Literary Analysis

In preparation for your literary analysis, review the process for writing a literary analysis below.

Literary Analysis Characteristics

Understand the work (poem, play, short story, novel, etc.)
- Before you start writing, make sure you really understand the text you’re analyzing.
  - Read it carefully and think about what the author is trying to say.
  - Take notes on important themes, characters, symbols, and events.
Choose your focus
- Decide what specific part of the text you want to focus on such as:
  - Themes
  - Characters
  - Symbols
  - Literary Devices
  - Author's Style
Develop a thesis statement that is tailored for a literary analysis essay; remember that literary analysis thesis statements must include the title and author of the work you are writing about
- Example:
  - In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the symbolism of the green light to represent Gatsby's unattainable dreams.
- Example:
  - In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows that impulsive decisions lead to tragic consequences through the characters' actions.
The developed body paragraph structure discussed in previous modules remains the same, but you would change the overall focus to what you are analyzing in your chosen work of literature
- Notice how each commentary needs at least 2-3 developed sentences.
  - Thesis: One of the main themes in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the corruption of the American Dream.
  - Body 1 Topic: Gatsby spends his life trying to become rich so he can win back Daisy, but in the end, his dream is impossible.
  - Evidence: Nick reflects on Gatsby’s dream, saying, “He had come such a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it” (Fitzgerald 125).
  - Commentary: Jay Gatsby dedicates his life to achieving wealth and status, believing it will win back Daisy, but in the end, his dream is shattered. Gatsby’s dream of rekindling the past is impossible, as Daisy has moved on.
  - Evidence: Daisy herself is also a symbol of this corruption, as Gatsby realizes “Her voice is full of money” (Fitzgerald 90).
  - Commentary: Gatsby’s dream isn’t just about love—it’s about wealth and status, proving that the American Dream has become more about materialism than true success. In the end, Gatsby’s tragic death shows that no amount of money can bring back the past or guarantee happiness.
  - Conclusion Sentence: Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s story to show how the American Dream has been ruined by greed and false hope.
Use the outline below to help you organize your ideas
- Click here to view the Essay Outline document
Write your Introduction and Conclusion paragraphs last after you have organized all of your ideas and research.
RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.