Literary Analysis – Using Elements of Literature

*To successfully analyze literature, you’ll need to remember that authors make specific choices for particular reasons. When creating an analysis, you can develop your argument based on a single term (or combination of terms) listed below.

Allegory – a narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic trait (i.e. greed, vanity, or bravery) and attempt to convey some larger lesson or meaning of life.

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – a man’s struggle to contain his inner primal instincts

District 9 – South African ApartheidX-Men – the evils of prejudiceHarry Potter – the dangers of seeking “racial purity”

**Apartheid was a political and social system in South Africa while it was under white

minority rule. This was in use in the 20th century, from 1948 to 1994. Racial segregation had

been used for centuries, but the new policy started in 1948 was stricter and more systematic.

Character – representation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities or functions in a work of fiction.

Protagonist – the character the story revolves aroundAntagonist – a character or force that opposes the protagonistMinor Character – often provides support and illuminates the protagonistStatic Character – a character that remains the sameDynamic Character – a character that changes in some important way

Connotation – implied meaning of a word. BEWARE – connotations can change over time.

Confidence = ArroganceMouse = Rat Cautious = ScaredCurious = NoseyFrugal = Cheap

Plot – the arrangement of ideas and/or incidents that make up a story.Foreshadowing – when the author clues the reader into something that will occur

later in the story.Suspense – the tension that the author uses to create a feeling of discomfort about

the unknownExposition – background information regarding the setting, characters, and plot.Crisis – a significant point in the story that determines how it must be read.

Setting – the place or location of the action taking place. Setting change constantly through a novel and not only does the change in setting intrigue the reader it will also add to your writing experience.

Point of View – pertains to who is telling the story and how it is told.Narrator – the person telling the story who may or may not be a character in the story.First Person – narrator who participates in action, but sometimes has limited

knowledge or visionSecond Person – narrator addresses the reader directly uses “you” (i.e. “you walk into

your bedroom”)Third Person – narrator is a detached observer who is not a character in the story, but

also does not know everything.Omniscient – narrator knows everything even what all of the characters are seeing,

doing, feeling, and thinking.

Imagery – is created in a literary work by using descriptive words that when linked together form a picture in the readers mind.

Visual imagery pertains to graphics, visual scenes, pictures, or the sense of sight.

“He had dark eyes, wild curly hair, but a kind smile.”

Auditory imagery pertains to sounds, noises, music, or the sense of hearing.

“Outside the chirps of crickets echoed across the valley.”

Olfactory imagery pertains to odors, scents, or the sense of smell.

“The sweet warm smell of apple pie wafted upstairs into my bedroom.”

Tactile imagery pertains to physical textures or the sense of touch

“The mud covered him from head to toe and as he stood looking at mom, the slimy wet goo that covered him oozed away from him on the ground.”

Gustatory imagery pertains to flavors or the sense of taste.

“As I drank down the hot purple liquid it reminded me of the thick bitter syrup mother gave me when I was sick.”

Kinesthetic imagery pertains to movements or the sense of bodily motion.

“His legs moved so quickly they almost looked like they were rotating in a circle.”

Organic imagery or subjective imagery, pertains to personal experiences of a character's body, including emotion and the senses of hunger, thirst, fatigue, and pain.

“His body was wasting away. His cheeks were sunken and white and his neck…”

Symbolism – when an object is meant to be representative of something or an idea greater than the object itself.

Cross – representative of Christ or ChristianityBald Eagle – America or PatriotismOwl – Wisdom or knowledgeYellow – implies cowardice or rotWhite – purity or virginityGreen – wealth, health, and greed