Literary Analysis

1. Literary Analysis Theme

2. What is Theme? • When a work raises questions or explores a certain issue in addition to telling a story, that is the theme • The theme is revealed through the piece’s plot, character, setting, point of view, and symbols • Usually many themes exist for any particular piece of literature

3. To Discover Theme • find portions of he work that seem important or meaningful and explain why they are significant • Plot – what elements have a deeper significance • Characters – What changes occur in the characters because of the events in the plot • Setting – Describe the setting in terms of importance to the characters • Point of View – Who is telling the story and how can their views be biased, skewed, truthful, etc. • Symbols – How do the symbols in the text relate to the characters or hold value in the plot.

4. Close Reading of a Text • First Reading – Circle or highlight words or phrases that are interesting or unfamiliar, and any elements of style – mark reasons why • Second Reading – Make large scale observations: look for patterns, note shifts in tone or view, circle important defining passages, identify possible themes • Third Reading – Reread for final pieces of the pattern then write about what strikes you as the most appealing, in part and in its entirety.

5. From Close Reading to Analysis • Identify requirements from the prompt (assignment) • Write a working thesis (an interpretation), which is an argument about the meaning of the work that you will support with evidence from the text.

6. Read “Slam, Dunk, & Hook” by Yusef Komunyakaa Fast breaks. Lay ups. With Mercury's Insignia on our sneakers, We outmaneuvered to footwork Of bad angels. Nothing but a hot Swish of strings like silk Ten feet out. In the roundhouse Labyrinth our bodies Created, we could almost Last forever, poised in midair Like storybook sea monsters. A high note hung there A long second. Off The rim. We'd corkscrew Up & dunk balls that exploded The skullcap of hope & good Intention. Lanky, all hands & feet...sprung rhythm. We were metaphysical when girls Cheered on the sidelines. Tangled up in a falling, Muscles were a bright motor Double-flashing to the metal hoop Nailed to our oak. When Sonny Boy's mama died He played nonstop all day, so hard Our backboard splintered. Glistening with sweat, We rolled the ball off Our fingertips. Trouble Was there slapping a blackjack Against an open palm. Dribble, drive to the inside, & glide like a sparrow hawk. Lay ups. Fast breaks. we had moves we didn't know We had. Our bodies spun On swivels of bone & faith, Through a lyric slipknot Of joy, & we knew we were Beautiful & dangerous.

7. Prompt: Write an essay in which you discuss how the style and structure of Yusef Komunyakaa’s “Slam, Dunk, & Hook” convey the speaker’s attitude toward the game of basketball. • Poor Thesis Statements • Don’t just restate the prompt • YusefKomunyakaa uses style and structure to convey the speaker’s attitude toward the game of basketball in his poem, “Slam, Dunk, & Hook.” • Don’t narrow too much • In “Slam, Dunk, & Hook,” YusefKomunyakaa uses classical allusions. • Good Thesis Statements should be expressed clearly and should inform the read of the essay’s purpose. • In “Slam, Dunk, & Hook,” YusefKomunyakaa uses vivid images, classical allusions, and metaphors to characterize the game that offers both escape and transcendence for its players.

8. From Close Reading to Analysis • Identify requirements from the prompt (assignment) • Write a working thesis (an interpretation), which is an argument about the meaning of the work that you will support with evidence from the text. • Identify the passages from the text to use for support in the essay • Begin writing the essay and follow the writing process to complete the assignment

9. Example • Read, “The Beauty and Danger of Basketball” by Carlton Curtis

10. Theme Analysis Assignment • In a 1 double-spaced page, analyze the theme of Antigone.