In this paper, you will need to do a basic literary analysis. Essentially what this means is that you will be arguing how an author constructs a text in order to eventually arrive at the theme he or she wants to convey. You have learned some literary elements such as plot, theme, symbol, setting, character, conflict, tone, narration, point of view, and irony. Now, you have a choice of how to construct your first literary analysis.
You can choose a story we have read in class and argue how the author uses three of the literary elements in order to arrive at the theme of the story. For example, what is the theme of “The Open Boat?” Once you have a general idea of what the theme is, you need to argue what that theme is and show how the author uses elements like symbolism, irony, and conflict in order to support that theme.
You can choose to compare OR contrast (not both) how two stories (at least one must be a story we have read in class, the other must be approved by me) deal with the same theme using the same two literary elements. For example, both “The Story of and Hour” and “The Storm” use Irony and Setting to achieve a theme about marriage—how? And what is that theme?
You will find that discussing your paper with me at your conference will help, but you need to come prepared to your conference—think about the stories you liked. Why did you like that story specifically? What did the author do that grabbed your interest and kept it, and how did you relate to the theme? What specific parts of the story (quotes, word choice, etc) illustrate that?
Your paper must be more than a book report—do not summarize the stories for more than 2-3 sentences. You need to hit at analysis—rather than focusing on what is happening, ask yourself “why is what is happening important to the theme the author wants to express to me? How does that author accomplish expressing that?” If you tell me something that happened in the story, your next sentence needs to show me evidence of it. Then you need to explain why that event or sentence or quote is important to your argument (how does it prove the thesis?).
BE SURE TO BRING A PRINTED HARD COPY TO CLASS TO TURN IN, AND BE SURE TO SUBMIT IN CANVAS AS WELL.
I must have both a Canvas submission and a printed hard copy (handed in during class) in order for your paper to be on time.
Think about the story or stories you want to analyze, and then ask yourself these FOUR questions:
Who is the main character?
What is the conflict he/she faces?
How does he/she develop as a result of that conflict?
What dominant idea does that development support or represent (theme)?
Then, How does the author construct the story with literary elements in order to support that theme? <-- This the thinking point where you begin your paper.
Remember, you are explaining and arguing to your reader how the author constructs a story—you are not telling them what happens in the story. You are telling them why what happens is important to the author’s theme.
Possible starter topics:
Kate Chopin’s representation of marriage in “The Story of an Hour.”
Ambrose Bierce’s use of irony, point of view, and Symbolism to discuss the tragic hubris of human beings.
The theme of maturation in “Araby” or in “A&P”
Poe’s theme in “The Cask of Amontillado”—what is it? how does point of view, symbolism, and structure support it? or Irony?
Humanity's insignificance “The Open Boat” as it relates to the theme of humanity. How does it use symbolism and narration and irony to drive this idea?
