Introduction
The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to carefully examine and sometimes evaluate a work of literature or an aspect of a work of literature. In order to write a good literary essay the following steps should be respected:
Step One: Close Reading and Questioning
The first step in any literary analysis is close reading, which refers to the act of reading a piece of work by looking at the details of the work and studying particular elements over the general. As you read, take notes on key elements, such as:
· Characters and their development
· Themes and motifs
· Symbols and metaphors
· Significant events or passages
· The author’s writing style (tone, diction, narrative structure)
Consider how these elements contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole
Step Two: Collect Evidence
While reading the literary work, keep track of passages, symbols or scenes that deal with your topic. While making connections between these examples your thesis will emerge/ the elements to be used to analysis your essay includes “Story” and “Style”
· Elements of story: plot, character, conflict, setting, narrator, and themes.
· Elements of style: structure and organization, point of view, diction, syntax, tone, imagery, and figurative language.
Step Three: Formulate your Thesis Statement
When enough evidence has been collected, move on to writing the thesis statement. A thesis is a claim about a work of literature that needs to be supported by evidence and arguments (it is the general idea of the essay). The thesis statement is the heart literary essay and all the remaining part of the paper will be spent trying to prove this claim.
Example: This essay aims to discuss the relevance of the flowers in Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Agernon
Step Four: Develop and Organize Arguments
After close reading and formulating a thesis statement, the next step is to develop and organize your arguments. There is no single method of argumentation that will work in every context. Therefore, there are two common kinds of essay prompts for constructing a solid, well-argued case:
· Compare and contrast (between two characters, for instance)
· Debate (a moral, ethical, are aesthetic issue regarding the work). In this context, you never base your arguments on your personal feelings and reactions, search for evidence in the text.
Step Five: Writing the Essay
The next step is writing the essay:
· Writing the Introduction, where you present your topic and articulate the particular issue and questions you will be addressing
· Write the Body Paragraphs, starting with a strong topic sentence. Fully and completely develop each thought in a separate paragraph using transition effectively.
· Write the Conclusion synthesize the arguments. Moving from specific to general once keeping relevance at the time.
References for Further reading
Ø Literary Analysis Sample Paper by the Academic Center for Excellence (2016)
Ø www. 5starsessays.com