How to Write a Literary Analysis

A literary analysis is both a personal opinion of a writer and an academic paper that is aimed at analyzing a certain literary work and presenting a personal point of view. In fact, writing literary analysis requires coming up with solid points of view about a certain analyzed literary work. Therefore, numerous writers prefer this type of academic paper since you can write a great piece of writing about a literary work you are fascinated to explore. This piece of writing can be also called a special type of research work. Thus, when writing a literary essay, students need to analyze and summarize the main details, characters, and events presented in a chosen literature sample.

Since a literary analysis requires a profound analysis of a chosen literature sample, it is important for a writer to have good writing and analytical skills. In addition, this academic paper must be written in a third-person and have the correct structure and formatting style. Consequently, every writer must check the instructions and guidelines on how to prepare a literary analysis essay in advance. Be aware that this piece of writing requires all the analytical essay elements including an outline, introduction, informative main paragraphs, and conclusions.

A literary analysis should include a thesis statement presented at the very beginning of an analysis. Skilled writers prefer using various examples from analyzed literature work and different quotes to prove the main thesis statement. When you have no idea how to perform a good literary analysis, check the following guides and tips in order to come up with a great final paper.

What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

A literary analysis essay is a special kind of essay. In this piece of writing, every author can represent a personal point of view. Moreover, in this academic paper, a writer analyzes a certain literary work and presents personal points of view. In fact, writing a literary analysis means providing a personal review of certain literature work. Many writers prefer this type of academic paper since you can write a great piece of writing about your favorite literary work.

A literary analysis remains a special type of research work. Therefore, when writing a literary essay, students need to analyze and summarize a plot, main details, characters, and events presented in a chosen literature work. Mostly, students choose popular and well-known literary works to analyze, thus it is easy to find a lot of information about an analyzed work. Literary analysis requires a profound analysis of a chosen work of literature, thus it is important for a writer to have good writing and analytical talents. This piece of writing is always written in a third person. This is a common feature of a literary analysis essay and many other analytical essays.

Since this is one of the opinion-based essays, every writer must remember that a personal point of view matters. Thus, this academic paper should never remain a simple summary of a literary work. Make sure to provide a strong thesis statement and prove it with supporting evidence and personal experience when completing a literature analysis essay.

Literary Concepts

A literary analysis essay requires a profound analysis of a chosen work of literature including a research work aimed at checking all the existed literary concepts. Every author chose what part of a text to start with, but make sure to plan the entire paper in advance when performing an essay. It will help you to provide an original and flawless literary analysis essay eventually.

When dealing with a literary essay, you should always pay attention to the following important literary concepts:

• Plot;
• Setting;
• Narration;
• Description;
• Symbol;
• Metaphor;
• Genre;
• Irony.

Various literary works can be differently analyzed and revealed using different writing techniques. Thus, there are a few types of literature analysis you can choose to use during your research of a chosen literary work:

–         Theoretical

When you are dealing with a few theories’ analysis, this type of literary analysis is the most often used. It brings a revelation of the main arguments and its verification with existed theories.

–         Close Reading

Close reading requires a detailed analysis of a chosen work of literature with further delivery of findings based on the deep and profound analysis. This type of literature analysis requires paying attention to the slightest details.

–         Comparative

When dealing with comparative analysis, a writer must compare a wide variety of important elements in single analyzed literature work. The analysis is aimed at searching for connections between elements and checking their importance.

–         Historical.

This type of analysis is focused on the historical framework of an analyzed work of literature. This type of literature analysis requires a strong thesis statement and its support with relevant evidence.

Literary Analysis Structure

When writing a literary analysis, it is important to prepare a flawless piece of writing with a proper structure that includes all the requested main elements.

• An Introduction

An introduction is an important element of a literary analysis essay. This part of a text is aimed at gathering readers’ attention and revealing the main topic of a paper. In these few sentences, you must introduce a subject and reveal the main issue of your piece of literature to analyze further. Moreover, an introduction should contain the two main elements:

1. Hook sentence;
2. A thesis statement.

It is proper to place a thesis statement at the end of an introduction. Moreover, you need to convince a reader to read your analysis, thus you must use catchy phrases and hook sentences to intrigue your audience.

A thesis statement is an important argument for a literary analysis essay. Furthermore, a thesis statement must be supported with proper evidence in the main body paragraphs. It is necessary to deliver a strong thesis in order to intrigue a reader with a fascinating topic’s revelation.

• Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should contain the main arguments and their supporting evidence. Moreover, experienced writers prefer writing separate arguments in separate paragraphs. When writing the body paragraphs, always focus on providing logical and relevant supporting evidence, explicit details, important statistics, and interesting facts in order to prove a thesis statement. You can also use various samples and quotes from an analyzed work of literature.

Follow the logical structure of a paper, and make sure to include the following important elements:

1. Topic sentence;
2. Supporting evidence;
3. Explanation of a plot;
4. Final sentence.

• A Conclusion

You must provide the final part of your literary analysis essay where providing the final message. In order to influence your reader with your conclusions and points of view, you need to provide encouraging concluding sentences. Moreover, make sure to prove a thesis statement in a literary analysis essay’s conclusions. Use short and concise sentences to share important data and persuade your reader. It is also good to add call-to-action in the conclusion part.

How to Write?

When you need to write a literary analysis, it is important to analyze and summarize the main details, characters, and events presented in a chosen literature work. Moreover, this paper requires a profound analysis of a chosen work of literature, thus it is important for a writer to have impressive writing and analytical talents. Remember that this piece of writing is always written in a third person. This is a common feature of a literature analysis essay like many other analytical essays.

When choosing the most effective literary devices and writing techniques to come up with a perfect final paper, make sure to check the following tips and guides:

1. First, pay attention to a chosen topic. Understand its main message, plot, and importance for a reader.
2. Check the format of a paper. Look through numerous formatting styles’ tutorials and guides.
3. Prepare an outline of a literary analysis essay in order to plan your entire work properly.
4. Write your papers with all main elements including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
5. Edit and proofread it in order to submit a perfect final literature analysis essay.

A literary analysis essay remains a special type of research work. Thus, when writing a literary essay, make sure to analyze and summarize the work of literature properly. Check and research the main details, every specific character, and events presented in a chosen literature work. Be aware that a literary analysis requires a profound study of a chosen work of literature, thus it is important to be very attentive to your research work and demonstrate the best writing and analytical talents.