For this paper, choose a work (short story, play, or poem) that we have discussed in class so far and argue for the idea behind the main theme of the work. What do you think the author is trying to get across to their audience and how?
The most important thing to remember is that you will not summarize what has happened in a literary work but analyze it. You will write “critically.”
The idea behind critical analysis of literature is to write an essay that explains how a work demonstrates its themes.
To write critically means to actually think about what a piece of literature means and find a way to express what it says to you. You must “consider” the work, form opinions about what you have read, and think about how the ideas in the work connect to the world in a larger way.
In your paper, you will most likely discuss how certain literary techniques are used to convey specific ideas. You will not rate how good or bad an author is. You will discuss what a piece means and how it achieves its effect. To write critically, you must provide analysis of specific points. You will explain how the events (quotes, actions, speech, examples, etc.) demonstrate themes and ideas.
For this assignment, make use only of the literature itself. There should be no secondary sources. Your works cited page should include a citation for the piece of literature you’re discussing only.
