Lit Analysis - Prose

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Lit Analysis - Prose
The Basics
The Specifics
Authors Craft
Elements of Plot
Figurative Language

Simile Metaphor
Climax Resolution
Meaning
Imagery
Symbolism
Paradox
Diction
Dialogue
Allusion
Flashback
Point of View
Irony
Assonance
Syntax
Foreshadowing
Linear Vs. Non-Linear
Characterization
Tone
Hyperbole
Alliteration
Parallel Sub Plot
Personification
Conflict
Setting
Repetition
Lit Analysis Review
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Meaning
Meaning (i.e. theme or central idea) refers to
the core message embedded within a piece of
literature. It is a truth that the author hopes
to express.
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Diction

• Diction refers to the type of words an author
  chooses (vocabulary). It can be characterized as
  high, middle, or low, depending on the degree of
  sophistication formality used.
• Decide what words help develop tone, emotion, and
  meaning.
• It can come in many forms.
• Click here.
• Questions to Consider, if you are choosing to
  analyze diction
• What is different about the authors nouns,
  verbs, etc?
• Find an adjective for the type of words the
  author generally uses technical, flowery,
  colloquial, cerebral, punning, obscure, flashy,
  polysyllabic, simple, cliché, sharp, heavy, sad,
  etc.
• How do the words that are chosen affect the
  actual sound of the piece?

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Diction Types to Consider

• Remember (and look through your notes for
• Euphonious
• Cacophonous
• Denotative Meaning vs. Connotative Meaning
• Vulgarity
• Slang
• Jargon
• Colloquial expressions
• Onomatopoeia
• Back to Diction

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Syntax

• Syntax is word order. It is the way an author
  chooses to group words within clauses, phrases,
  and sentences. To analyze syntax, decide how it
  develops meaning in the text.
• Click here.
• Questions to Consider
• Does the word order sound like natural human
  speech, or is it highly stylized?
• Are there any words that seem to be left out or
  re-arranged?
• Is the word order (syntax) straightforward or
  unconventional?
• What effect does the unique word order of the
  piece have on its overall meaning?

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Syntax Things to Consider

• Pacing (how fast or slow, controlled by sentence
  length, commas, etc)
• Position (strange word or sentence order)
• Isolation (dashes, slashes, etc)
• Repetition
• Sentence variety length (complex vs. simple,
  especially when they are back to back, could have
  meaning)
• Anaphora (repetition of same word or phrase at
  the beginning of multiple sentences in a row)
• Juxtaposition (two dissimilar things, words,
  objects, or characters compared no light, but
  rather darkness.)
• Polysyndeton (use of and, or, etc MANY times
  for a long sentence, to create rhythm or a sense
  of growing excitement/energy)
• Back to Syntax

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Tone
Tone is the general attitude of the author toward
the reader or the subject matter of a literary
work. Tone Words click here for doc of ALL
tone words. Click here for Positive Tone
Words Click here for Negative Tone Words Click
here for Humor, Irony, Sarcasm Click here for
Sorrow, Fear, Worry Click here for Neutral
(when the other categories dont seem to fit)
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Positive Tone/Attitude Words
Amiable Consoling Friendly Playful Amused
Content Happy Pleasant Appreciative Dreamy
Hopeful Proud Authoritative Ecstatic
Impassioned Relaxed Benevolent Elated
Jovial Reverent Brave Elevated Joyful
Romantic Calm Encouraging Jubilant
Soothing Cheerful Energetic Lighthearted
Surprised Cheery Enthusiastic Loving
Sweet Compassionate Excited Optimistic
Sympathetic Complimentary Exuberant
Passionate Vibrant Confident Fanciful
Peaceful Whimsical Back to Tone Words
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Negative Tone/Attitude Words
Accusing Choleric Furious Quarrelsome Aggravate
d Coarse Harsh Shameful Agitated Cold
Haughty Smooth Angry Condemnatory Hateful
Snooty Apathetic Condescending Hurtful
Superficial Arrogant Contradictory Indignant
Surly Artificial Critical Inflammatory
Testy Audacious Desperate Insulting
Threatening Belligerent Disappointed Irritated
Tired Bitter Disgruntled Manipulative
Uninterested Boring Disgusted Obnoxious
Wrathful Brash Disinterested
Outraged Childish Facetious Passive
Back to Tone Words
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Humor-Irony-Sarcasm
Amused Droll Mock-heroic Sardonic Bantering
Facetious Mocking Satiric Bitter Flippant
Mock-serious Scornful Caustic Giddy
Patronizing Sharp Comical Humorous Pompous
Silly Condescending Insolent Quizzical
Taunting Contemptuous Ironic Ribald
Teasing Critical Irreverent Ridiculing
Whimsical Cynical Joking Sad
Wry Disdainful Malicious Sarcastic
Back to Tone Words
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Sorrow-Fear-Worry
Aggravated Embarrassed Morose
Resigned Agitated Fearful Mournful
Sad Anxious Foreboding Nervous
Serious Apologetic Gloomy Numb
Sober Apprehensive Grave Ominous
Solemn Concerned Hollow Paranoid
Somber Confused Hopeless Pessimistic
Staid Dejected Horrific Pitiful
Upset Depressed Horror Poignant Despairing
Melancholy Regretful Disturbed Miserable
Remorseful
Back to Tone Words
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Neutral Tone
Admonitory Dramatic Intimae Questioning Allus
ive Earnest Judgmental Reflective Apathetic
Expectant Learned Reminiscent Authoritative
Factual Loud Resigned Baffled Fervent
Lyrical Restrained Callous Formal
Matter-of-fact Seductive Candid Forthright
Meditative Sentimental Ceremonial Frivolous
Nostalgic Serious Clinical Haughty Objective
Shocking Consoling Histrionic Obsequious
Sincere Contemplative Humble Patriotic
Unemotional Conventional Incredulous
Persuasive Urgent Detached Informative Pleadin
g Vexed Didactic Inquisitive Pretentious
Wistful Disbelieving Instructive Provocative
Zealous
Back to Tone Words
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Imagery

• Imagery is a descriptive language that evokes one
  or more of the five senses (sight, sound, taste,
  touch, smell). The goal of literary imagery is to
  make the reader actually see, feel, taste, touch,
  or smell the subject or idea at work. Imagery can
  be produced by
• using precise, colorful, and active language to
  appeal to the 5 senses
• by using symbolism
• and/or by using figures of speech like
• similes,
• metaphors, and
• personification.

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Symbolism

• A symbol is one thing that represents or stands
  for another. In literature, a symbol is generally
  an object, color, person, situation, or idea that
  deepens the meaning of the work by evoking
  content/feelings not literally expressed in the
  text itself.
• Questions to consider
• Is there any symbolism present in the names of
  the characters?
• Are the symbols easy to understand?
• Does the text have a lot or a little bit of
  symbolism? Why?
• How do the symbols contribute to the overall
  meaning?

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Dialogue

• Dialogue is when a character speaks (either aloud
  to themselves, internally in their own mind, or
  when characters speak to each other.) Some
  authors rely on heavy dialogue while others use
  it only sparingly. The use of dialogue is an
  important part of a writers style.
• You may want to refer to diction as well.
• Questions to ask
• How often does dialogue, rather than exposition
  (description) tell the story?
• Do readers get entire conversations or just
  fragments?
• Does the conversation use colloquialisms (local
  way of talking)?
• How does the dialogue, or lack of, help shape
  meaning?

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Point of View

• First Person the narrator tells the story as a
  first-hand account (he is/was a participant or
  observer in the story and is now relaying it).
  I, me, we
• Second Person Rare the narrator or writer
  addresses the reader as you.
• Third Person He/She, They
• Omniscient has complete unrestricted
  knowledge of everything and all characters,
  including internal thoughts feelings.
• Limited the narrator uses the perspective of
  one character knows their internal thoughts
  feelings, but no one elses. All other characters
  are judged/seen from the viewpoint of the main
  character.
• Objective does not go into any characters
  thoughts or feelings, instead only writes their
  actions, as if seeing them from the outside only.
  (like a camera recording a movie)
• Questions to Ask
• Does the POV shift?
• Are there multiple POVs?
• How does the authors choice of POV affect the
  meaning?

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Characterization

• Characterization refers to the different ways an
  author can choose to describe develop the
  characters in a work.
• There are two primary methods of
  characterizations. Click here.
• And many different types of characters. Click
  here.
• Questions to Ask
• What is a particular characters motivation?
• With what is the character struggling, internally
  or externally?
• How do most readers feel about a particular
  character?
• How does the author choose to reveal attributes
  (characteristics) of the characters?
• How do the actions motivations of the
  characters develop the meaning of the text?

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Methods of Characterization
Direct (narrator comments directly on the
character He was a funny guy.) Indirect
(narrator shows attributes of the character by
placing him/her in situations where the reader
can judge what kind of person he is. Jason
wiggled his ears, and his classmates broke into
laughter.)
Back to Characterization
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Character Types
Antagonist Opposes the protagonist, brings
about the conflict. The bad guy. Dynamic
character one who changes over the course of
the story. Flat character stereotypical,
boring, ordinary character. One dimensional,
static, and shallow. Foil character who
contrasts with the protagonist to heighten or
accentuate the characteristics of the
protagonist. Narrator person telling the story
(can be person in the story, like first person,
but not always) Protagonist Main character,
overcomes the conflict. The good guy. Round
character complex, opposite of flat character.
Not stereotypical, often surprise readers with
unexpected behavior and values. Static character
does not change throughout course of story.
Unreliable narrator - a narrator who can't be
trusted. Either from ignorance or self-interest,
this narrator speaks with a bias, makes mistakes,
or even lies. (Usually in first person) Back to
Characterization
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Setting

• The setting of a narrative is the physical
  background temporal (time/year it is set)
  backdrop in which the story takes place. It may
  include political climate, proximity to
  historical events, occupation of the characters,
  etc, to help create, heighten, or further
  illustrate the main conflict of the story.
• Questions to Ask
• -Is the setting an integral part of the narrative
  or simply used as scenery?
• Is the story timeless or does it depend on a
  temporal setting (during a certain time period)?
• Is the setting symbolic or allegorical, to add
  layers of meaning to the piece?

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Conflict

• The conflict of a story is the main clash,
  argument, disagreement, or problem faced by the
  protagonist. The conflict of a piece often sets
  up the main plot line and heavily contributes to
  its theme. There are several types of conflict.
• Click here.
• Questions to Consider
• Is there only one conflict, or are there several
  that are deeply intertwined and synthesize
  themselves into a larger, more complex problem?
• How does the resolution (or irresolution) of the
  conflict help develop the overall meaning of the
  work?
• What effect does the conflict have on the
  characters in the story?
• Does an internal conflict cause the protagonist
  to change in some fundamental way?

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Conflict Types
Internal Man Vs. Self The protagonist
struggles with opposing forces, emotions,
beliefs, or values. External Man Vs. Man the
protagonist struggles against another person. Man
Vs. Society the protagonist struggles against
the values, mores, and or conditions of the
society in which he/she lives. Man Vs. Nature
the protagonist struggles against the elements of
nature or natural forces beyond human
control. Man Vs. Fate the protagonist struggles
against a condition prescribed by fate
(disability, accident, a death, etc) Man Vs.
Supernatural the protagonist struggles with
non-human entities (ghosts, gods, demons,
vampires, aliens, etc) Man Vs. Technology the
protagonist struggles against machines,
computers, etc. Back to Conflict
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Allusion
A reference to something outside of the text to
produce rhetorical or stylistic effect. Most
allusions refer to widely known text, such as the
Bible, Shakespeare, or mythology, but can also
refer to movies, etc.
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Irony
Irony is a contradiction between what is expected
and what actually occurs, or it is a
contradiction between what is said and what is
actually meant. There are three basic types of
irony. Verbal when an author says exactly the
opposite of what he/she means. Situational
when the reality of a situation differs or seems
opposite from what is expected. Dramatic when
the reader or audience knows more about the
situation than the actual characters in the work.
(ex In Romeo Juliet, the audience knows that
Juliet has taken a sleeping potion and is not
really dead, but Romeo does not know this very
important piece of information.)
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Hyperbole
Exaggeration to an extreme degree. Example
Your mama! jokes
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Repetition
Reusing the same words or phrases for rhythmic or
rhetorical effect.
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Simile
Comparing two things using like or
as. Comparing two things without using like or
as.
Metaphor
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Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds.
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Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds.
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Personification
When humanlike characteristics or qualities are
given to objects or animals. Advanced Anthropomo
rphism when the animals or nonhuman objects
come alive and become the characters (animals
from Animal Farm or White Rabbit Cheshire Cat
in Alice in Wonderland)
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Paradox
When two contradictory items exist
simultaneously. Examples You can save money
by spending it. You are a wise fool. This is
the beginning of the end. Deep down, youre
really shallow. Cowards die many times before
their deaths. Julius Caesar, Shakespeare
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Climax
The most intense, exciting, or important event of
the story. Where the conflict is faced and/or
overcome by the protagonist.
Resolution
The outcome or result of the story. Sometimes,
authors intentionally leave a story unresolved.
Why might this add to meaning?
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Flashback
A memory or an event in the past that is inserted
into the story, usually to provide background or
insight into a character or conflict.
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Foreshadowing
To give the reader a hint of what is to come
through the setting, the characters words or
actions, or a symbol. It can be used to create
tension or suspense.
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Linear Vs. Non-Linear Plot
Linear line means that the story is in
chronological order. There are no
flashbacks. Non-Linear non-line means that
the story does not go in chronological order, and
can skip backwards and forwards in time. In
Media Res, one form of Non-Linear plot, means it
actually starts in the middle of the story,
sometimes right in the middle of the action, and
then has to work backward to explain how the
characters got there.
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Sub Plot
A secondary or minor plot that contrasts with the
principal plot, highlights it, or may be
unrelated.
Parallel Plot
A plot in which each main character has a
separate but related story line that merges in
the end several stories within a story. Ex
Movie Crash
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Lit Analysis Review
The goal of literary analysis is to extract and
explain the meaning of a piece of literature. Do
this by first breaking the work down into its
most effective elements (whatever makes the most
meaning in the piece). You do not have to analyze
EVERYTHING. Then, explain those elements in
detail, with plenty of examples (text evidence)
and commentary (analysis). Finally, show how
those elements fit back together to develop the
overall theme or meaning of a piece.