Greasy lake questions and answers

1

LITERARY ESSAY ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS Writing an Analytical Essay for Short (Story, Drama, or Poetry: A Guide)

You are to write a focused paper in which you analyze and interpret the theme and its connection to one literary element in a selected short story or play we have read and discussed.

Interpret means to explain in your own words a work’s meanings. Analyze means to examine or to look at one part at a time in order to reach a conclusion or make a decision.

STEPS TO FOLLOW IN WRITING THE PAPER:

1. Select a story we have read and discussed. 2. Reread the story for a clear understanding of theme and literary elements that

relate to the theme. 3. Select a clearly defined theme and one literary element such as character,

setting, symbol(s), point of view, irony, imagery, tone, or style. This element must clearly be a vehicle that the writer uses to project and develop the theme.

4. Draft a thesis statement which includes title and author, statement of the theme, specific literary element to be analyzed, and assertion.

5. Write a rough draft, incorporating your interpretations and analysis with quotes, paraphrases, summary from the story (a plot summary will result in a failing grade). Here are some further suggestions:

A. Use literary present tense to write the paper. B. Use action verbs (a partial list is provided). C. Make people, places, or things the subjects of sentences rather than the

events of the story the focus of the sentence. D. Use quotes (short or long) in each paragraph. E. Use your own ideas and words.

2

Writing an Analytical Essay for Short Story, Drama, or Poetry: A Guide

Reading the Story

A. Read the story closely.

1. Notice the details. 2. Answer basic questions

a. Point of View? Narrator? b. Setting?

c. Major characters? d. Plot: conflicts, complication, and resolution

B. Read the story analytically. II.

Choosing the Topic of the Essay

A. Avoid irrelevant topics 1. Personal experiences 2. Author’s biography 3. Judgements of the author’s style or contributions to literature

B. Choose an appropriate topic

1. Consider the emphasis of the story 2. Consider restrictions of time and space 3. Consider the adequacy of supporting details

III. Taking Notes for the Essay

Take down information from the story that applies to your topic A. Types of information include:

1. Descriptions 2. Bits of dialogue 3. Actions 4. Expository information

I V. Formulate a Thesis for the Essay

A. The thesis should provide the following information: 1. Author and title of work

2. Topic of analysis 3. Idea concerning topic

B. The thesis should be phrased precisely and unambiguously

Organize Your Notes

3 A. Write your rough draft; give attention primairly to content and organization B. Fit the supporting details into a logical framework under the major headings. VI. Write Your Essay A. Write your rough draft; give attention primarily to content and organization.

C. Revise your rough draft. In the finished copy, polish the style, coherence, mechanics/grammar of first draft(s).

Exercise: Evaluate the following thesis statements taken from earlier English 102 essays.

1. After reading “A Rose for Emily,” I can understand why Faulkner won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

2. Edith Wharton uses irony in her portrayal of Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, the major characters in “Roman Fever.”

3. The character Sammy is developed through his attitude towards his boss, the customers, and Queenie and her friends.

4. The key to understanding Sammy, the protagonist of Updike’s ‘‘A & P,’’ is his immature attitude. This attitude is developed through his descriptions of co—workers, regular customers, and the girls in bikinis.

5. Through two very important symbols, the dream of the doe and the sea, the writer

paints a picture of the inevitable future where the main character realizes she will not be able to avoid her precarious growth into womanhood.

6. I think gender prejudice is very evil and this is brought out in ‘‘Doe Season.’’ 7. Why are people so cruel? This is the question asked by Jackson’s story “The Lottery.” 8. In Shirley Jackson’s ‘‘The Lottery,’’ the townspeople do not question the importance

of the lottery, yet many of its details have been altered throughout the years.

4 LITERARY ANALYSIS An analysis for literary elements explores or evaluates a technical aspect of a literary work. Probably the most common approach to writing literature, the analysis of a literary element thoroughly examines some literary device that helps weld together the mosaic of the entire work. Common elements include: characterization tone/mood setting imagery plot figures of speech theme rhyme point of view rhythm symbol

For Character

an analysis of what the character says, thinks, and does, pointing out any discrepancies, an analysis of what others say about the character, an analysis of any differences between what the reader observes of the character and what others say about him/her, an evaluation of any direct description by the author about the character.

For Setting

an evaluation of the relationship of setting to the work’s mood, an evaluation of the setting as it reflects the work’s theme an evaluation of the setting’s impact on the characters, an analysis of the impact the setting has on the conflict, an explanation of change in setting as it affects change in mood, characters or conflict.

For Plot

an analysis of the exposition or beginning, of the story or drama, an evaluation of the rising action,

an analysis of the climax, or high point, an analysis of the falling action, examination of special techniques of plot, like foreshadowing and flashback.

For Point of View a description of the point of view: first, second, or third person (if third person, specify which type), an analysis of the impact of the point of view on the theme, plot, conflict, or characterization.

For Symbolism

5 a careful explanation of the development of the symbol, a symbolic interpretation of the work, including—citations of specific instances throughout the work

an explanation of the overall impact of the symbol or, the work’s theme or underlying message.

For Tone a description of tone as it appears throughout the work or within a specified section of the work, an analysis of how the author achieved this tone an explanation of the impact of the tone on the work’s theme.