Lit Analysis Essay Slideshare

Writing a Literary Writing a Literary Analysis EssayAnalysis Essay

Mrs. RabyyMrs. Rabyy

First ThoughtsFirst Thoughts

Read and analyze the literature Read and analyze the literature Read and analyze the promptRead and analyze the prompt

Who will read this essay?Who will read this essay? What skills do they want me to show?What skills do they want me to show? What ideas to they want me to discuss?What ideas to they want me to discuss? How does the prompt suggest that I How does the prompt suggest that I

organize my ideas?organize my ideas?

This is a straight-forward structure

that you can apply to any type of

essay.

PrewritingPrewriting

Break down the promptBreak down the prompt Connect evidence to the Connect evidence to the

prompt’s ideas prompt’s ideas

Develop a Thesis StatementDevelop a Thesis Statement

Thesis statements respond directly Thesis statements respond directly and completely to the promptand completely to the prompt

Thesis statements analyze or Thesis statements analyze or illuminate the textilluminate the text

They do NOT:They do NOT:

ask questionsask questions

state mere observationsstate mere observations

Observation (Ineffective Thesis):Observation (Ineffective Thesis):

Example:Example:

Toni Morrison’s novel, Toni Morrison’s novel, BelovedBeloved, , uses a non-linear structure with uses a non-linear structure with frequent flashbacks.frequent flashbacks.Just a basic, factual observationJust a basic, factual observationEasily observed by any readerEasily observed by any readerDoes not analyze or illuminateDoes not analyze or illuminate

Effective Thesis Statements:Effective Thesis Statements:

Use action verbs:Use action verbs:

Toni Morrison Toni Morrison mirrorsmirrors the the fragmentation of her characters’ fragmentation of her characters’ lives in the structure of the novel lives in the structure of the novel itself.itself.

Not:Not: BelovedBeloved, written by Toni , written by Toni Morrison, Morrison, hashas a fragmented format a fragmented format that mirrors her characters.that mirrors her characters.

Use sub-topics as examples for Use sub-topics as examples for support:support: flashbackflashback stream of consciousnessstream of consciousness shifts in point of viewshifts in point of view

These can later become topics These can later become topics of body paragraphs, and form of body paragraphs, and form topic sentences of their own.topic sentences of their own.

Effective Thesis Statements:Effective Thesis Statements:

Response to Prompt:Response to Prompt:

Toni Morrison Toni Morrison mirrors the mirrors the fragmentation of her characters’ fragmentation of her characters’ lives through her novel’s non-lives through her novel’s non-linear structurelinear structure, specifically , specifically through her use of flashback, through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and stream of consciousness, and shifts in point of view.shifts in point of view.

Key Points for Support Key Points for Support

Toni Morrison mirrors the Toni Morrison mirrors the fragmentation of her characters’ fragmentation of her characters’ lives through her novel’s non-lives through her novel’s non-linear structure, specifically linear structure, specifically through her use of through her use of flashback, flashback, stream of consciousness, and stream of consciousness, and shifts in point of viewshifts in point of view..

Writing an introduction.Writing an introduction.

Your introduction should go from Your introduction should go from broad to specific:broad to specific:

1.1. Hook your reader’s attention about the topic of your Hook your reader’s attention about the topic of your essay.essay.

2.2. Connect this topic to the literature you’re discussingConnect this topic to the literature you’re discussing

3.3. Define terms and give essential background infoDefine terms and give essential background info

4.4. State your thesisState your thesis

Avoid “fluff.” No one is fooled.Avoid “fluff.” No one is fooled.

Literature often portrays characters Literature often portrays characters who have many conflicts.who have many conflicts.

Toni Morrison is a good author.Toni Morrison is a good author. She writes about former slaves and She writes about former slaves and

women of color.women of color. Slavery was shameful.Slavery was shameful. Beloved is a good book that deals Beloved is a good book that deals

with many issues relevant to with many issues relevant to literature.literature.

Boring. Boring. Silly!Silly!

Hook: Use your key analytical Hook: Use your key analytical idea of the promptidea of the prompt

From the thesis: From the thesis: non-linear non-linear storyline mirrors characters’ storyline mirrors characters’ fractured livesfractured lives

So…Form reflects content.So…Form reflects content. Hook: Hook: Experimental writers often Experimental writers often

challenge the traditional plot form challenge the traditional plot form by abandoning a chronological by abandoning a chronological plot line in favor of one less linear plot line in favor of one less linear and more fragmented.and more fragmented.

Toni Morrison’s Toni Morrison’s BelovedBeloved is told is told in shifting voices of seemingly in shifting voices of seemingly unrelated narratives, rather than unrelated narratives, rather than chronologically, which serves to chronologically, which serves to emphasize the characters’ emphasize the characters’ disjointed personalities and disjointed personalities and experiences. experiences.

Background Info: title, author, Background Info: title, author, key evidencekey evidence

Then, just add the thesis Then, just add the thesis statement.statement.

Experimental writers often challenge Experimental writers often challenge the traditional plot form by abandoning a the traditional plot form by abandoning a chronological plot line in favor of one less chronological plot line in favor of one less linear and more fragmented. Toni Morrison’s linear and more fragmented. Toni Morrison’s BelovedBeloved is told in shifting voices of seemingly is told in shifting voices of seemingly unrelated narratives, rather than unrelated narratives, rather than chronologically, which serves to emphasize chronologically, which serves to emphasize the characters’ disjointed personalities and the characters’ disjointed personalities and experiences. experiences. Morrison mirrors the Morrison mirrors the fragmentation of her characters’ lives through fragmentation of her characters’ lives through her novel’s non-linear structure, specifically her novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through her use of flashback, stream of through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and shifts in point of view.consciousness, and shifts in point of view.

Complete Intro ParagraphComplete Intro Paragraph

An effectively-written and well-An effectively-written and well-organized introductory organized introductory paragraph should act as a paragraph should act as a guide and outline for the rest guide and outline for the rest of the paper. It prepares your of the paper. It prepares your reader to be convinced and reader to be convinced and impressed by your argument.impressed by your argument.

Thesis Statement Thesis Statement Topic SentencesTopic Sentences

Split your thesis statement into Split your thesis statement into sub-topicssub-topics

These will define the topics of These will define the topics of your body paragraphsyour body paragraphs

Each paragraph should discuss Each paragraph should discuss only and entirely the content of only and entirely the content of the topic sentencethe topic sentence

Thesis Statement: Thesis Statement: Morrison mirrors the fragmentation of her characters’ lives through her novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and shifts in point of view.

Topic Sentences: Topic Sentences:

1. 1. Beloved uses flashback to demonstrate that the past is always a part of the present.

2. 2. In addition to flashback, Morrison uses stream of consciousness to illustrate the fragmented state of her characters’ minds.

3. 3. Morrison also employs a shifting point of view as a method of not only fragmenting the narrative but also to illustrate how each character is connected.

Thesis Thesis TSs TSs

Essay Outline:

I. IntroductionII. Body 1

1. Topic Sentence: Beloved uses flashback to demonstrate that the past is always a part of the present. 2. Flashback Example w/ commentary3. Flashback Example w/ commentary4. Flashback Example w/ commentary5. Conclusion Sentence (revisit, wrap-up)

III. Body 21. Topic Sentence: In addition to flashback, Morrison uses stream of consciousness to illustrate the fragmented state of her characters’ minds.2. Stream of Consciousness Example w/ commentary3. Stream of Consciousness Example w/ commentary4. Stream of Consciousness Example w/ commentary5. Conclusion Sentence (revisit, wrap-up)

* Don’t forget to add transitions between ideas and to introduce your quotations properly!

IV. Body 31. Topic Sentence: Morrison also

employs a shifting point of view as a method of not only fragmenting the narrative but also to illustrate how each character is connected.

2. Point of View Example w/ commentary3. Point of View Example w/ commentary4. Point of View Example w/ commentary5. Conclusion Sentence (revisit, wrap-up)

Writing Body Paragraphs: Writing Body Paragraphs: Choose the Perfect QuotesChoose the Perfect Quotes

• Generally, try to find three direct Generally, try to find three direct quotations that prove each quotations that prove each element of your thesis element of your thesis statement.statement.• 33 examples of flashback examples of flashback• 33 examples of stream of examples of stream of

consciousnessconsciousness• 33 examples of shifts in point of examples of shifts in point of

viewview

Writing Body Paragraphs: Writing Body Paragraphs: Commentary for Every QuoteCommentary for Every Quote

Commentary is analysis, without Commentary is analysis, without it, you’ve just written a summary it, you’ve just written a summary or book reportor book report

First, analyze the implications/ First, analyze the implications/ deeper meanings of the quotedeeper meanings of the quote

Second, connect the analysis to Second, connect the analysis to the prompt, thesis statement, the prompt, thesis statement, and topic sentenceand topic sentence

V. Conclusion

It is sometimes helpful to think of the conclusion as a reversal of your introduction: specific to broad

1. Revisit your thesis considering all you’ve said since

Original Thesis: Original Thesis: Morrison mirrors the Morrison mirrors the fragmentation of her characters’ lives fragmentation of her characters’ lives through her novel’s non-linear structure, through her novel’s non-linear structure, specifically through her use of flashback, specifically through her use of flashback, stream of consciousness, and shifts in stream of consciousness, and shifts in point of view.point of view.

Revisitation: Because of Morrison’s innovative use of basic literary elements like flashback, stream of consciousness, and point of view, she is able to produce a powerful effect that reflects the sometimes chaotic and often broken lives of her characters.

Now we work backwards to something a little more general.

Introduction Background:Introduction Background: Toni Morrison’s Toni Morrison’s BelovedBeloved is told in shifting voices of is told in shifting voices of seemingly unrelated narratives, rather than seemingly unrelated narratives, rather than chronologically, which serves to emphasize chronologically, which serves to emphasize the characters’ disjointed personalities and the characters’ disjointed personalities and experiences. experiences.

Conclusion Revisitation:Conclusion Revisitation: By constructing the By constructing the novel in what at first appears to be unrelated novel in what at first appears to be unrelated pieces unanchored in chronology or point of pieces unanchored in chronology or point of view, Morrison actually achieves a kind of view, Morrison actually achieves a kind of unity that supports the development of the unity that supports the development of the story and her characters.story and her characters.

We finally add the “clincher:” an idea the reader can apply elsewhere

In doing so, Morrison creates a new kind of American novel, one not tied to a form rooted in tradition. Similarly, her characters forge ahead to create new lives, confidently rejecting the history of oppression from which it had once seemed impossible to escape.

Done! Your essay is complete!