Analyzing Analyzing LiteratureLiteratureHonors English 11Honors English 11

Unit 1Unit 1

Step I: What is your first Step I: What is your first impression of the literary impression of the literary

work?work? 1. 1. What expectations or preconceptions What expectations or preconceptions do you have before you begin reading?do you have before you begin reading?

Do you have any prior knowledge of the Do you have any prior knowledge of the author or this work or similar works? author or this work or similar works?

Have introductory notes in textbooks or Have introductory notes in textbooks or instructors' comments or study instructors' comments or study questions influenced your initial questions influenced your initial expectations?expectations?

Do you enjoy reading Do you enjoy reading this work?this work?

Why or why not?Why or why not? What motivates you to read through What motivates you to read through

to the end, or reread it (besides the to the end, or reread it (besides the fact that it may be required for a fact that it may be required for a class)?class)?

What is your initial What is your initial impression of the work's impression of the work's

purpose?purpose? Is it entertaining, informative, didactic Is it entertaining, informative, didactic

(teaching a lesson), philosophical, (teaching a lesson), philosophical, argumentative, or some combination of argumentative, or some combination of these?these?

Do the title, division headings, and opening Do the title, division headings, and opening lines give precise indications of the purpose lines give precise indications of the purpose or subtle or symbolic clues, or misleading or subtle or symbolic clues, or misleading impressions of the whole work?impressions of the whole work?

Try to begin reading with an open mind and Try to begin reading with an open mind and attempt to understand the work on its own attempt to understand the work on its own terms before judging its worth or quality.terms before judging its worth or quality.

Is this work difficult to Is this work difficult to read?read?

If so, why?If so, why? Have you looked up unfamiliar words Have you looked up unfamiliar words

in a dictionary?in a dictionary? Do foreign words or archaic (outdated) Do foreign words or archaic (outdated)

words or unusual sentence patterns words or unusual sentence patterns make reading difficult?make reading difficult?

Does the work violate our expectations Does the work violate our expectations about ordinary ways of using the about ordinary ways of using the English language?English language?

STEP II: WHAT TYPE OF STEP II: WHAT TYPE OF LITERARY WORK IS IT?  LITERARY WORK IS IT? 

Literature is classified by Literature is classified by genregenre (type or kind). (type or kind). The three basic forms of literature are prose, The three basic forms of literature are prose,

drama, and poetry. drama, and poetry. Nonfiction proseNonfiction prose includes history, biography, includes history, biography,

autobiography, religious and philosophical autobiography, religious and philosophical writing, literary criticism, political tracts, travel writing, literary criticism, political tracts, travel literature, and essays on many other subjects.literature, and essays on many other subjects.

Prose fictionProse fiction has been divided, since the origins has been divided, since the origins of the modern novel in the eighteenth century, of the modern novel in the eighteenth century, into the into the novelnovel, the , the novellanovella or or novelettenovelette (a story (a story of intermediate length), and the of intermediate length), and the short storyshort story. . Predecessors of these genres include fables, Predecessors of these genres include fables, parables, and tales of various kinds (including parables, and tales of various kinds (including folk tales, fabliaux, and fairy tales).folk tales, fabliaux, and fairy tales).

Type of Literary Work Type of Literary Work Continued..Continued.. DramaDrama may be written in prose or poetry. Most may be written in prose or poetry. Most

drama is meant to be performed. When we read a drama is meant to be performed. When we read a play we should take into consideration the play we should take into consideration the differences between watching a performance and differences between watching a performance and reading the script, with the background and stage reading the script, with the background and stage directions that are provided by some playwrights.directions that are provided by some playwrights.

PoetryPoetry may be may be narrativenarrative (telling a story, as in a (telling a story, as in a balladballad or a long or a long epicepic poem) or poem) or lyricallyrical (shorter (shorter subjective or reflective poems that include specific subjective or reflective poems that include specific types such as the types such as the sonnetsonnet, the , the odeode, and the , and the elegyelegy).).

FilmFilm,, which combines techniques of drama, which combines techniques of drama, poetry, visual arts, and music, has been included in poetry, visual arts, and music, has been included in literary studies since the twentieth century, with literary studies since the twentieth century, with movie scripts being studied as works of art movie scripts being studied as works of art alongside the books and plays many films are alongside the books and plays many films are based on.  based on.  

STEP III: WHAT LITERARY STEP III: WHAT LITERARY TECHNIQUES ARE USED TECHNIQUES ARE USED

IN THIS WORK? IN THIS WORK? The following is a list of some of the The following is a list of some of the

major elements and techniques of major elements and techniques of literature. Obviously, no one work of literature. Obviously, no one work of literature contains all of them (e.g., literature contains all of them (e.g., only a narrative has a plot).  Decide only a narrative has a plot).  Decide which elements are used and which which elements are used and which are given the most emphasis (and are given the most emphasis (and why) in the particular work you are why) in the particular work you are analyzing.analyzing.

1. Plot 1. Plot What are the actions or events of the narrative What are the actions or events of the narrative

and how are they presented? Are there major and how are they presented? Are there major and minor events in the story? How are they and minor events in the story? How are they related?related?

How does the passage of How does the passage of timetime function in the function in the plot? Are the episodes in plot? Are the episodes in chronologicalchronological order? If order? If not, why not?not, why not?

Are any later incidents Are any later incidents foreshadowedforeshadowed early in the early in the story? Are story? Are flashbacksflashbacks used to fill in past events? used to fill in past events? If so, why?If so, why?

What elements create What elements create suspensesuspense in the plot? in the plot? Where is the Where is the climaxclimax (most intense action or point (most intense action or point of highest emotional interest)?of highest emotional interest)?

Plot Continued..Plot Continued.. Does the plot depend on chance or Does the plot depend on chance or

coincidence, or does it grow out of the coincidence, or does it grow out of the personalities of the characters? Do events personalities of the characters? Do events seem seem realisticrealistic or or unrealisticunrealistic ( (romanticromantic or or fantasticfantastic)?)?

What conflicts are dramatized? Are they What conflicts are dramatized? Are they internalinternal conflictsconflicts (within the minds of people) (within the minds of people) or or external conflictsexternal conflicts (between individuals or (between individuals or between people and the world)?between people and the world)?

Are conflicts resolved at the end of the story? Are conflicts resolved at the end of the story? Is there a surprise ending? Is the ending Is there a surprise ending? Is the ending satisfying to you as the reader?satisfying to you as the reader?

2. Character   2. Character   Are the characters believable (Are the characters believable (roundround and and

complex, like real people) or are they flat complex, like real people) or are they flat stereotypesstereotypes? (Remember that literary characters ? (Remember that literary characters are always fictional creations; they can never be are always fictional creations; they can never be as complex as real people.)as complex as real people.)

Is there one Is there one protagonistprotagonist (main character) or (main character) or several? Does the story have traditional heroes or several? Does the story have traditional heroes or heroines (protagonists) and villains (heroines (protagonists) and villains (antagonistsantagonists)?)?

How does the author reveal characters–through How does the author reveal characters–through direct description and authorial comment, direct description and authorial comment, through the comments and thoughts of other through the comments and thoughts of other characters, or through the characters' own characters, or through the characters' own actions, words, and thoughts?actions, words, and thoughts?

Character Continued..Character Continued.. What are the most important traits of the main What are the most important traits of the main

characters? How do their judgments of characters? How do their judgments of themselves compare with others' opinions of themselves compare with others' opinions of them? What is the author's attitude to them? What is the author's attitude to characters? Are we meant to sympathize with characters? Are we meant to sympathize with the characters or criticize them?the characters or criticize them?

How do the secondary and How do the secondary and minor charactersminor characters function in the work? Do they provide parallels function in the work? Do they provide parallels or contrasts with traits of the main characters?or contrasts with traits of the main characters?

Do the main characters Do the main characters developdevelop (change or (change or learn something) in the story, or do they learn something) in the story, or do they remain remain staticstatic (unchanging)? How? Why? (unchanging)? How? Why?

3. Setting 3. Setting

What is the setting of the work? Is there What is the setting of the work? Is there more than one? (Consider historical more than one? (Consider historical period, season, time of day, geographical period, season, time of day, geographical place, exterior and interior, urban and place, exterior and interior, urban and rural settings.)rural settings.)

Why has the author chosen to emphasize Why has the author chosen to emphasize certain details of the setting? Does the certain details of the setting? Does the setting simply provide a realistic setting simply provide a realistic backdrop or does it contain symbolic backdrop or does it contain symbolic details?details?

Setting Continued..Setting Continued..

Are the social class and occupation Are the social class and occupation of the characters significant? Does of the characters significant? Does the social, economic, political, or the social, economic, political, or religious environment affect the lives religious environment affect the lives of characters and help to shape the of characters and help to shape the theme of the work?theme of the work?

What What moodmood or or atmosphereatmosphere is created is created by details of the setting? (gloomy, by details of the setting? (gloomy, tense, cheerful, etc.)?tense, cheerful, etc.)?

4. Point of View   4. Point of View   From what point of view is the story or poem From what point of view is the story or poem

narrated? Does the narrator speak in narrated? Does the narrator speak in first first personperson (using "I") or in (using "I") or in third personthird person? ?

(a) If there is a (a) If there is a first-person narratorfirst-person narrator, is that , is that person a major character or a minor character person a major character or a minor character observing the main action?  What are the observing the main action?  What are the limitations on what this person can show and limitations on what this person can show and tell us?  Is this narrator a tell us?  Is this narrator a reliablereliable one, or is he one, or is he or she too naive, self-deluded, or deceptive to or she too naive, self-deluded, or deceptive to be reliable? be reliable? 

(b) If the narration is in third person, is the (b) If the narration is in third person, is the narrator narrator omniscientomniscient (able to see anything and (able to see anything and tell us what is in the characters' minds), or is tell us what is in the characters' minds), or is there there limited omnisciencelimited omniscience so that we see into so that we see into the mind of only one character? the mind of only one character?

Point of View Point of View Continued…Continued…

(c) Is the point of view (c) Is the point of view objectiveobjective (dramatic), so (dramatic), so that we see characters only from the outside that we see characters only from the outside but do not see into their minds? This is the but do not see into their minds? This is the point of view in drama but it is rare in fiction. point of view in drama but it is rare in fiction.  In a play characters' thoughts are revealed  In a play characters' thoughts are revealed only if they think out loud or speak directly to only if they think out loud or speak directly to the audience or confide in another character.the audience or confide in another character.

What is the prevailing What is the prevailing tonetone of the work? That of the work? That is, what attitudes toward the subject are is, what attitudes toward the subject are conveyed by the narrator's choice of words? Is conveyed by the narrator's choice of words? Is the subject presented in a manner that is the subject presented in a manner that is serious, satirical, playful, condescending, serious, satirical, playful, condescending, etc.?etc.?

Does the point of view change in this work?Does the point of view change in this work?

5. Images and Symbols 5. Images and Symbols

What What imagesimages (any details that appeal to (any details that appeal to the physical senses) are used in this work?the physical senses) are used in this work?

Are the images Are the images literalliteral (e.g., a description (e.g., a description of a real rose), or of a real rose), or figurativefigurative (as in, e.g., (as in, e.g., the the similesimile, "My love is , "My love is likelike a rose," and the a rose," and the metaphormetaphor, "My love , "My love isis a rose")? a rose")?

Are there repeated images, or groups of Are there repeated images, or groups of related images in the work (e.g., various related images in the work (e.g., various kinds of light and dark images)?  If so, kinds of light and dark images)?  If so, what is the significance of these patterns?what is the significance of these patterns?

Images and Symbols Images and Symbols Continued..Continued..

Does any image or action suggest such Does any image or action suggest such complex abstract meanings beyond itself complex abstract meanings beyond itself that it functions as a that it functions as a symbolsymbol in this in this work?work?

Are the symbols Are the symbols conventionalconventional, familiar , familiar ones (e.g., a rose symbolizing love, a ones (e.g., a rose symbolizing love, a cross representing Christianity), or cross representing Christianity), or unusual, private symbols?  (The white unusual, private symbols?  (The white whale in whale in Moby DickMoby Dick, e.g., has many , e.g., has many possible symbolic meanings suggested possible symbolic meanings suggested by Melville.)by Melville.)

6.6. Style and Language Style and Language

How would you describe the choice of words How would you describe the choice of words and their arrangement (the and their arrangement (the stylestyle) in this ) in this work? Does the author call attention to the work? Does the author call attention to the way he or she uses words, or is the style way he or she uses words, or is the style inconspicuous?inconspicuous?

What are the various What are the various connotationsconnotations (shades of (shades of meaning, or emotional suggestions) of key meaning, or emotional suggestions) of key words in this work?words in this work?

If If dialectdialect or or colloquialcolloquial speech is used, what is speech is used, what is its effect? Is the level of language appropriate its effect? Is the level of language appropriate for the speaker or characters in the work?for the speaker or characters in the work?

Style and Language Style and Language Continued..Continued..

Are there statements or actions in this work Are there statements or actions in this work that are presented that are presented ironicallyironically (that is, there (that is, there is a discrepancy between appearance and is a discrepancy between appearance and reality, or between what is said and what is reality, or between what is said and what is intended)?intended)?

Is the style consistent throughout the work Is the style consistent throughout the work or does it shift to a different style (more or does it shift to a different style (more formal or less formal, for example)?formal or less formal, for example)?

Is the style suitable for the subject and Is the style suitable for the subject and theme of the work?  Does it contribute to theme of the work?  Does it contribute to the meaning of the whole or hinder the the meaning of the whole or hinder the reader's understanding?reader's understanding?

STEP IV: STEP IV: WHAT ARE THE THEMES OF THE WHAT ARE THE THEMES OF THE

LITERARY WORK?LITERARY WORK? ThemeTheme may be thought of as the may be thought of as the

central ideas, values, thesis, central ideas, values, thesis, message, or meaning presented in a message, or meaning presented in a work of literature.  The theme work of literature.  The theme reveals the connection between the reveals the connection between the literary work (the world created by literary work (the world created by the author's imagination) and the the author's imagination) and the outside world. outside world.

Themes Continued…Themes Continued… Analyzing theme always involves generalizations Analyzing theme always involves generalizations

and abstractions. There are universal themes and abstractions. There are universal themes that can be found in countless works of that can be found in countless works of literature, such as love and hate, good and evil, literature, such as love and hate, good and evil, innocence and experience, communication and innocence and experience, communication and isolation, life and death, society and the isolation, life and death, society and the individual. A story or poem may be individual. A story or poem may be aboutabout a a specific love affair, for example; it is easy to say specific love affair, for example; it is easy to say the general subject is love, but interpreting the the general subject is love, but interpreting the theme involves explaining what the work says theme involves explaining what the work says about love.about love.

Great, complex works of literature have more Great, complex works of literature have more than one theme and we can never pin down than one theme and we can never pin down their meanings with absolute certainty. Some their meanings with absolute certainty. Some works are deliberately vague or ambiguous works are deliberately vague or ambiguous (suggesting more than one alternate meaning). (suggesting more than one alternate meaning). Our interpretations of theme must always be Our interpretations of theme must always be supported by evidence from the text. supported by evidence from the text.

Themes may be revealed in Themes may be revealed in a number of ways: a number of ways:

Does the title indicate theme?Does the title indicate theme? Are themes revealed in direct Are themes revealed in direct

statements by the author? statements by the author? Most imaginative literature presents Most imaginative literature presents

theme indirectly and dramatically, theme indirectly and dramatically, although in some works the theme is although in some works the theme is quite obvious and in others it is quite obvious and in others it is more difficult to detect.more difficult to detect.

Themes may be revealed in Themes may be revealed in a number of ways:a number of ways:

Are themes revealed in direct statements by a Are themes revealed in direct statements by a narrator in the work?narrator in the work?

Are themes revealed through actions, dramatic Are themes revealed through actions, dramatic statements or personalities of characters?statements or personalities of characters?If characters convey conflicting values, which If characters convey conflicting values, which values does the whole work seem to be values does the whole work seem to be defending?defending?Sometimes a character's main function is to Sometimes a character's main function is to symbolize an abstract quality, such as greed or symbolize an abstract quality, such as greed or honesty or laziness. Remember that names are honesty or laziness. Remember that names are sometimes symbolic, in obvious or subtle ways.sometimes symbolic, in obvious or subtle ways.

Are there other symbols, images, and descriptive Are there other symbols, images, and descriptive

details in the work that suggest themes? details in the work that suggest themes?

Themes may be revealed in Themes may be revealed in a number of ways:a number of ways:

Are there characters or events or Are there characters or events or other details that seem to have no other details that seem to have no importance in the plot of a story? In importance in the plot of a story? In good literature, these details are good literature, these details are there for a reason; they probably there for a reason; they probably have a special thematic significance.have a special thematic significance.

STEP V: EVALUATION AND STEP V: EVALUATION AND REVIEW REVIEW

A. Personal Reactions A. Personal Reactions     Has your reading of this work been Has your reading of this work been

enhanced in any way by your enhanced in any way by your personal experience, other readings personal experience, other readings and studies, or plays and movies you and studies, or plays and movies you have seen? (What have you learned have seen? (What have you learned from this work that could enhance from this work that could enhance your own life and work?)your own life and work?)

Have you made notes (including Have you made notes (including underlining and marking in your own underlining and marking in your own text) to help you remember and text) to help you remember and review important features of this review important features of this work?work?

Evaluation and Review Evaluation and Review Continued…Continued…

Are you judging the work solely on its own Are you judging the work solely on its own merits, unswayed by personal judgments merits, unswayed by personal judgments about the author's life and reputation or about the author's life and reputation or private prejudices about the content of private prejudices about the content of the work (including prejudices against the work (including prejudices against required reading or long, difficult works)?required reading or long, difficult works)?

Do you agree or disagree with evaluations Do you agree or disagree with evaluations made by other readers of this work made by other readers of this work (students, professors, critics)?(students, professors, critics)?

Do you agree or disagree with the ideas Do you agree or disagree with the ideas or values presented in the work? Why?or values presented in the work? Why?

Evaluation and Review Evaluation and Review Continued…Continued…

Has your enjoyment and Has your enjoyment and appreciation of the work increased appreciation of the work increased or decreased after analyzing it or decreased after analyzing it carefully on your own or in class?carefully on your own or in class?

If you were writing a review of this If you were writing a review of this work for a newspaper, what would work for a newspaper, what would you say to encourage others to read you say to encourage others to read it or not read it?it or not read it?

Evaluation and Review Evaluation and Review Continued…Continued…

B. Author's AccomplishmentB. Author's Accomplishment Do the imaginative world and ideas of Do the imaginative world and ideas of

the work seem vivid and alive?  Does it the work seem vivid and alive?  Does it present a mature and meaningful vision present a mature and meaningful vision of reality that deserves serious of reality that deserves serious reflection?reflection?

Is the language of the work appealing? Is the language of the work appealing?  Are the form and content consistent  Are the form and content consistent with each other? What are the strengths with each other? What are the strengths and weaknesses in the literary and weaknesses in the literary techniques used?techniques used?

Evaluation and Review Evaluation and Review Continued…Continued…

Has the reputation of this work and its author Has the reputation of this work and its author changed since it was written?  Does changed since it was written?  Does knowledge of the author's life enhance your knowledge of the author's life enhance your understanding of the work? (Avoid simplistic understanding of the work? (Avoid simplistic assumptions about the connections between assumptions about the connections between authors' personal lives and characters or authors' personal lives and characters or events in their writings.)events in their writings.)

How does this work compare to other works How does this work compare to other works by the same author, and to works by other by the same author, and to works by other authors?  (This is especially important in a authors?  (This is especially important in a survey course.)survey course.)