Short Story Literary Analysis

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Short Story Literary Analysis
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Introduction

• The introduction must introduce the author, the
  title of the story and state the thesis of the
  analysis.
• Do not forget that the entire essay must be
  written in present tense!!!!
• Your thesis is the last statement in your
  introduction.

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Body Paragraphs

• Each body paragraph must focus on one claim that
  proves your thesis to be true. For example, The
  conflict in The Most Dangerous Game reveals
  the theme that we can not understand anothers
  perspective until we have experienced his
  perspective.

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Quotes

• Each body paragraph must include at least one
  quote and must follow proper format for
  integrating quotes.

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Examples of literary devices

• How does the author use the following literary
  devices to develop the theme of the story?
• Setting
• Characterization (characters actions, inner
  thoughts and motivation. Is the character
  dynamic?)
• Foreshadowing
• Irony
• Point of view (who is telling the story?)
• Symbolism
• Plot (conflict, climax, resolution)

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Conclusion

• The conclusion must restate the thesis and
  summarize the impact of the thesis on the reader.

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Details

• This is at least a four paragraph essay.
• Do not use personal pronouns or contractions.
• One page typed. Times 12 double spaced.
• You must use a minimum of two quotes.

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I know what you are thinkingSo, what exactly is
a Literary Analysis?
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A literary analysis is a type of paper that has
the ultimate goal of bringing some new or greater
understanding of the book, story, or poem. In
addition, it is an argument because you are
proposing something original about the text which
may not have been thought of before, or you are
adding more to an existing thesis surrounding the
book.
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What does it look like?
A good literary analysis has the following
components It has a solid and unique thesis
statement that clearly is arguable. Your goal is
to prove this thesis statement! It has a solid
introduction, body, and conclusion. It uses
effective transitions and the writer analyzes
sufficient textual support from the
book. There is at least one bit of meaningful
textual support in each body paragraph.
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Other helpful tips!

• Write in the present tense
• Avoid summarizing the plot (i.e., retelling the
  story literally). Instead analyze (form a thesis
  about and explain) the story in literary terms.
• Support your points with many quotations and
  paraphrases, but write the majority of your paper
  in your own words with your own ideas.

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Summary versus Analysis

• A summary re-tells a story.
• An analysis examines the cause or effect of an
  incident in the story, compares or contrasts 2
  characters, explains how an event occurred etc
• Ex Mary had a little lamb

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• Summary Mary had a little lamb. It followed her
  to school. No lambs were allowed in school. The
  children laughed.
• Analysis one reason Mary may have brought the
  lamb to school was to get attention. All the
  children laughed and played, making Mary feel
  at the center and popular.

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Quote Examples

• My Idea
• Mary appears to have a fetish for lamb wool
• 2. Quote
• Dr. Benton states that Marys proclivity for
  her lamb makes her pet it often and bring it with
  her. (Benton 22)
• 3. Explanation of how quote supports my idea.
• Marys constant need to touch and stroke her
  lamb illustrates Marys obsession.

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What is a Works Cited page?

• An alphabetized list of all the sources used in
  your paper.
• You need a Works Cited page or you are
  PLAGERIZING!!!

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1. Determine the type of source.

• Your literature book is an anthology. An
  anthology is a collection of artistic works (such
  as a group of short stories, or a group of songs).

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Identify the 6 pieces of information needed.
1. Author of the selection
2. Title of the selection
3. Title of the anthology
4. Editor of the anthology
Location Publisher, year.
5. Publication information
6. Page numbers of selection
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Correctly Integrating Quotations
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• Every quotation should have a reference that
  indicates where you got it.

I shall not see on earth a place more dear
Author Page Line
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• Anytime you quote something, you need to give the
  authors name and the page number the quotation
  can be found on.
• Example- Potok 78

NO PAGE
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• If you are quoting poetry, use the line number
  instead of the page number.
• Example- Homer lines 68-70

Type line or lines so readers know you are not
referring to the page number
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• The authors last name and page number go after
  the quotation inside of parentheses. This is
  called the QUO-PAR-PUNC rule.
• I shall not see on earth a place more dear
  (Homer line 137).

QUO quotation
PAR parentheses
PUNC punctuation
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• You wouldnt wear clothes that only cover up the
  front-side or the back-side of your body, so
  dont leave your quotation half naked either.

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Odysseus speaks to Alcinous court about his
homeland in Ithaca, recalling,

• I shall not see on earth a place more dear
  (Homer line 137).

Thus, he demonstrates the Greek value of
loyalty to ones homeland.
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Clothe the Front

• There are two ways to
• begin a sentence that
• includes a quotation.
• Use a signal phrase.
• Integrate the authors words into your own
  writing.

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Signal Phrases

• A signal phrase indicates that you are about to
  use language that is not your own.

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Signal Phrases

• If you do not show that these are not your own
  words it is PLAGERISM!

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Signal Phrases

• Example
• Polyphemus says of Odysseus,

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Example 1

• Revise
• Odysseus shows that he is an epic hero in the
  Cyclops episode, I would not heed them in my
  glorying spirit,/ but let my anger flare (Homer
  lines 500-501).

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WARNING

• Just adding a quotation to the end of a related
  sentence does not mean that you have used a
  signal phrase.

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Example 1

• Fixed
• Odysseus reveals that he desires the credit for
  his deeds, saying, I would not heed them in my
  glorying spirit,/ but let my anger flare (Homer
  lines 500-501).

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• Be sure that you do not confuse the author,
  Homer, with the narrator, who is sometimes Homer,
  sometimes Odysseus.

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Example 2

• Revise
• Homer shows that Odysseus is an epic hero by
  saying, I drove them, all three wailing, to the
  ships (line 211).

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Example 2

• Fixed
• Odysseus shows his loyalty to his homeland by
  forcing his men to continue on their journey.
  He explains, I drove them, all three wailing, to
  the ships (line 211).

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Example 3

• Revise
• Odysseus cleverly deceives the Cyclops. My name
  is Nohbody (Homer line 360).

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Example 3

• Fixed
• Odysseus cleverly deceives the Cyclops,
  declaring, My name is Nohbody (Homer line 360).

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Example 4

• Revise
• make fair sacrifice to Lord Poseidon (Homer
  line 650). With these words, Teiresias helps
  Odysseus to see that it has been his pride that
  has kept him from returning home, and he must
  admit his mistake to Poseidon in order to right
  the situation.

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Example 4

• Fixed
• Teiresias confirms that Odysseus pride has kept
  him from Ithaca, commanding him, make fair
  sacrifice to Lord Poseidon (Homer line 650).
  Thus Teiresias reveals that the only way for
  Odysseus to reestablish right standing with the
  gods is to finally acknowledge Poseidons help in
  the Trojan War.

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• Signal phrases must introduce your quote. You
  are not writing a mystery storydont make the
  reader guess where your quote came from.

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Do Not Refer to the Quotation

• Other than naked quotations, the most common
  mistake is referring directly to the quotation.

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Do Not Refer to the Quotation

• Teiresias predicts the end of Odysseus life in
  the quote seaborne death/ soft as this hand of
  mist will come upon him (Homer lines 654-655).

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Do Not Refer to the Quotation

• Odysseus cleverly deceives the Cyclops,
  declaring, My name is Nohbody (Homer line
  360). This quotation reveals that Odysseus uses
  intelligence in situations wherein strength is
  not an option.

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For Future Reference

• Quote is a verb
• Quotation is a noun

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• 1.What is the American Dream? How does Gatsby
  represent this dream? Does the novel praise or
  condemn Gatsby's dream? Has the American dream
  changed since Gatsby's time?
• 2. Think about the two worlds, the Midwest and
  the East, as Fitzgerald describes them, and what
  they represent for Nick and for Gatsby.
• 3. Compare and contrast Gatsby's social class
  with that of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. How does
  geography contribute to the definition of social
  class in The Great Gatsby?
• 4. What is Nick Carraway's role in the novel?
  Consider Nick's father's advice in chapter one
  "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just
  remember that all the people in this world
  haven't had the advantages that you've had." Does
  telling the story from Nick's point of view make
  it more believable?
• 5. What part of his past is Gatsby trying to
  recapture? Is he successful? Is there a person,
  feeling, or event in your past that you'd want to
  revisit?
• 6. What is the meaning of the title? In what way
  is Gatsby great?
• 7. Why did Nick become involved with Jordan, and
  why did he break off the relationship?
• 8. Discuss Fitzgerald's use of symbols, such as
  the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, the green light
  on Daisy's dock, and the valley of ashes.
• 9. What makes The Great Gatsby a classic novel?
  Why has it maintained its place in American
  literature?
• 10. Discuss elements of the Jazz Age that
  Fitzgerald includes in The Great Gatsby.

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• 1. In what sense is The Great Gatsby an
  autobiographical novel? Does Fitzgerald write
  more of himself into the character of Nick or the
  character of Gatsby, or are the authors
  qualities found in both characters?
• 2. How does Gatsby represent the American dream?
  What does the novel have to say about the
  condition of the American dream in the 1920s? In
  what ways do the themes of dreams, wealth, and
  time relate to each other in the novels
  exploration of the idea of America?
• 3. Compare and contrast Gatsby and Tom. How are
  they alike? How are they different? Given the
  extremely negative light in which Tom is
  portrayed throughout the novel, why might Daisy
  choose to remain with him instead of leaving him
  for Gatsby?

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• 1. Discuss Gatsbys character as Nick perceives
  him throughout the novel. What makes Gatsby
  great?
• 2. What is Nick like as a narrator? Is he a
  reliable storyteller, or does his version of
  events seem suspect? How do his qualities as a
  character affect his narration?
• 3. What are some of The Great Gatsbys most
  important symbols? What does the novel have to
  say about the role of symbols in life?
• 4. How does the geography of the novel dictate
  its themes and characters? What role does setting
  play in The Great Gatsby?