Analyzing Literature:

1
Analyzing Literature

• You will be analyzing literature until you
  graduate college!
• Knowing how to approach an analysis is necessary
  and helpful!

2
WHAT IS A RESPONSE TO LITERATURE?

• An effective literary response essay IS NOT just
  a summary of what happened in the story it must
  include specific examples of significant ideas,
  themes, or literary devices that are ANALYZED to
  show the readers insight.

3
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A LITERARY RESPONSE?

• To demonstrate thoughtful
• comprehension BEYOND basic
• plot
• To explain the UNDERLYING
• meaning of the text.

4
TO SUCCESSFULLY RESPOND TO LITERATURE, THE WRITER
MUST

• Carefully read and address ALL parts of the
  writing prompt
• Create a meaningful and interesting thesis about
  the text BASED ON THE WRITING TASK
• 3. Provide TEXTUAL EVIDENCE and EXPLAIN how
  the details help to SUPPORT the thesis

5
TO SUCCESSFULLY RESPOND TO LITERATURE, THE WRITER
MUST

• Draw thoughtful conclusions and global
  connections about the text
• Explain how the authors use of literary devices
  affect the authors purpose of the text.
• 6. Discuss the ambiguities and complexities
  within the text.

6
SAMPLE RESPONSE TO LITERATURE PROMPTS

• Identify what the main character learned as a
  result of conflict
• Identify how the main character changed .
• Explain how the author depicts the character as
  the person he/she is.
• Discuss how two characters in the story relate to
  each other.
• Determine the authors purpose or message to the
  readers.

7
SAMPLE RESPONSES CONTINUED

• Describe the theme of the story and how it
  relates to people in general.
• Explain how the events in the story motivated the
  main character.
• Explain the significance of the title of the work
  selected
• Identify the main characters strengths and/or
  weaknesses

8
7 TYPES OF LITERARY RESPONSE

• CHARACTERIZATION
• THEME
• RELATIONSHIPS
• MOTIVES
• CONFLICT
• SYMBOLISM
• 7. IRONY

9
CHARACTERIZATION

• DEFINITION
• Describe how a character reveals certain
  personality traits.
• EXAMPLE from The Odyssey
• Describe how Odysseus reveals courage and
  demonstrates leadership in the classic word The
  Odyssey.

10
THEME

• DEFINITION
• Explain how specific events relate to the theme.
• EXAMPLE from Of Mice and Men
• Identify one theme of Steinbecks Of Mice and Men
  and explain how specific events reveal that
  theme.

11
RELATIONSHIPS

• DEFINITION
• How characters interact and treat each other in a
  story.
• EXAMPLE from Romeo and Juliet
• Analyze how Juliets relationship with her
  parents affects her decisions.

12
MOTIVES

• DEFINITION
• The reasons why a character makes certain
  decisions.
• EXAMPLE from Romeo and Juliet
• Select one character in the play and explain how
  his or her decisions affected that character and
  others.

13
CONFLICT

• DEFINITION
• External Conflict- a struggle or problem that a
  character has with an outside force
• Internal Conflict- a struggle that a
  character has within oneself
• EXAMPLE from The Pearl
• Explain how the conflict between man and society
  is illustrated in the story.
• or
• Explain how Kinos internal struggle about
  keeping the pearl affects his relationship with
  Juana.

14
SYMBOLISM

• DEFINITION
• When an object represents, or stands for some
  abstract idea
• Example from The Pearl
• Explain what the pearl symbolizes when Kino first
  discovers it. How has its meaning changed at the
  end of the story?

15
IRONY

• DEFINITION
• VERBAL Irony- a contrast between what is said and
  what is meant (sarcasm)
• SITUATIONAL Irony- a contrast between what is
  expected to happen and what actually happens
• Example from The Pearl
• Explain how Kinos decision to throw the pearl
  back into the ocean at the end of the story is
  ironic. Explain how the use of irony enriches
  the story and its message.

16
LITERARY RESPONSE FORMAT

• INTRODUCTION
• Title of text, author, and brief summary
  statement
• Thesis
• BODY PARAGRAPHS
• Must support thesis
• Provide quotes and commentary
• CONCLUSION
• Restate thesis
• Lesson learned, authors purpose, message for
  readers