short story literary analysis 1

7/31/2019 Short Story Literary Analysis 1

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Short Story Literary Analysis

This is an essay which will analyzethe authors development of theme in

a short story.


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Introduction The introduction must introduce the author,

the title of the story, provide a brief plot

summary, state the theme of the story, and

explain which literary devices the author

uses to develop the theme. Do not forget

that the entire essay must be written inpresent tense!!!!


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Examples of literary devices: How does the author use the following literary devices to

develop the theme of the story?

Setting

Characterization (characters actions, inner thoughts andmotivation. Is the character dynamic?)

Foreshadowing

Irony

Point of view (who is telling the story?)

Symbolism

Plot (conflict, climax, resolution)


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Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph must focus on one

literary device and how the author uses the

device to develop the theme. For example,

The conflict in The Most Dangerous

Game reveals the theme that we can not

understand anothers perspective until wehave experienced his perspective.


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Quotes Each body paragraph must include at least

one quote and must follow proper format

for integrating quotes.


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Conclusion The conclusion must restate the thesis and

summarize the impact of the theme on the

reader.


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Details This is at least a five paragraph essay.

Do not use personal pronouns or

contractions.

The entire paper must be written in present

tense.

You must use a minimum of three quotes.


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Writing a Literary

Analysis


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What is it?

A literary analysis is a type of paper that has the ultimate goalof bringing some new or greater understanding of the book,

story, or poem. In addition, it is an argument because you are

proposing something original about the text which may not

have been thought of before, or you are adding more to anexisting thesis surrounding the book.


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What does it look

like?A good literary analysis has the following components:*It has a solid and unique thesis statement that clearly is arguable. Your

goal is to prove this thesis statement!

*It has a solid introduction, body, and conclusion. It uses effectivetransitions and the writer analyzes sufficient textual support from the

book.

*There is at least one bit of meaningful textual support in each body

paragraph.

*It contains a well-formatted works cited page.


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Other helpful tips!1. Write in the present tense

2. Normally, keep yourself out of your analysis; in other words, use the thirdperson (no I or you). Some instructors may require or allow the first or secondperson in an informal analysis if the usage is consistent, however, so check withyour instructor.

3. Avoid summarizing the plot (i.e., retelling the story literally). Instead analyze(form a thesis about and explain) the story in literary terms.

6. Do not confuse characters' (in fiction or drama) or speakers' (in poetry)viewpoints with authors' viewpoints.

7. Support your points with many quotations and paraphrases, but write themajority of your paper in your own words with your own ideas.

9. Cite prose, poetry, drama, critics, and any other sources used according tospecialized MLA standards. (See the current edition of the MLA Handbook forWriters of Research Papers or your Writers Inc. books!.)


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The following rules about parenthetical documentation can be found in

your Writers Inc books on page 260-263, but here are some highlights!

*Parenthetical references look like this:

Sophomores are in need of more discipline(Cohrs 44).

Note: *There is nothing in the parenthesis other than the last name of

the author and the page number. There is no punctuation of anykind, the first name is not mentioned, etc.

*The period comes after the parenthesis. You do not need to

keep the punctuation within the quote unless it is a ? Or !.

*You should use parenthetical documentation for any type of

citation; either direct (word for word) or indirect (paraphrased).


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Some other issues . . .

*If you end a quote before you end your sentence put the parenthesis at

the end of the sentence.

EX: Studies show that Sophomores, while cute, can have a really nastybite that may infect easily (Santerre 43).

So, why do we do this anyway?

*To give appropriate credit to a source of information.

*To use as a reference for the Works Cited Page that you will learn how

to develop appropriately.

*To learn how to incorporate citation information naturally within the

text rather than disrupting your paper.


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Literary Criticism Study, analysis, interpretation and history

of literature.

Most often found in essay form.

In-depth book reviews another form of

criticism.

Examines an individual work of literature

or an authors body of work


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Why Use Literary Criticism? Act of interpreting literature.

Authors present works that have multiple

meanings.

Readers are expected to consider the

authors work thoughtfully to add

interpretations of their own.

Writers and critics create a dialog about the

literature --build on each others

understanding of the work.


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Why Use Literary Criticism? Noted authors often have a body of

criticism attached to their work.

Critics evaluate and debate ideas of fellowcritics.

Good criticism helps develop a better

understanding of the work. Can develop a point of view about a work.

May not always agree with the critics

opinion.


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Locating Criticism Books

Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers

Databases

Websites


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Journals, Magazines, and

Newspapers

The following can be accessed through

databases in the library or at home with a

password.

EBSCO

ProQuest

New York Times (accessed through

ProQuest)
http://web29.epnet.com/search.asp?tb=1&_ug=sid+2AB5EA24-9A17-49D7-A3D2-B2B82891453F@sessionmgr5+dbs+mfh+cp+1+A54B&_us=hs+False+dstb+DB+ss+SO+sm+KS+11C3&_uso=hd+False+db[0+-mfh+99CE&newsrch=1http://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebhttp://proquest.umi.com/pqdwebhttp://web29.epnet.com/search.asp?tb=1&_ug=sid+2AB5EA24-9A17-49D7-A3D2-B2B82891453F@sessionmgr5+dbs+mfh+cp+1+A54B&_us=hs+False+dstb+DB+ss+SO+sm+KS+11C3&_uso=hd+False+db[0+-mfh+99CE&newsrch=1


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Databases GALE: Contemporary Authors & Contemporary

Literary Criticism -- Biography and literary

criticism on more than 120,000 U.S. andinternational authors. (Accessed with publiclibrary card through home access on any publiclibrary site.) Grinnell Public Library

GALE: Twayne's Authors Series --Biography andliterary criticism on more than 600 world authors.(Accessed through RCK library databases inInfotrac.)
http://grinnell.wappingers.lib.ny.us/http://infotrac.galegroup.com/menuhttp://infotrac.galegroup.com/menuhttp://grinnell.wappingers.lib.ny.us/


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Opinions supported by evidence,

relating to: Characterization

Voice

Style Theme

Setting

Technical qualities of the writing (artistry, style, use oflanguage)

Interpretation

Complex ideas and problems

Relationship of work to the time, social, historical orpolitical trends


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Getting the most points on

your Literary Analysis Paper


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Read the Directions Carefully

You must chose two works by different authors that

have significant similarities as well as differences.

Only one for Othello or The Great Gatsby

As part of the assignment, you will quote from the

primary text as well as include research from

outside sources a minimum of 3 outside sources is required.


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Analysis Choose how you are going to analyze the two

works you have chosen

#1 - choose a specific literary concept

#2then choose three of the following points:

character, audience, theme, symbolism, and overall

message (what is the work saying compared to theworld, self, other text?).


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Summary versus Analysis A summary re-tells a story.

An analysis examines the cause or effect of an

incident in the story, compares or contrasts 2

characters, explains how an event occurred etc

Ex: Mary had a little lamb


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Summary: Mary had a little lamb. It followed her to

school. No lambs were allowed in school. The

children laughed. Analysis: one reason Mary may have brought the

lamb to school was to get attention. All the children

laughed and played, making Mary feel at the

center and popular.


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Title & Introduction

Clever Title

Interesting attention getter Transition sentences that announce the two works

Thesis Statement + plan of development

Rememberthe thesis is the LAST sentence in yourintroduction.


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Body Paragraphs Topic sentence with transition

Main points need to be supported by quotes from the

two primary works and outside sources

Clear illustration how the quote supports your point


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Using quotes in an EssayUsing a quote requires 3 sentences

1. Your Idea

2. Quote

3. Explanation how quote supports your idea


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Quote Examples

1. My Idea

Mary appears to have a fetish for lamb wool

2. Quote

Dr. Benton states that Marys proclivity for her

lamb makes her pet it often and bring it with her.

(Benton 22)

3. Explanation of how quote supports my idea. Marys constant need to touch and stroke her lamb

illustrates Marys obsession.


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Conclusion Restate your thesis in different words

Tells what youve learned by analyzing the two

works What did you learn about poetry, short stories and

plays?


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Creating Your

Works Cited Page


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What is a Works Cited page? An alphabetized list of all the sources used

in your paper.

You need a Works Cited page or you are

PLAGERIZING!!!


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1. Determine the type of source. Your literature book is an anthology. An

anthology is a collection of artistic works

(such as a group of short stories, or a groupof songs).


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Identify the 6 pieces of information needed.

1.Author of the selection

2. Title of the selection

3. Title of the anthology

4. Editor of the anthology

5. Publication information

6. Page numbers of selection

Location:Publisher,year.


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Integrating

Quotations


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Every quotation should have a reference

that indicates where you got it.

I shall not see on earth a place more dear

Author:

Page:Line #:


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Anytime you quote something, you need to

give the authors name and the page

number the quotation can be found on.

Example- Potok 78

NO PAGE


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If you are quoting poetry, use the line

number instead of the page number.

Example- Homer lines 68-70

Type lineorlinesso

readers know you arenot referring to the

page number


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The authors last name and page number go after

the quotation inside of parentheses. This is

called the QUO-PAR-PUNC rule.

I shall not see on earth a place more dear

(Homer line 137).

QUO=

quotation

PAR=

parentheses

PUNC=

punctuation

(See page 128-135 ofA Pocket Style Manual)


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You wouldnt wear clothes that only coverup the front-side or the back-side of your

body, so dont leave your quotation half

naked either.


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I shall not see on earth a place moredear (Homer line 137).

Odysseus speaks to Alcinous court about

his homeland in Ithaca, recalling,

Thus, he demonstrates the Greek

value of loyalty to ones homeland.


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Clothe the FrontThere are two ways to

begin a sentence that

includes a quotation.

1. Use a signal phrase.

2. Integrate the authors words into your own

writing.


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Signal PhrasesA signal phrase indicates that you are

about to use language that is not your

own.


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Signal Phrases

If you do not show that these

are not your own words it is

PLAGERISM!


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Signal PhrasesExample: Polyphemus says of Odysseus,

(See page 120 ofA Pocket Style Manual for a list of verbs to use

in signal phrases)


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Example 1Revise:

Odysseus shows that he is an epic heroin the Cyclops episode, I would not

heed them in my glorying spirit,/ but

let my anger flare (Homer lines500-501).


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WARNINGJust adding a quotation to

the end of a relatedsentence does not mean

that you have used asignal phrase.


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Example 1Fixed:

Odysseus reveals that he desires thecredit for his deeds, saying, I would

not heed them in my glorying spirit,/

but let my anger flare (Homer lines500-501).


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Be sure that you do not confusethe author, Homer, with the

narrator, who is sometimesHomer, sometimes Odysseus.


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Example 2Revise:

Homer shows that Odysseus is an epichero by saying, I drove them, all three

wailing, to the ships (line 211).


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Example 2Fixed:

Odysseus shows his loyalty to hishomeland by forcing his men to

continue on their journey. He

explains,I drove them, all three

wailing, to the ships (line 211).


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Example 3Revise:

Odysseus cleverly deceives theCyclops. My name is Nohbody

(Homer line 360).


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Example 3Fixed:

Odysseus cleverly deceives theCyclops, declaring, My name is

Nohbody (Homer line 360).


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Example 4Revise:

make fair sacrifice to Lord Poseidon

(Homer line 650). With these words,

Teiresias helps Odysseus to see that it has

been his pride that has kept him from

returning home, and he must admit hismistake to Poseidon in order to right the

situation.


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Example 4Fixed: Teiresias confirms that Odysseus pride has

kept him from Ithaca, commanding him,

make fair sacrifice to Lord Poseidon

(Homer line 650). Thus Teiresias reveals that

the only way for Odysseus to reestablish right

standing with the gods is to finallyacknowledge Poseidons help in the Trojan

War.


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Signal phrases must introduce yourquote. You are not writing a

mystery storydont make thereader guess where your quote

came from.


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Integrate the Authors Words

If you choose to

incorporate the authorswords into your sentence,

the result must begrammatically correct.


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Example 5Revise:

Odysseus sacrifice to Poseidon is the last

task he must accomplish before his world is

set right again, Then a seaborne death/

soft as this hand of mist will come upon

you/ when you are wearied out with richold age (Homer lines 654-656).


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Example 5Fixed:

Odysseus sacrifice to Poseidon is the last

task he must accomplish before a peaceful

seaborne death/ soft as this hand of mist

will come upon [him] (Homer lines 654-

655).


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Example 6Revise:

The sirens tempt Odysseus, The voices in

ardor appealing over the water (Homer

752).


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Example 6Fixed:

The sirens voices in ardor appealing over

the water (Homer 752) tempt Odysseus,

leading him to beg his men to be untied.


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Example 7Revise:





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Example 7Fixed:




As an epic hero, Odysseus never fails to

succumb to temptation by women, eventhat of the monstrous sirens.


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Example 8 Odysseus sacrifice to Poseidon is the last

task he must accomplish before a peaceful

seaborne death/ soft as this hand of mistwill come upon [him] (Homer lines 654-

655). In this way, Odysseus finally

accomplishes his goal of returning home tolive happily in Ithaca with his family.

Do Not Refer to the


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Do Not Refer to the

QuotationOther than naked quotations,

the most common mistake isreferring directly to the

quotation.

Do Not Refer to the


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Do Not Refer to the

Quotation Teiresias predicts the end of Odysseus life

in the quote: seaborne death/ soft as this

hand of mist will come upon [him](Homer lines 654-655).

Do Not Refer to the


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Do Not Refer to the

Quotation Odysseus cleverly deceives the

Cyclops, declaring, My name is

Nohbody (Homer line 360). This

quotation reveals that Odysseus uses

intelligence in situations wherein

strength is not an option.


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For Future ReferenceQuote is a verb

Quotation is a noun


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1.What is the American Dream? How does Gatsby represent this dream? Does the novel praise orcondemn Gatsby's dream? Has the American dream changed since Gatsby's time?

2. Think about the two worlds, the Midwest and the East, as Fitzgerald describes them, and whatthey represent for Nick and for Gatsby.

3. Compare and contrast Gatsby's social class with that of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. How doesgeography contribute to the definition of social class in The Great Gatsby?

4. What is Nick Carraway's role in the novel? Consider Nick's father's advice in chapter one:"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven'thad the advantages that you've had." Does telling the story from Nick's point of view make it morebelievable?

5. What part of his past is Gatsby trying to recapture? Is he successful? Is there a person, feeling, orevent in your past that you'd want to revisit?

6. What is the meaning of the title? In what way is Gatsby great?

7. Why did Nick become involved with Jordan, and why did he break off the relationship?

8. Discuss Fitzgerald's use of symbols, such as the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, the green light onDaisy's dock, and the valley of ashes.

9. What makes The Great Gatsby a classic novel? Why has it maintained its place in Americanliterature?

10. Discuss elements of the Jazz Age that Fitzgerald includes in The Great Gatsby.


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1. In what sense is The Great Gatsby an autobiographical novel?Does Fitzgerald write more of himself into the character of Nick orthe character of Gatsby, or are the authors qualities found in bothcharacters?

2. How does Gatsby represent the American dream? What does thenovel have to say about the condition of the American dream in the1920s? In what ways do the themes of dreams, wealth, and time relateto each other in the novels exploration of the idea of America?

3. Compare and contrast Gatsby and Tom. How are they alike? Howare they different? Given the extremely negative light in which Tomis portrayed throughout the novel, why might Daisy choose to remainwith him instead of leaving him for Gatsby?


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1. Discuss Gatsbys character as Nick perceives himthroughout the novel. What makes Gatsby great?

2. What is Nick like as a narrator? Is he a reliable

storyteller, or does his version of events seem suspect?How do his qualities as a character affect his narration?

3. What are some of The Great Gatsbys most importantsymbols? What does the novel have to say about the roleof symbols in life?

4. How does the geography of the novel dictate its themesand characters? What role does setting play in The GreatGatsby?


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