Literary Analysis Essay
Write a thesis-driven literary analysis essay that uses evidence, commentary, and organization to explain a complex interpretation.
A lesson of English 10, in Advanced Composition, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to write a sophisticated multi-paragraph literary analysis essay that makes a specific, arguable claim and supports it with close reading.
The Literary Analysis Essay: An Overview
A literary analysis essay is an argument about a text. You are not explaining what the text says — you are arguing for an interpretation of what it means and how it achieves its effects.
The essay demonstrates:
- Your ability to read closely
- Your ability to construct an argument with evidence
- Your ability to explain how literary choices create meaning
The Pre-Writing Process
Step 1: Read (and re-read) actively. Annotate for patterns, questions, and significant moments.
Step 2: Identify your focus. What element do you want to analyze? (Imagery, characterization, structure, point of view, a specific symbol?)
Step 3: Develop an arguable claim. What non-obvious thing does this element do or reveal?
Step 4: Find evidence. 3-5 specific passages that support your claim.
Step 5: Plan your structure. What order builds your argument most effectively?
The Introduction
Hook: an opening that creates intellectual engagement. Options:
- A specific moment from the text that illustrates your broader claim
- A provocative question the text raises
- A relevant cultural or historical context
Context: what the reader needs to understand before the thesis.
- Text, author, relevant background
- Do NOT simply summarize the plot
Thesis: specific, arguable, pointing toward your evidence.
Body Paragraph Architecture
Each body paragraph should:
- Open with a topic sentence (a sub-claim that supports the thesis)
- Provide context for the passage you're about to quote (1-2 sentences)
- Introduce and integrate the quotation (with proper attribution)
- Analyze the quotation in detail — what specific words or choices create this effect?
- Connect to the thesis — how does this paragraph advance your central argument?
The ratio rule: your analysis should be at least as long as any quotation, and usually longer.