Literary EssayLiterary Essay

English 122English 122

IntroductionIntroduction

Discusses your interpretationsDiscusses your interpretations Goes beyond the plotGoes beyond the plot

Explain some deeper meaning of the workExplain some deeper meaning of the work Do not retell the story Do not retell the story

Details of plot should be used only to Details of plot should be used only to support particular claimsupport particular claim

Resist mentioning what you think of the Resist mentioning what you think of the workwork

Before WritingBefore Writing

Analyze the piece of literature closely so Analyze the piece of literature closely so that you can interpret it. that you can interpret it.

ToneTone

Determine the author’s toneDetermine the author’s tone Serious, ironic, humourous, etc.Serious, ironic, humourous, etc.

ConflictConflict

Man vs. ManMan vs. Man Man vs. SelfMan vs. Self Man vs. NatureMan vs. Nature Man vs. SupernaturalMan vs. Supernatural Man vs. TechnologyMan vs. Technology Man vs. SocietyMan vs. Society

Character & Character Character & Character DevelopmentDevelopment

Understanding of the charactersUnderstanding of the characters Analyze their speech, actions, and Analyze their speech, actions, and

reactions to other characters and by reactions to other characters and by other charactersother characters

As a result of their experiences, As a result of their experiences, characters often develop or changecharacters often develop or change

Change often results from a particular Change often results from a particular insight or realizationinsight or realization

SituationSituation

Has two elements that affect the main Has two elements that affect the main charactercharacter External elements (other characters, time, External elements (other characters, time,

place, atmosphere, etc.)place, atmosphere, etc.) Internal elements (the way he/she deals with Internal elements (the way he/she deals with

conflict, and experiences he/she is conflict, and experiences he/she is undergoing)undergoing)

Narrator & Point of ViewNarrator & Point of View

LimitedLimited point of view point of view Can only tell the story from as one character Can only tell the story from as one character

sees or hears it. sees or hears it.

OmniscientOmniscient point of view point of view Third person point of viewThird person point of view

SymbolSymbol

Something that stands for or represents Something that stands for or represents something elsesomething else

ThemeTheme

Manipulates all of the preceding Manipulates all of the preceding elements in developing his/her theme or elements in developing his/her theme or general ideageneral idea

Seldom, this is stated explicitly Seldom, this is stated explicitly