Writing a Literary Analysis

1. Writing a Literary Analysis

2. Character Analysis (for example, but this would apply to whatever you’ve chosen to analyze) While reading a story, choose a character that you like or that you can identify with. As you read, take notes about your character in regards to the following considerations: • Character – static or dynamic? • Conflict – internal or external or both? • Complications he/she faces • Involvement in climax of the story • Motivations • Strengths • Weaknesses • Figurative language used by the character • Other characters’ perception of your character

3. Write a Thesis Statement From the information you have gathered about your character, write a statement about him/her that coincides with what you’ve discovered. It should be written in third person and in present tense. EX: Jay Gatsby’s naivety is the tragic flaw that ultimately prevents him from achieving his American Dream.

4. Introductory Paragraph After you have written your thesis, you can write your introductory paragraph, which can include a brief plot summary that is relevant to the characterization of your character. It MUST include the author’s name and title of the work as well.

5. EX: What is the American Dream and how does one go about achieving it? Many things may determine an individual’s fulfillment of his dream; perhaps it is measured by social status, personal wealth or success in a chosen career. And the means by which he achieves his goals may include discipline, ambition and perseverance. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is the protagonist in search of his American Dream. Unfortunately for him, the one piece of it that he is missing is something he can never have; throughout the novel, he is completely unaware that Daisy is not the dream girl he created in his own mind when they met before the war. Jay Gatsby’s naivety is the tragic flaw that ultimately prevents him from achieving his American Dream.

6. Incorporating Evidence from the Text to Support Your Thesis Now you will need to look through the literature to find a quote/passage that SUPPORTS YOUR THESIS! This can include: • An observation made by the narrator or another character • Something your character says/does • Something another character says/does in response to your character

7. EX: If my thesis is:Jay Gatsby’s naivety is the tragic flaw that ultimately prevents him from achieving his American Dream.Then which of the following evidence (quotes) from the text would BEST support it?a) “In the Argonne Forest I took two machine-gun detachments so far forward that there was a half mile gap on either side of us where the infantry couldn’t advance” (Fitzgerald 66).b) “There must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 101).c) “Now and then she moved and he changed his arm a little, and once he kissed her dark shining hair” (Fitzgerald 150).d) “….-and I was looking at an elegant young roughneck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd” (Fitzgerald 48).

8. Since I would be looking for evidence in the text that illustrates Gatsby’s naivety,choice (b) would be the best one:“There must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 101).

9. Now that you have your evidence (Data), you must incorporate it successfully and with analysis (Warrant). Following these 3 steps will be helpful:#1. Introduce your quote with brief explanation of why it is relevant:EX:When Gatsby met Daisy Fay in October of 1917, he knew he had found the woman of his dreams. Daisy was beautiful, popular and wealthy; characteristics Gatsby deemed necessary qualities in his future wife. However, when the call to war separated them, five years passed before they would meet again, but Gatsby was persistent in his ideal.

10. #2. Next, add your quote, which should always be introduced by something like “Nick observes,” or “Tom says,”EX:When they reunite for the first time, Nick observes that, “there must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 101).

11. #3. And finally, include the analysis. Explain how the quote you selected proves your point (supports your thesis).EX:Nick uses words like “dreams” and “colossal” specifically to illustrate the significance of Gatsby’s loss of touch with reality. Gatsby set himself up for failure by foolishly counting on Daisy to wait for him and marry for love. Because he made her a necessary part of his American Dream, he was bound to fall short of achieving it.

12. All together, it looks like this: What is the American Dream and how does one go about achieving it? Many things may determine an individual’s fulfillment of his dream; perhaps it is measured by social status, personal wealth or success in a chosen career. And the means by which he achieves his goals may include discipline, ambition and perseverance. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is the protagonist in search of his American Dream. Unfortunately for him, the one piece of it that he is missing is something he can never have; throughout the novel, he is completely unaware that Daisy is not the dream girl he created in his own mind when they met before the war. Jay Gatsby’s naivety is the tragic flaw that ultimately prevents him from achieving his American Dream. When Gatsby met Daisy Fay in October of 1917, he knew he had found the woman of his dreams. Daisy was beautiful, popular and wealthy; characteristics Gatsby deemed necessary qualities in his future wife. However, when the call to war separated them, five years passed before they would meet again, but Gatsby was persistent in his ideal. When they reunite for the first time, Nick observes that, “there must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams-not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 101). Nick uses words like “dreams” and “colossal” specifically to illustrate the significance of Gatsby’s loss of touch with reality. Gatsby set himself up for failure by foolishly counting on Daisy to wait for him and marry for love. Because he made her a necessary part of his American Dream, he was bound to fall short of achieving it.