Literary Analysis

General InformationMLA Format

Times New Roman, 12 pt. FontDouble Spaced

3-5 Pages (approx. 1,050 – 1,600 words)

To be passed in with the annotated poem which it is about

Due date: Tuesday, March 3rd

General InformationA literary analysis is about taking the poem

apart to see how individual parts and pieces contribute to the theme

You are looking closely at the structure, organization, and meaning behind the poem

Your paper should be focused on the theme of the poem and what contributes to an understandingHow is meaning created by the use of

structure, character, setting, and/or other techniques?

ThesisThesis statement: a short statement, usually one sentence, that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, etc., and is developed, supported, and explained in the text by means of examples and evidence

ThesisLook back to your annotations if you’re stuck. Are there any patterns? Does anything stand out?

Your essay should be organized so that every part contributes something to the reader’s understanding of the central idea.

Refer to the literary elements you will use in your argument

Sample ThesisIn the poem “ “, written by

______________, the speaker presents two conflicting views of war; he presents how society is saddened by the war, yet the speaker’s tone suggest that he is grateful for the war. The speaker’s use of symbolism, juxtaposition, and oxymoron portray his happiness of war.

Sample ThesisIn the poem “ “, written by

______________, the speaker presents a poem that represents the individual’s conflicting psychological thoughts in a postmodern world regarding love. The speaker’s free verse, broken rhyme scheme, and hyphen use reflect her own inner conflicts in a postmodern world regarding love.

Sample ThesisIn the poem “ “, written by

______________,Although the speaker has a great wife, he conveys a bitter message about marriage. The speaker’s use of dark metaphor, anaphora, and antithesis allow him to reveal his deepest and darkest thoughts about the social institution of marriage.

ThesisIn the previous examples, each thesis statement states the overall argument and lists about three devices that will prove or support the argument

These devices will be discussed in the body of the essay in order to support the argument In our case, it will show how the theme of the poem is constructed

IntroductionCatch your readers attention!Your introduction should state the

name of the poem and poetIt should also give a brief description

of the poemYour thesis statement will be included

in the introductionAfter reading your introduction,

readers should know what direction your paper is going to take

Development of Argument Linear: in order

In this approach you would be going through the poem as it is presented

Example: if there is a reoccurring symbol and you want to trace how it changes and develops from the beginning to the end

Non-Linear: out of orderThe poem is examined out of order. You may use

support from the beginning of the poem, link it to the end, then go back to discuss the middle

Either is fine, but make sure it is organized, your argument is clear, and you can relate it back to your thesis

ParagraphsEach paragraph should consist of a point

which is credible, relates to and supports your thesis, and is analytical

Focus your ideasRemember to always use evidence!

Topic sentences are a great idea because they tell the reader the focus of your argumentExample: Repetition is the conscious

and decisive replication of words or phrases.

Remember to always use evidence!

Evidence You need to you evidence from the poem to

back up what you are sayingQuotes

However, this is an analysis so it is not enough to just quote

You also need to analyse the quote and describe, in your own words, how the quote supports the claim you are makingConsider the context of the quote (where it is

located in the poem) Is the quote part of a pattern?

CitationShort Quote: “Roses are red / Violets are blue” (1-2)

The slash mark / indicates where a line endsYou do not need to write the poet’s name because

your essay is focused on that 1 poem. Longer than 3 Lines:In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke

explores his childhood with his father:The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. (1-4)

ConclusionSum up the main points you want the

reader to take away from your paperOffer your interpretation of the poem,

which by now should be convincing to the reader since you have presented your evidence in the body of the paper

Your conclusion should flow naturally and fit with the development of your essay, not be a separate piece