Literary Analysis

attached is the passage that needs to be read and analysised

GETTING STARTED

Your literary analysis essay should begin with an introduction that focuses your reader s attention, introduces the story by title and author, and states your thesis clearly. Avoid references to the assignment: In this paper I will…. Try not to start with a sentence that begins like this: In Title of Story, by Author X, …. Your first sentence should get your reader’s attention.

The body should develop your thesis in an organized fashion. Make a plan of attack. Decide what points you want to make, and find evidence in the texts to support these points.

Use quotes and examples whenever possible to clarify your ideas. Think about the sample essays provided for you in this course as you work on your approach to the assignment.

In the conclusion, summarize your thesis and main points and offer any additional commentary. Here s where you might want to answer the big So what? question. Readers should feel like they learned something from your essay — so make it meaningful by relating to your thesis in a meaningful way.

FORMAT

• Use MLA format when you cite the texts. This means a page number for short stories in parentheses immediately following the quoted material: ie. “Madame Loisel suffered constantly, feeling herself destined for all delicacies and luxuries,” (3).
• Quote frequently but selectively from all of the short story and use MLA format for all citations.
• Use transitions and make connections for your reader. After you prove your thesis, be sure to share a personal connection before you conclude.
• In general, you should use present tense when writing about literature.
• Refer to author by his/her full name in the introduction. Thereafter, just the last name is needed.

TIPS

Engage readers on your topic and gradually progress to your clear thesis in the first paragraph

The best essays, rather than just pointing out a theme in the story, will also address the significance of it in their lives. In other words, answer the So what? question. Maybe you will find something in the story that says something particularly poignant about culture or times. Find a personal connection with this concept. See what you can connect. There is no need to do any outside research, so please do not.