Literary AnalysisLiterary Analysis

English IIIEnglish III

Mr. BoeschMr. Boesch

Literary AnalysisLiterary Analysis

The study of literature is the study of The study of literature is the study of life through the eyes of an artist.life through the eyes of an artist.

It is an expository essay It is an expository essay analyze a short story’s literary analyze a short story’s literary

elements (character, setting, point of elements (character, setting, point of view, conflict, irony, etc), which view, conflict, irony, etc), which convey a theme.  convey a theme.  

make an argumentmake an argument

DO NOT add your own judgment of DO NOT add your own judgment of the story OR agree or disagree.  the story OR agree or disagree.  

This kind of paper is not intended to be This kind of paper is not intended to be a persuasive or evaluative piece.  a persuasive or evaluative piece.  

Stick to the analysis.Stick to the analysis.

Introduction ParagraphIntroduction Paragraph

GrabberGrabber Name of the author, title of the short Name of the author, title of the short

storystory Literary genreLiterary genre The theme and the elements the author The theme and the elements the author

uses to convey his/her point.  uses to convey his/her point.   Present elements in order of importance. Present elements in order of importance. Thesis comes at the end of intro Thesis comes at the end of intro

paragraphparagraph

Potential GrabbersPotential Grabbers

Interesting FactInteresting Fact Thought-provoking quoteThought-provoking quote Short story quoteShort story quote Quick summary leadQuick summary lead A big picture connectionA big picture connection

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

discuss the first literary element discuss the first literary element named in the introduction.  named in the introduction.  

show how that element relates to the show how that element relates to the story’s theme and provide specific story’s theme and provide specific references from the story: literary references from the story: literary devices or quotations.  devices or quotations.  

conclude paragraph by showing the conclude paragraph by showing the relationship between that element relationship between that element and the overall themeand the overall theme

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

BEGINS with a restatement of the BEGINS with a restatement of the author, title, and thesis (author's theme) author, title, and thesis (author's theme)

Concludes with a general statement that Concludes with a general statement that provides a sense of closure for the provides a sense of closure for the essay.  essay.  

Consider trying to relate the theme of Consider trying to relate the theme of the story to the world at large.  the story to the world at large.  

Sample Intro ParagraphSample Intro Paragraph

              Many worry about the effects of Many worry about the effects of extensive television viewing on both extensive television viewing on both children and adults, fearing that it will cause children and adults, fearing that it will cause a decline in intelligence in future a decline in intelligence in future generations.  Ray Bradbury shows a similar generations.  Ray Bradbury shows a similar concern in his science fiction story “The concern in his science fiction story “The Pedestrian.”  Indeed, using the literary Pedestrian.”  Indeed, using the literary elements of setting, character, and elements of setting, character, and symbolism, Bradbury predicts that symbolism, Bradbury predicts that television will lead future generations to an television will lead future generations to an inferior, unfulfilling existence. inferior, unfulfilling existence.

Body ParagraphBody ParagraphSetting plays a key part in conveying Bradbury’s Setting plays a key part in conveying Bradbury’s

theme to the reader.  Set in a not-so-distant 2053, one finds theme to the reader.  Set in a not-so-distant 2053, one finds a world that is not more advanced and productive but is, a world that is not more advanced and productive but is, instead, quiet and unfulfilling.  Set on a bleak November instead, quiet and unfulfilling.  Set on a bleak November night, the late fall chill reflects the empty lives of all but the night, the late fall chill reflects the empty lives of all but the central character, Leonard Mead.  Other humans are central character, Leonard Mead.  Other humans are conveyed as ghosts or phantoms locked away in dark, conveyed as ghosts or phantoms locked away in dark, tomb-like homes where they gaze entranced at inane tomb-like homes where they gaze entranced at inane television programs, such as old westerns and old-television programs, such as old westerns and old-fashioned comedy revues.  Despite a virtual disappearance fashioned comedy revues.  Despite a virtual disappearance of crime in the city, this culture is not appealing.  Even the of crime in the city, this culture is not appealing.  Even the criminals are lulled into passivity by the “boob tube”, and criminals are lulled into passivity by the “boob tube”, and the government, represented by a lone, mechanized police the government, represented by a lone, mechanized police car, enforces this conformity.  In Bradbury’s future world, it car, enforces this conformity.  In Bradbury’s future world, it is the television that has the power, and its kingdom is a is the television that has the power, and its kingdom is a world of half-dead humans sleepwalking through their lives. world of half-dead humans sleepwalking through their lives.

Body ParagraphBody ParagraphPlaced in this world is Bradbury’s central character Placed in this world is Bradbury’s central character

Leonard Mead.  The only character without a “viewing Leonard Mead.  The only character without a “viewing screen,” Mead is also the only one who actively engages in screen,” Mead is also the only one who actively engages in life, as symbolized by his nightly walk.  He walks, observes life, as symbolized by his nightly walk.  He walks, observes nature, feels the cold chill of the night throughout his body, nature, feels the cold chill of the night throughout his body, and engages in imaginative thinking.  Contrasted with the and engages in imaginative thinking.  Contrasted with the television-viewing phantoms in darkened houses, Mead is television-viewing phantoms in darkened houses, Mead is alone,  “Or as good as alone” (69).  Mead’s former career alone,  “Or as good as alone” (69).  Mead’s former career as a writer is virtually dead since in this society, nobody as a writer is virtually dead since in this society, nobody reads, preferring to stare at the television instead.  His reads, preferring to stare at the television instead.  His home, as his personality, is alive with light.  The reader home, as his personality, is alive with light.  The reader mourns Mead’s dilemma when he is taken by the police to a mourns Mead’s dilemma when he is taken by the police to a psychiatric unit due to his lack of conformity.  Bradbury’s psychiatric unit due to his lack of conformity.  Bradbury’s characterization of Leonard Mead and the contrast with the characterization of Leonard Mead and the contrast with the others points the blame at one source: television.others points the blame at one source: television.

Body ParagraphBody ParagraphTelevision is one of several symbols used by Television is one of several symbols used by

Bradbury to convey his theme to the reader.  It is used as Bradbury to convey his theme to the reader.  It is used as an addictive drug, lulling people into passive acceptance of an addictive drug, lulling people into passive acceptance of conformity and uselessness. As he passes the homes of conformity and uselessness. As he passes the homes of people described as "gray phantoms", Mead asks, “Where people described as "gray phantoms", Mead asks, “Where are the cowboys rushing, and do I see the United States are the cowboys rushing, and do I see the United States Cavalry over the next hill to the rescue?"  (Bradbury 95). Cavalry over the next hill to the rescue?"  (Bradbury 95).  The use of televisions (or viewing screens) is reinforced by  The use of televisions (or viewing screens) is reinforced by another symbol, the automated police car that coldly another symbol, the automated police car that coldly accosts Leonard Mead and after threatening to shoot him accosts Leonard Mead and after threatening to shoot him because he is not home watching television;  the car whisks because he is not home watching television;  the car whisks him away to the “Psychiatric Center for Research on him away to the “Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies” (96) as he passes lifeless homes in Regressive Tendencies” (96) as he passes lifeless homes in which "Ill-lit by the television light. . .people sat like the which "Ill-lit by the television light. . .people sat like the dead, the gray or multicolored lights touching their faces, dead, the gray or multicolored lights touching their faces, but never really touching them" (98). Bradbury warns that but never really touching them" (98). Bradbury warns that excessive television will strip humans of their humanity, excessive television will strip humans of their humanity, leading to tomb-like existences.  leading to tomb-like existences.  

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

Bradbury’s use of setting, character, Bradbury’s use of setting, character, and symbolism in his science fiction story and symbolism in his science fiction story “The Pedestrian” show his concern that “The Pedestrian” show his concern that television will harm future generations, television will harm future generations, making them unthinking and unfulfilled.  As making them unthinking and unfulfilled.  As television began to grow as a popular television began to grow as a popular medium, many people share Bradbury’s medium, many people share Bradbury’s view.  It remains to be seen whether future view.  It remains to be seen whether future programming will facilitate learning and programming will facilitate learning and growth in viewers or lead to a less growth in viewers or lead to a less productive, less-fulfilled existence that productive, less-fulfilled existence that Bradbury foresees. Bradbury foresees.

FundamentalsFundamentals

Follow MLA formatFollow MLA format Use transitionsUse transitions Keep analysis in present tense/active Keep analysis in present tense/active

voicevoice Block the paragraphs (not double-Block the paragraphs (not double-

spaced)spaced) 12 pt. Times New Roman12 pt. Times New Roman All essays subject to Turnitin.comAll essays subject to Turnitin.com

FundamentalsFundamentals

Do not use first or second person (I Do not use first or second person (I or you)or you)

Use high dictionUse high diction Vary your sentence lengthsVary your sentence lengths Vary the beginnings of your Vary the beginnings of your

sentencessentences Do not summarizeDo not summarize Stick to your thesis pointStick to your thesis point

Essay Length and Essay Length and ParametersParameters

Three-four pages in length on a Word Three-four pages in length on a Word document.document.

1 inch margins1 inch margins No works cited pageNo works cited page

Due DatesDue Dates

Rough Draft: Nov. 18 (hard copy)Rough Draft: Nov. 18 (hard copy)

Final Draft: Nov. 22 (submitted Final Draft: Nov. 22 (submitted online)online)

Works CitedWorks Cited

Juniper, Sandy. "Literary Analysis Juniper, Sandy. "Literary Analysis Sample and Guidelines." Sample and Guidelines." First ClassFirst Class. . 11 Sept. 2006. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. 11 Sept. 2006. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://fc.pickerington.k12.oh.us/~sa<http://fc.pickerington.k12.oh.us/~sandy_juniper/FOV1-000151F9/S010C0ndy_juniper/FOV1-000151F9/S010C0463>. 463>.