do with letters”

v This

will involve the use of certain concepts that are very specifically associated with literature

How is Literary Analysis an Argument? v

When writing a literary analysis, you will focus on specific attribute(s) of the text(s).

v

When discussing these attributes, you will want to make sure that you are making a specific, arguable point (thesis) about these attributes.

v

You will defend this point with reasons and evidence drawn

Literary Analysis v Uses

same analysis process as when analyzing nonfiction:  Examine the context  To whom is the author writing?  Under what circumstances is he/she writing?  What literary format is being used?  What is the writer’s style?

Anti Analysis Naysayers v Some

readers want a work of literature to mean whatever they think it means

v If

you decide that a Robert Frost poem should mean whatever you are feeling when you read it – you may as well skip the poem and just express your feelings

v One

reads Frost and other literature to gain insight which

Anti Analysis Naysayers v Some

readers hate the word “analysis” as if an analysis tears the work apart and ruins it

v If

so – what about sports analysis? Does it ruin the game being played?

Jack Buck Medley

Writing a Literary Analysis

Important Literary Concepts v The

Basics

 Plot  Setting  Narration/point of view  Characterization  Symbol  Metaphor  Genre  Irony/ambiguity

• Other key concepts – Historical context – Social, political, economic  contexts – Ideology – Multiple voices – Various critical orientations – Literary theory

Which is the Best Thesis Statement? v Moby-Dick

is about the problem of evil.

v Moby-Dick

pointless.

is boring and

v Moby-Dick

is about a big, white whale.

v The

use of “whiteness” in Moby-Dick illustrates the uncertainty about the

How Do I Support a Thesis Statement? v Examples

from the text:

 Direct quotations  Summaries of scenes  Paraphrase v Other

critics’ opinions

v Historical v Always

and social context

remember to read carefully and highlight useful passages and quotes

What is a Secondary Source? vA

book or article that discusses the text you are discussing

vA

book or article that discusses a theory related to the argument you are making

vA

book or article that discusses the social and historical context of the text you are discussing

How Do I Find Secondary Sources? v

MLA International Bibliography

v

Dictionary of Literary Biography

v

Discipline-specific sources  Example: America: History and Life for American literature

v

Other search engines

v

A bibliography that is part of your text

v

Ask your instructor

Integrating Secondary Sources v

When you use secondary sources, be sure to show how they relate to your thesis

v

Don’t overuse any one secondary source, or for that matter, secondary sources in general

v

Remember that this is your paper, your argument—the secondary sources are just helping you out

v

Never, never, never plagiarize.

Overview of Literary Analysis v When

writing a literary analysis:  Be familiar with literary terms  Analyze specific items  Make an a argument  Make appropriate use of secondary sources  Consult instructors and tutors for help when needed

Where Can I Go for More Help? v The

Lab

Purdue University Writing

v http://owl.english.purdue.edu v [email protected]