Literary analysis
A genre of arts criticism, literary criticism or literary studies is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical analysis of literature’s goals and methods. Although the two activities are closely related, literary critics are not always, and have not always been, theorists.
Whether or not literary criticism should be considered a separate field of inquiry from literary theory is a matter of some controversy. For example, The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism draws no distinction between literary theory and literary criticism, and almost always uses the terms together to describe the same concept. Some critics consider literary criticism a practical application of literary theory, because criticism always deals directly with particular literary works, while theory may be more general or abstract.
Literary criticism is often published in essay or book form. Academic literary critics teach in literature departments and publish in academic journals, and more popular critics publish their reviews in broadly circulating periodicals such as The Times Literary Supplement, The New York Times Book Review, The New York Review of Books, the London Review of Books, the Dublin Review of Books, The Nation, Bookforum, and The New Yorker.
Literary analysis is the process of interpreting and evaluating a literary work by focusing on how its various components—such as characters, plot, setting, theme, and literary devices—contribute to the whole. It goes beyond a simple summary or review, requiring an argument about the text’s meaning and how it creates effects on the reader. This involves breaking down the work into its parts, gathering textual evidence to support an interpretation, and presenting this argument in an organized, evidence-based essay.
What is literary analysis?
Interpretation, not summary: The main goal is to interpret the author’s choices and their effects, rather than just recounting the plot.
Argumentative: You make a claim or argument about the text (your thesis statement) and then use evidence from the text to support that argument.
Focus on “how” and “why”: You analyze how an author uses literary elements and why those elements are effective in conveying meaning.
Key components to analyze:
- Literary Devices : Techniques used by authors, such as metaphors, similes, imagery, and symbolism.
- Characters : The people (or other entities) in the story and their development.
- Plot: The sequence of events in the story and how they are structured.
- Setting: The time and place of the story and its significance.
- Theme: The central ideas or underlying meanings the author explores.
- Tone & Style: The author’s attitude toward the subject and their distinct writing style.
- Context: The historical, social, or cultural background of the text and its author.
How to write a literary analysis:
- Read closely: Read the text carefully, looking for patterns, significant details, and recurring themes.
- Develop a thesis: Formulate a central argument about the text that you can support with evidence.
- Gather textual evidence: Select specific quotes and examples from the text to support your points.
- Structure your essay: Organize your analysis into an introduction (with your thesis), a body with developed paragraphs supporting your argument, and a conclusion.
- Explain your points: Don’t just present evidence; explain how that evidence supports your argument and contributes to your interpretation of the work