Ideas for Writing a Literary Analysis

Ideas for Writing a Literary Analysis

1. Theme
   1. Does the author seem to be saying something about ambition… courage…greed…jealousy…happiness?
   2. Does the selection show you what it is like to experience racism, loneliness, and so on?
   3. Does the author have a point to make about a specific historical event?
2. Characters
   1. How does the main character change from the beginning to the end?
   2. What forces or circumstances make one of the characters act in a certain way?
   3. What are the most revealing aspects of one of the characters (Consider his or her thoughts, words, and actions.)[unique_solution]
   4. Do the characters’ actions seem believable within the story?
   5. Does the main character have a confidant, someone he or she relies on? How important or reliable is this person?
3. Plot
   1. What external or internal conflict affects the main character?
   2. How is suspense built into the story?
   3. How does the climax change the story?
   4. Are there any twists in the plot? (What do they add to the story?)
   5. Does the plot follow a pattern?
4. Setting
   1. What effect does the setting have on the characters?
   2. Does the setting expand your understanding of a specific time and place?
   3. Is the setting new and thought provoking?
5. Style
   1. How does the writing—descriptive phrases, images, and so on—create an overall feeling or tone in the selection?
   2. Is dialogue or description used effectively? (Give examples)
   3. Is there an important symbol that adds meaning to the selection? (How is this symbol represented in different parts of the story?)
   4. Are there key figures of speech such as metaphors and similes? (What do these elements add to the writing?)