In a literary analysis essay, just as with any argument, you will need to use evidence effectively in order to support your thesis. A potential danger when writing a response to literature is that it can sound choppy as you move from your own words to those taken from the text you are analyzing and using as evidence. At this point in your writing career you will be expected to integrate the quotations that you use to support your interpretations right into your own sentences so that your analysis writing flows smoothly.

Here are three techniques for integrating textual evidence into your writing. These examples are based on responses to “The St. Crispin’s Day Speech” from Henry V by William Shakespeare on page 568.

Embedded Quotes. Introduce the passage with a sentence or a phrase and blend it into your own writing so that it flows smoothly together and makes sense. Notice that the punctuation goes after the citation of the page or line number in parentheses and that, when referencing poetry, you must designate the end of lines with a forward slash.

In trying to convince his men to fight against a much larger and better-rested army, King Henry presents himself as a common man fighting alongside not just fellow troops, but brothers, saying, “we band of brothers; / For he to-day that sheds his blood with me / Shall be my brother” (Shakespeare, ll. 62–63).

Block Quotes. For long passages (more than four typed lines), special rules apply. For a quote of this length, it is customary to introduce the quote with a sentence and use a colon as the mark of punctuation before the passage. Indent the quoted material about ten spaces and extend it out to the right margin. Note that the citation (page number) goes after the final punctuation.

King Henry is a brilliant and effective communicator. In the space of a very short time, he can turn his nearly mutinous army into one ready and eager to fight. He is most effective when he says:

By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,

Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;

It yearns me not if men my garments wear;

Such outward things dwell not in my desires:

But if it be a sin to covet honour,

I am the most offending soul alive. (Shakespeare, ll. 26–31)

Paraphrased Passages. A final way that you can use evidence in a literary analysis is to use a paraphrase or summary of the passage instead of a direct quote. Note that you are still required to cite the source, even if it is not a direct quotation.

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King Henry is not above being manipulative and passive-aggressive in his attempts to convince his men to fight. At one point in his speech, for instance, he tells them that anyone who wants to leave can go ahead and leave because he would rather not die in the presence of a coward (Shakespeare, ll. 38–41).