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How to Write a Literary Analysis. Identify a particular theme and show how the writer suggests theme. Does/he suggest theme through… Characterization Point of view Symbolism Setting. Characterization. What’s the author’s attitude towards the main characters?
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How to Write a Literary Analysis Identify a particular theme and show how the writer suggests theme. Does/he suggest theme through… Characterization Point of view Symbolism Setting
Characterization • What’s the author’s attitude towards the main characters? • How does he describe them? Is it in positive tones or not? • Do these descriptions foreshadow events/behavior in the novel? • Do these descriptions reinforce theme?
Point of View • From what point of view is the story told? • How does this impact the story? • Is the narrator reliable? • What’s the narrator’s role? • Does the use of this type of narrator enhance the novel’s theme?
Symbolism • Did you notice any repeated symbolism? • Are the characters realistic or stereotypes? • Is the setting realistic or does it symbolize something beyond itself? • Are colors emphasized? • Are there any Biblical or mythological allusions? • Are there any objects that reappear throughout the work? (animals, automobiles, clothing, buildings, etc.) • What might these objects or people represent symbolically?
Setting • How does the author describe the setting? Positive? Negative? • Do the characters “fit” in their setting or is there a disconnect? • Are some settings more idyllic than others? • What happens in the “good” versus the “bad” settings? • Does the setting reinforce the theme? How?
Most importantly, what is the author telling us about… • Friendship and Loyalty? • Why does the author allow Lennie to die and George to kill him? • Why does the author make two such different men travel companions and friends? • Why does the author allow other ranch hands to join in Lennie and George’s dream of the farm? • Why does the author allow all the ranch hands to get along with each other? Who doesn’t have friends? Why did the author write this/these people out of friendship?
Isolation? • Which of the characters is the loneliest? Why did Steinbeck write him or her that way? • Do you think Lennie or George are lonely? How does Steinbeck tell us this? • Are all of the characters isolated in some way? Why would Steinbeck do this? What is he trying to tell us about life?
Power • Who has real power? Who has none? How do you know this? • Who dies in the novel? Why does Steinbeck allow them to die? Is he telling us something about power and victimization? • At the end of the novel, which of the main characters survives? Why does Steinbeck allow him to survive?
Now it’s time to come up with an idea for your paper. Qualities of a good central idea • It must be an idea which you can prove in your essay. • You must have evidence (Aha! So that’s why you had to write the dialectical journal!) • It must be clear, focused, and specific.
Your thesis… • Can’t be too broad • “Lennie and George are good friends”. • Can’t be too obvious • “George kills Lennie to save him from Curly.” • Must be supportable • Must include your theme • Must include HOW the author develops and reinforces the theme.
Examples of potential thesis statements • The isolation of the character, Crooks, illustrates the racial prejudices during America’s Great Depression. • The unattainability of the American dream is reflected in Lennie’s death. • The characters in Of Mice and Men represent a cross-section of American’s isolation during the Great Depression. • As dramatic foils, Lennie and George emphasize the co-dependency of friends.
What is YOUR central idea? • Review your journal entries. Is one theme more prevalent than the other? • Now look only at the excerpts and your responses to the most prevalent theme? • Are there similarities? • Meet with your group and discuss the author’s attitude/opinion towards the theme and HOW he communicates that message.
Weak Thesis Stronger Thesis Steinbeck contrasts Lennie and George in order to emphasize loyalty in the face of hardship. Steinbeck’s imagery of the rabbit farm serves as a contrast to the realistic imagery of ranch hands during the Depression and reinforces the unattainability of the American dream. The character of Crooks emphasizes the struggles of African Americans during the Depression. • Of Mice and Men explores the friendship of two ranch hands. • Steinbeck uses a lot of imagery in the novel Of Mice and Men. • The characters in Of Mice and Men represent the American class system.
