Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Take Notes and Form Arguments
• Method 2 of 4: Make a plan
• Method 3 of 4: Write an Analysis
• Method 4 of 4: Edit the text
• Tips

For literary analysis, you should read the literary work very carefully to understand how the author communicates his key ideas. Begin by taking notes on the text and reading it with maximum concentration, then formulate your reasoning and make an outline. Write the analysis as planned and edit your work to pass the draft text.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Take Notes and Form Arguments

1. 1 Jot down ideas as you read the text. When you first read the text, make notes about those aspects that attract attention - the main conflict, the motives of the characters, the tone of the story, the time and place of the action.
   • Highlight passages of text that you find interesting or noteworthy. Is the author making an important statement in one of the paragraphs? Is the text suddenly philosophical? Highlight or mark such passages.
   • For example, one of the main quotes of the novel by George Orwell "1984", which is often repeated: "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is power. "Since this is the motto of the Party (the only political party in the state), it becomes clear to us that this text will be important for the plot. You can use a colored marker to highlight this piece of text each time it is mentioned. This will make it easier for you to find a statement so that you can analyze when, where, and why Orwell repeats these lines.
2. 2 Notice literary devices. The author uses literary techniques to prove his point or tell a story. Alliteration, artistic images, metaphors, allusions, allegories, repetitions, retrospectives, various omens and other techniques are used in literary works.
   • For example, artistic images are the living language of the author, which helps to form a mental representation. They can set the tone for the entire text. Consider an example from the novel 1984 by George Orwell found in the fourth paragraph:
     • “The world outside, behind closed windows, breathed cold. The wind spiraled dust and scraps of paper; and, although the sun was shining and the sky was sharply blue, everything in the city looked colorless - except for the posters pasted all over the place. "
   • This short excerpt allows us to imagine a harsh world, very cold and devoid of color.
3. 3 Focus on key topics. Topics are those basic ideas that the author repeats throughout the text. The topic can be religion, government, the struggle between good and evil, power, social order, growing up, war, education, human rights and much more. Define topics as early as possible so that it is easier for you to write out examples of such topics as you read the text.
   • Among the main themes of the novel "1984" are war, power and social order.
4. 4 Pay attention to the shape of the piece. Form is a feature of the structure of the text. So, in a volumetric work, the form includes the features of the division of the text, as well as the narration from the first or third person. In the poem, pay attention to line breaks, verse order, appearance, and even the negative space involved. Why did the author choose this form and how does it help to better present key ideas?
   • Analyze how form and content relate. Do they conflict?
   • For example, a poem often contains less information than a novel, and therefore the author may use form to draw attention to hidden or unanswered questions.
5. 5 Consider the historical context. Works are not created in a vacuum, so the time and place in which the author worked always affects the work. Find out where the author lived when he wrote the novel, what was happening in the world at that time.
   • For example, 1984 was published almost immediately after World War II, in 1949, when the threat of fascism loomed over the world. Equally important is the fact that Orwell witnessed the problems of totalitarian regimes in states like Spain and wanted to warn the whole world about the danger of the development of totalitarianism in any form, be it left or right political forces.
6. 6 Determine the purpose of the author. When creating a work, the author can set several goals for himself. Your task is to identify at least one of them in order to write an analysis. If you are able to support your ideas with evidence from the text, then you can choose any goal you like.
   • To determine the author's purpose, analyze the historical context of the book, as well as topics that are important to the author. You can also read other reviews, comments and interviews with the author.
   • For example, one of the main goals of Orwell when working on the novel "1984" was to show what awaits citizens, if you do not control the work of their own government - a totalitarian regime that monitors every step and every thought of the people.
7. 7 Consider how the author demonstrates his primary purpose. Link your notes and notes to the text with your ideas about one of the goals of the author. Consider how the author uses the techniques you noted to convey their point of view.
   • Thus, the motto “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is Power ”becomes an introduction to the author's goal. It allows the reader to imagine what will happen next: members of such a society are forced to silently swallow contradictory statements of the government. In the novel, this concept is called doublethink.
8. 8 Focus on the topic to determine your arguments. Focus on one plot element that represents your chosen main goal of the piece. How exactly did this particular topic touch you? Why does it seem important?
   • For example, suppose you want to focus on how artistic imagery sets the tone for 1984. Why is it important? Without such images, the novel would have been perceived differently, and Orwell would have found it difficult to show the reader a convincing world.

Method 2 of 4: Make a plan

1. 1 Formulate a thesis. The thesis is the main idea of ​​your work. It is important to cover your main reasons so that the reader understands what you are going to justify. In literary analysis, you need to link a key idea or topic with the author's special approach to implementing this topic in the chosen work.
   • For example, you can write: "In the novel" 1984 "Orwell uses an artistic image of an eerie and gray world to convince readers of the main thing: totalitarianism is unacceptable under any conditions and circumstances."
2. 2 Consider the structure of your arguments. You decide how you organize your analysis. A common option is a sequential analysis of the book from beginning to end with examples and proofs from the text.
   • You can also start with a historical background to get the reader into the context of the work.
   • Another option is to present the most important part of the argument first, and then develop your thought.
3. 3 Organize your main ideas or paragraphs. Assign Roman numerals to each idea that needs to be considered in the analysis, as well as the introduction and conclusions. Briefly write the idea in front of the Roman numeral.
   • For example, make a plan like this:
     • I. Introduction
     • II. General information and historical context of the novel "1984"
     • III. Acquaintance with the main theme
     • IV. Artistic images as tools for the implementation of the chosen theme
     • V. Conclusions
4. 4 Add important points to consider in each paragraph. Under Roman numerals, use letters and Arabic numerals to add details for each paragraph. Be as specific as possible, or include only the most important points. Keep in mind that the more specific, the easier it is to write an analysis.
   • A detailed plan might look like this:
     • I. Introduction
       • A. Indicate the work, including the author, title and date of creation
       • B. Thesis: In 1984, Orwell uses the artistic image of an eerie and gray world to convince readers of the main thing: totalitarianism is unacceptable under any conditions and circumstances.
     • II. General information and historical context of the novel "1984"
       • A. World War II
       • B. Orwell's Misadventures in Spain
         • 1. Influence of fascism on the author's worldview
         • 2. The danger of totalitarianism in the event that left and right political forces come to power
       • B. Origin of the phrase "Cold War"
     • III. Acquaintance with the main topic of the author
       • A. Warning of the danger of totalitarianism
         • 1. The party controls all aspects of life
         • 2. Lack of privacy and even your own thoughts
         • 3. Orwell's logical consequences of absolute power
     • IV. Artistic images as tools for the implementation of the chosen theme
       • A. The book begins with dull and colorless imagery that sets the tone for the story.
       • B. Describing urban decline makes it feel like the world is falling apart
       • C. Contrasting Images of Winston's Meetings with Julia Emphasize the Purpose of the Primary Images
     • V. Conclusions

Method 3 of 4: Write an Analysis

1. 1 Start each main topic with a couple of introductory sentences. Every statement you make should start with a short introduction at the beginning of the paragraph. Just describe your idea. You can also link the idea to the main text.
   • For example, write: "At the very beginning of the novel, Orwell introduces us to a dark and cold world in which no one wants to live."
   • In literary analysis, the argumentation should run like a red thread throughout the text of the work. Each new paragraph should be linked to the main thesis of your analysis. With this approach, the reader will be able to see your main idea.
2. 2 Support your statements with quotes from the text. When working on a literary analysis, it is important to show the reader where you found confirmation of your thoughts in the text. All statements must be accompanied by quotations or retellings of events.
   • Browse your entries to find the quotes that match. Next, explain the meaning of the quote and indicate why it supports your point of view. The analysis of a quote should be at least no shorter than the quote itself.
   • For example, add: “At the very beginning of the novel, Orwell introduces us to a dark and cold world in which no one wants to live:“ The world outside, behind closed windows, breathed cold. The wind spiraled dust and scraps of paper; and although the sun was shining and the sky was sharply blue, everything in the city looked colorless - except for the posters pasted all over the place. "
   • Do not forget to correctly format quotes in the text.
3. 3 Analyze how your evidence supports your main idea. At this stage, you need to answer why your statement is really important. Demonstrate to your readers that your evidence is related to the statement.
   • For example, end a paragraph with a quote like this:
     • This world is cruel to its inhabitants, it breathes with "cold" and a presentiment of trouble, and everyday life does not alternate with joyful days. Even a bright sunny day does not help to forget about gloom and gloom. Through such descriptions, Orwell demonstrates that the world of the novel can turn out to be our future, a harsh reality without the possibility of finding consolation in fantasy or fun.
4. 4 Write an introduction. If you haven't already, then it's time to write an introduction. The main thesis should be part of the introduction, but it should also state the statements that you are going to prove in your analysis.
   • In your introduction, aim to grab the reader's attention. For example, write:
     • Try to imagine a world in which an almighty government carefully analyzes every facial expression, every movement, and every word spoken. Anyone who breaks the rules or goes beyond what is permitted will face severe punishment. If this reminds you of an absurd and dark reality in which no one wants to live, then this is what George Orwell wanted to show in his novel 1984. The events of the book take place in a dystopian future in which all citizens are controlled by a totalitarian government. In 1984, Orwell uses the artistic image of an eerie and gray world to convince readers of the main thing: totalitarianism is unacceptable under any conditions and circumstances. He came to this conclusion when he fought against the Nazis in Spain, and also observed the political climate in the world during the Second World War.
5. 5 Write your conclusions. In conclusion, it is necessary to return to your arguments again and clearly link them to the thesis. Show the reader that all the lines converge at one point.
   • For example, write:
     • Orwell was very afraid that the world might move towards totalitarianism. Whether the threat comes from left or right forces, every conscientious citizen must fight to prevent such a fate. In his novel, Orwell shows the logical consequences of totalitarian rule. Artistic images make the reader believe in the reality of the existence of this world. Once familiar with this option of the future, no one wants to give power to the government, which will become the cause of such a brutal reality.

Method 4 of 4: Edit the text

1. 1 Make sure your reasoning is logical from start to finish. Read the analysis with eyes as if you have never seen the analyzed text.Have you managed to trace the chain of arguments only by your statements, evidence and analytical analyzes? If not, start over and fill in any blanks.
   • Ask a friend to read your analysis and give their opinion.
2. 2 Get rid of phrases like “I count” and “I think”. If this is your first time writing a literary analysis, it is normal to feel insecure. This is not unusual! However, one should state one's arguments without such phrases. They make the argument less convincing and kind of signal to the reader that you are not confident in your words.
3. 3 Read the text out loud. Correct any errors that the spelling checker finds, and then test it yourself. Read aloud to slow down and not miss a single mistake.
   • For example, look for inappropriate words or bulky sentence structures.
4. 4 Show the text to a stranger. It's always a good idea to show your work to another pair of eyes to find mistakes. Ask a friend, parent, or classmate to read your analysis and underline any grammatical mistakes that have been identified.

Tips

• Before starting work, make sure that you understand the essence of the task correctly. Always follow the instructor's directions and recommendations.