Analytical WritingAnalytical WritingWriting About LiteratureWriting About Literature

NovelsNovelsShort StoriesShort Stories

DramaDramaPoetryPoetry

Why bother?Why bother?

““I think, therefore I am.” (I guess some of I think, therefore I am.” (I guess some of you may not be…)you may not be…)

Why dissect a frog? To learn how and why Why dissect a frog? To learn how and why things inside the frog work as they do. Why things inside the frog work as they do. Why are there two arteries here instead of one?are there two arteries here instead of one?

The written word gives us access to the The written word gives us access to the countless experiences and ideas of those countless experiences and ideas of those around us and those who came before us; it around us and those who came before us; it can deepen our understanding of the world can deepen our understanding of the world and how we live.and how we live.

If you don’t learn how to write well, my rabbit, If you don’t learn how to write well, my rabbit, Foo-foo, will haunt your dreams forever…Foo-foo, will haunt your dreams forever…

What does good analytical writing What does good analytical writing look like?look like?

Analysis does not equal description and Analysis does not equal description and summary (though these may be present in summary (though these may be present in your writing)your writing)

Goes “beneath the surface,” going beyond Goes “beneath the surface,” going beyond describing ideas to examining relationships describing ideas to examining relationships between ideasbetween ideas

Your own voice is present in the writing; Your own voice is present in the writing; don’t just tell me what the author of the text don’t just tell me what the author of the text has to say, your voice should come through has to say, your voice should come through and tell me how the text accomplishes what and tell me how the text accomplishes what it does and why it matters!it does and why it matters!

Different Types of AnalysisDifferent Types of Analysis

There are many ways to conduct There are many ways to conduct analysis of text and many lenses analysis of text and many lenses through which we examine literary through which we examine literary works.works.

For our purposes, we will focus on For our purposes, we will focus on FORMALISM. FORMALISM.

You will essentially “stay within the You will essentially “stay within the text” as the source of your topics and text” as the source of your topics and evidence in your analysis evidence in your analysis

MetacriticismMetacriticism

Essentially, being critical of criticism. Essentially, being critical of criticism. Often writers and thinkers debate the Often writers and thinkers debate the

validity and value of using certain terms validity and value of using certain terms and guidelines for evaluating literature. and guidelines for evaluating literature.

Sometimes, artists can be quite satirical Sometimes, artists can be quite satirical about the way criticism is taught (Billy about the way criticism is taught (Billy Collins).Collins).

Comes in waves and trends – critical Comes in waves and trends – critical thought evolves to fit with the literary thought evolves to fit with the literary trends, philosophies, and styles of the era.trends, philosophies, and styles of the era.

Introduction To PoetryIntroduction To PoetryI ask them to take a poemI ask them to take a poemand hold it up to the light and hold it up to the light 

like a color slidelike a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poemI say drop a mouse into a poemand watch him probe his way out,and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's roomor walk inside the poem's roomand feel the walls for a light switch.and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterskiI want them to waterskiacross the surface of a poemacross the surface of a poem

waving at the author's name on the shore.waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to doBut all they want to dois tie the poem to a chair with ropeis tie the poem to a chair with ropeand torture a confession out of it.and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hoseThey begin beating it with a hoseto find out what it really means. to find out what it really means. 

Billy CollinsBilly Collins

Formalism/New CriticismFormalism/New Criticism

Formalism attempts to treat each work as Formalism attempts to treat each work as its own distinct piece, free from its its own distinct piece, free from its environment, era, and even author. environment, era, and even author.

This point of view developed in reaction to This point of view developed in reaction to "...forms of 'extrinsic' criticism that viewed "...forms of 'extrinsic' criticism that viewed the text as either the product of social and the text as either the product of social and historical forces or a document making an historical forces or a document making an ethical statement" ethical statement"

Formalists assume that the keys to Formalists assume that the keys to understanding a text exist within "the text understanding a text exist within "the text itself" itself"

Formalism/New CriticismFormalism/New Criticism How does the work use imagery to develop its own symbols? How does the work use imagery to develop its own symbols?

(i.e. making a certain road stand for death by constant (i.e. making a certain road stand for death by constant association)association)

What is the quality of the work's organic unity "...the working What is the quality of the work's organic unity "...the working together of all the parts to make an inseparable whole..."? In together of all the parts to make an inseparable whole..."? In other words, does how the work is put together reflect what it is?other words, does how the work is put together reflect what it is?

How are the various parts of the work interconnected?How are the various parts of the work interconnected? How do paradox, irony, ambiguity, and tension work in the text?How do paradox, irony, ambiguity, and tension work in the text? How do these parts and their collective whole contribute to or How do these parts and their collective whole contribute to or

not contribute to the aesthetic quality of the work?not contribute to the aesthetic quality of the work? How does the author resolve apparent contradictions within the How does the author resolve apparent contradictions within the

work?work? What does the form of the work say about its content?What does the form of the work say about its content? Is there a central or focal passage that can be said to sum up Is there a central or focal passage that can be said to sum up

the entirety of the work?the entirety of the work? How do the rhythms and/or rhyme schemes of a poem How do the rhythms and/or rhyme schemes of a poem

contribute to the meaning or effect of the piece?contribute to the meaning or effect of the piece?

Formalism/New CriticismFormalism/New Criticism

Its central tenant is that the text of the Its central tenant is that the text of the writer’s work should be the focus of any writer’s work should be the focus of any inquiry or criticism regarding the work. inquiry or criticism regarding the work.

Formalists believe that literature, including Formalists believe that literature, including poetry, should not be interpreted based on poetry, should not be interpreted based on ideology, historical interests, or ideology, historical interests, or psychological principles. psychological principles.

Literary art is the total effect of literary Literary art is the total effect of literary devices and “strategies” the writer uses to devices and “strategies” the writer uses to achieve her aims. achieve her aims.

Formalism/New CriticismFormalism/New Criticism

One key feature that formalists identify as One key feature that formalists identify as distinguishing literature from other distinguishing literature from other endeavors is its use of “defamiliarization.” endeavors is its use of “defamiliarization.” This term refers to the way in which This term refers to the way in which literature uses language in new, unfamiliar, literature uses language in new, unfamiliar, and even strange ways. and even strange ways.

The writer is in control of a universe of her The writer is in control of a universe of her own making. She can explain the world in a own making. She can explain the world in a whole new light through her choice of whole new light through her choice of language and story construction. language and story construction.

What the writer What the writer says says cannot be separated cannot be separated from from how how she says it. she says it.

Formalism/New CriticismFormalism/New Criticism Formalists believed that literature has its own distinct Formalists believed that literature has its own distinct

history and innovations. It is left to the writers to find history and innovations. It is left to the writers to find new approaches to defamiliarization.  new approaches to defamiliarization. 

relationships between concepts are dependent on the relationships between concepts are dependent on the culture and language in which the concepts are culture and language in which the concepts are created. These relationships can be discovered and created. These relationships can be discovered and studied. studied.

believe that literature must be studied on its own believe that literature must be studied on its own terms. It cannot be evaluated in terms of cultural and terms. It cannot be evaluated in terms of cultural and historical “externalities.” The focus of study should historical “externalities.” The focus of study should be the literary strategies and craft of the writer. be the literary strategies and craft of the writer.

Requires an understanding or literary jargon and how Requires an understanding or literary jargon and how various literary/rhetorical devices are employed various literary/rhetorical devices are employed intentionally and carefully for a desired effect.intentionally and carefully for a desired effect.

Good Literary AnalysisGood Literary Analysis An argumentAn argument When you write an extended literary essay, When you write an extended literary essay,

you are essentially making an argument. you are essentially making an argument. You are arguing that your perspective-an You are arguing that your perspective-an interpretation, an evaluative judgment, or interpretation, an evaluative judgment, or a critical evaluation-is a valid one.a critical evaluation-is a valid one.

A debatable thesis statementA debatable thesis statement You must have a specific, detailed thesis You must have a specific, detailed thesis

statement that reveals your perspective, statement that reveals your perspective, and, like any good argument, your and, like any good argument, your perspective must be one which is perspective must be one which is debatable.debatable.

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

Step 1: What is your topic/subject?Step 1: What is your topic/subject? Step 2: What is your Step 2: What is your

position/evaluation/criticism/idea position/evaluation/criticism/idea about the topic?about the topic?

Step 3: Answer WHY? or HOW? Or Step 3: Answer WHY? or HOW? Or SO WHAT? about your idea(s) about SO WHAT? about your idea(s) about the topicthe topic

Bad ExampleBad Example

Shakespeare's Shakespeare's HamletHamlet is a play  is a play about a young man who seeks about a young man who seeks revenge.revenge.

Duh…Duh… That doesn't That doesn't saysay anything-it's basically  anything-it's basically

just a summary and is hardly just a summary and is hardly debatable.debatable.

I call this “reporting”I call this “reporting” Foo-foo doesn’t like reporting…Foo-foo doesn’t like reporting…

Better ExampleBetter Example Hamlet experiences internal conflict Hamlet experiences internal conflict

because he is in love with his mother.because he is in love with his mother. That is debatable, controversial even. The rest of That is debatable, controversial even. The rest of

a paper with this argument as its thesis will be an a paper with this argument as its thesis will be an attempt to show, using specific examples from attempt to show, using specific examples from the text and evidence from scholars, the text and evidence from scholars, (1) (1) howhow Hamlet is in love with his mother, (2)  Hamlet is in love with his mother, (2) why why he's in love with her, and (3) he's in love with her, and (3) whatwhat implications  implications there are for reading the play in this manner.there are for reading the play in this manner.

Adding a how, why, or so what to the thesis itself Adding a how, why, or so what to the thesis itself may also strengthen it. Beware – a thesis that is may also strengthen it. Beware – a thesis that is too long and wordy can compromise its clarity too long and wordy can compromise its clarity and power.and power.

Another Bad ExampleAnother Bad Example

Spirituality means different Spirituality means different things to different people. things to different people. King King LearLear, , The Book of RomansThe Book of Romans, , and and Zen and the Art of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceMotorcycle Maintenance each  each view the spirit differently.view the spirit differently.

Better ExampleBetter Example

King LearKing Lear, The Book of , The Book of RomansRomans, , and and ZenZen and the Art of Motorcycle  and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance each view the soul as Maintenance each view the soul as the center of human personality.the center of human personality.

In comparative analysis, the specifics of In comparative analysis, the specifics of “why, how, or so what” might need to be “why, how, or so what” might need to be addressed elsewhere in your writing addressed elsewhere in your writing because you may not be able to make because you may not be able to make strong generalizations that are true for strong generalizations that are true for each work discussed.each work discussed.

EvidenceEvidence

In FORMALISM, you must prove your In FORMALISM, you must prove your thesis using evidence.thesis using evidence.

You evidence should be direct You evidence should be direct quotations from the text.quotations from the text.

I don’t care how the text makes you I don’t care how the text makes you feel or how the barn on page 45 is like feel or how the barn on page 45 is like the barn at your aunt’s house. the barn at your aunt’s house.

Evidence requires three things: Evidence requires three things: context, the quote itself, and analysis.context, the quote itself, and analysis.

ContextContext

Briefly explain the Briefly explain the circumstances/conditions around the circumstances/conditions around the quotation.quotation.

What is going on in the plot? What is going on in the plot? Who is speaking and to whom?Who is speaking and to whom? What information outside of the What information outside of the

quotation will be necessary for your quotation will be necessary for your reader to understand its significance?reader to understand its significance?

ContextContext

Atticus attempts to comfort Scout after Atticus attempts to comfort Scout after her difficult first day of school:her difficult first day of school:

Dill recounts his story about the Dill recounts his story about the railroad in Mississippi:railroad in Mississippi:

Ms. Maudie often invites the ladies Ms. Maudie often invites the ladies over for tea. At these meetings they over for tea. At these meetings they would discuss the importance of would discuss the importance of reputation: reputation:

The QuoteThe Quote

It should only be one or two sentences It should only be one or two sentences No “quote bombs” to fill spaceNo “quote bombs” to fill space Quotes longer than 4 lines in block formatQuotes longer than 4 lines in block format Cite correctly per MLA, using the author’s Cite correctly per MLA, using the author’s

last name and page number (Moulison 34).last name and page number (Moulison 34). Periods go after the citationPeriods go after the citation Use ellipsis (…) to shorten quotationsUse ellipsis (…) to shorten quotations It is ok to quote a word or phrase rather It is ok to quote a word or phrase rather

than an entire passagethan an entire passage

AnalysisAnalysis

The most important part!The most important part! How exactly does this quotation How exactly does this quotation

support your thesis and/or further your support your thesis and/or further your ideas?ideas?

Directly interject your own voice, and Directly interject your own voice, and make the connection for your reader.make the connection for your reader.

Use some polysyllabic words, and vary Use some polysyllabic words, and vary your sentence structure so you sound your sentence structure so you sound like less of a moron.like less of a moron.

AnalysisAnalysis

Lee’s use of the words _____________ Lee’s use of the words _____________ and __________ signify a negative and __________ signify a negative association with ____________.association with ____________.

Atticus tells Scout and Jem Atticus tells Scout and Jem ___________ because _______________. ___________ because _______________. This recurring motif suggests that This recurring motif suggests that _____________._____________.

The Last SlideThe Last Slide

Introductions and conclusions are hard.Introductions and conclusions are hard. Do not begin with a random quote… Foo-Do not begin with a random quote… Foo-

foo will break you.foo will break you. Your conclusion and introduction should be Your conclusion and introduction should be

similar or parallel, but not rephrased similar or parallel, but not rephrased copies.copies.

Your conclusion should elaborate on the Your conclusion should elaborate on the implications of your thesis being correct implications of your thesis being correct and tie up any loose ends not fully and tie up any loose ends not fully resolved in the body of your essay.resolved in the body of your essay.

FINFIN