More often than not, a writing assignment in a literature or humanities course requires you to read closely a literary work (short story, novel, play, or poem) and then to divide it into elements, explain its meaning, and support your interpretation with evidence from the work. You might also be asked to evaluate a selection or to compare and contrast several readings. Such analysis is not an end in itself; its purpose is to illuminate the meaning of the work, to help you and others understand it better.
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See the Learning from Other Writers sections for a sample literary analysis, a sample synopsis, and a sample paraphrase.
This way of writing about literature, called literary analysis, requires you to analyze, interpret, and evaluate what you read. Because literary analysis has its own vocabulary—as do fields as diverse as scuba diving, gourmet cooking, and engineering—a handy glossary presents terms used to discuss the elements of fiction, poetry, and drama. The chapter concludes with two writing activities—synopsis (summarizing the events in a narrative) and paraphrase (expressing the content of a work in your own words)—that can help you prepare to write a literary analysis or to integrate essentials about the literary work into your analysis.
To begin your analysis, first read closely and mark key points in the text to comprehend its meaning. Next reread the work, at least twice more, each time checking your interpretations and identifying possible evidence to back up your claims as you analyze and evaluate. Use this checklist to structure several close readings, each for a different reason.
Reading to Comprehend
For more on literal and critical reading, see Ch. 2.
What is the literal meaning? Write a few sentences explaining the overall situation—what happens to whom, where, when, why, and how.
What are the facts of the situation—the events of the plot, the aspects of the setting, and the major attributes, words, and actions of the characters?
What does the vocabulary mean, especially in titles or poems? Look up both unfamiliar words and words whose familiar meanings don’t fit the context.
Reading to Analyze
What are the main parts or elements of the work? Read, read aloud, mark, or make notes on theme, character, language, style, symbol, or form.
What does the literary work mean? What does it imply?
What does it suggest about the human condition? How does it expand your understanding? What insights can you apply to your own life?
Reading to Evaluate
How do you assess the work’s soundness and plausibility?
Are the words and tone appropriate for the purpose and audience?
Does the author achieve his or her purpose? Is it a worthwhile purpose?