Writing Focus - Literary Analysis

A literary analysis is a very daunting, even Herculean, task for students at times. However, it really does not need to be an overwhelming or intimidating writing experience. A literary analysis is a fancy way for teachers to tell students to read a literary work, look at specific elements or literary devices, and explain how those elements work in and for that story.

A literary analysis is a written exploration or discussion of a literary work for a specific reason or to answer a specific question. It is not a summary of the plot of a literary work. It is the answer to a question, a supported argument, a writer’s personal opinion, and an explanation. The entire point, or purpose, of a literary analysis is to explain how and/or why the author of the work used specific literary devices and techniques to present his or her overall message, moral, or theme.

Now that you know what it is, how do you write a literary analysis? First you must read the literary work. After you read it, then what? This is where the intimidation factor comes into play for many students. Just take a deep breath and follow the steps in the activity below. In this interactivity, use the previous and next buttons to learn more about what it takes to write an effective analysis essay. Click the player button to get started.

View a printable version of this interactivity.

 

Writing a Literary Analysis Review

Now that you have explored the steps required to write a literary analysis, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Drag and drop each of the events into the order in which you should follow when preparing a literary analysis essay. To check your answers, click SUBMIT. Click the player button to get started.