Writing a literary analysis is a pretty useful skill. In general, the process includes you studying a particular text (or a piece of it), interpreting its meanings, and trying to figure out why the author made this or that choice. As a rule, literary analysis can be performed on the basis of plays, novels, short stories, poems, and other types of printed materials. Although the task requires vast theoretical knowledge and top-notch prose (looks like a lot of work, right?), you can do it if you follow the steps given below.
Different Types of Literary Analysis
But before we go, let us list the most common types of literary analysis, so you clearly see what project exactly you’re supposed to complete:
- Close reading. A lot of students tend to approach online writing companies with their write my paper for me requests because they find it hard to detect all the details and nuances that are small yet significant in this or that literary piece. Close reading is about providing your readers with a deeper insight into what choices the author has made regarding scenes, language, etc.
- Theoretical. You provide one or more theories on the literary work and try to flesh out the key relationship between them. You review the author’s arguments through the lens of these theories exactly.
- Comparative. In this case, your task is to directly compare the literary work with the same material(s) crafted by the same writer. This is done to put the piece under study into a broader context.
- Applied. Examine what kind of links different elements of the literary work have with your own experience(s).
- Historical. In this work, you have to focus on external elements that have something to do with the literary work under study. For example, it can be some historical framework in which the story happens.
How-to Recommendations to Craft a Literary Analysis
To write a literary analysis that rocks, make sure to follow the next (student-tested!) steps.
Step 1. Read, read, read
Before letting your creative juices flow as you work on the analysis, it’s crucial to understand the text. Begin by reading the piece (more than once) and taking notes as you go. Put down the main motifs and themes, how characters develop (or do not), what literary devices the author uses, important quotes, and the style and tone the writer sticks to. We recommend highlighting important moments as you read to help you find evidence with ease.
Step 2. Pick a topic
It must be something specific and clear. Plus, remember that a literary analysis is not about writing about everything at the same time. Instead, you have to explore one aspect of the text. For instance, you can focus your topic on the character’s transformation(s) from page to page, the theme of love or power, the author’s use of irony, the meanings of symbols that are present throughout the story, etc. Whatever you choose to examine, ensure it’s not too broad so you can do a more detailed analysis.
Step 3. Think of your thesis statement
If there’s a heart of your literary analysis, it’s your thesis. Make sure it informs your readers of your interpretation of the work or states your argument. Make it as specific, arguable, and supported by solid evidence as possible. For instance, if you’re currently examining Giovanni Boccaccio’s “Decameron,” your great thesis statement may be as follows, “Through characters like Madonna Filippa and Griselda, The Decameron challenges traditional medieval gender roles by portraying women as intelligent, witty, and morally superior, thus offering a progressive critique of patriarchal norms.”
Step 4. Find as much evidence as you can
And even more. When your arsenal is full of quotes, examples of the text, and a thesis statement, make sure that every fragment of evidence is 100% related to your argument. We recommend looking for dialogues, motifs/symbols, descriptions, narrative structures, etc. As you go, do not overuse quotes. They’re nice, but using them strategically only is key.
Step 5. Work on your outline
Before the process of writing starts, organize your thoughts and ideas. If writing academic works is not one of your strengths, stick to a conventional structure of a literary analysis. It comprises the introduction, the body fragments, and the conclusion.
The intro scheme:
- Hook (grab the reader’s attention)
- Title and author of the work
- Short summary (1-2 sentences)
- Thesis statement
The body scheme:
- Topic sentence (you use it to introduce the point)
- Evidence from the text (in the form of quotes, examples, etc.)
- Analysis itself (your personal interpretation and how it supports your thesis)
The conclusion scheme:
- Go over your thesis statement again (use new words)
- Sum up your main points
- Mention the importance or broader impact of your argument
Step 6. Don’t forget to edit
And edit again. And again. When the job is done, put your piece aside and…have a coffee. Taking a break is essential to reload your brain and get back to your text with a fresh pair of eyes. Then look at your analysis once again to detect any errors (from punctuation to style and spelling), to make sure every paragraph supports your thesis statement, to boost work choice (if needed), to fix grammar mistakes, formatting issues, etc. If possible, ask a professor or a pal to check out your work and give you feedback. Thus, s/he’ll detect the errors that you may not notice.
What Not to Do in a Literary Analysis
Mistakes are an essential part of a process; however, you can stay away at least from some of those.¡
- Do not sum up the plot too much. Instead, talk about how and why things happen.
- Say no to 1st person language. No “I believe” or “I think” phrases!
- Don’t forget about your thesis throughout the essay.
- Don’t analyze if you don’t have a solid thesis statement.
See? Crafting a literary analysis is not as painful as they say. Plus, with a clear guide at hand, thoughtful reading, and a pinch of your creativity, you’re sure to write an A-worthy work.
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