9: (Mis)Communication

Step 5: Address the “So What?”

“So what” is a fair question when you’re writing a literary analysis. You’ve identified specific strategies or devices an author uses, you’ve defined and explained them, given examples, and tied them to the author’s theme or meaning—but so what? What does it all add up to? You might be tempted to view the literary essay as merely a type of exercise, but if you do so you risk ending up with a wooden sequence of paragraphs. You might be tempted to conclude your essay by simply repeating what you’ve already said.

A better approach is to use your literary analysis as an opportunity to express an original interpretation, deepen your appreciation of an author’s craft, or illustrate how deftly and subtly literary elements work together in a particular piece. After you present a well-developed argument, you may use one of the following tactics to leave your readers thinking about the passage or story after they’ve finished your essay.

Make sure the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. If, for instance, you’ve discussed two or three literary elements, then use your conclusion to show how they work together.
Ask questions to explore your interpretation further. For instance, if you analyzed the grandfather’s perspective in “Children as Enemies,” you might ask at the end how the story might be seen differently from the mother’s viewpoint or that of one of the grandchildren.

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Emphasize your interpretation. This is the most common way to end a literary analysis. For instance, you could point out that Jin might be suggesting that the grandfather’s highly emotional language or his harsh perceptions of American schooling show his deep love for his family and concern for their future.

ACTIVITY

Working in small groups, develop different interpretations of Jin’s depiction of the grandfather and support each with a discussion of at least two literary strategies. One interpretation will support the grandfather as a sympathetic character, another as a negative force in the family, and a third as a misguided man whose love for his family cannot outweigh his traditional beliefs.