Literary Analysis Essay Guide

Introduction to Literary Analysis Essay

• Begin with the necessary heading information:
  • Your first and last name
  • Instructor's name
  • Class block
  • Date
• Choose a title reflecting the topic of your analysis.
• Example discussed: "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin

Components of a Good Literary Essay

Introduction

• Hook:
  • Start with a thought-provoking quote (e.g., "Hell is other people" by Sartre) to introduce the theme.
• Topic Introduction:
  • Mention the title and author of the story.
  • Briefly describe the story’s topic (e.g., "a view of marriage").
• Thesis Statement:
  • Acts as a roadmap for the essay.
  • Contains a claim (your opinion on the theme or characters) and three supporting reasons.
  • Example Claim: "Kate Chopin's 'The Story of an Hour' expresses the oppressive nature of marriage."
  • Use "because" to link the claim to supporting reasons.

Body Paragraphs

• Start with a Topic Sentence for each body paragraph that states the reason.
  • Example: "The setting's reflection of Mrs. Mallard's emotions."
• Evidence and Explanation:
  • Provide direct quotes with proper MLA citation (author's last name and page number).
  • Explain how the evidence supports your reason.
  • Example Analysis:
    • Mrs. Mallard's reaction to springtime after her husband's death reflects her newfound freedom and hope.
    • Use of positive language ("delicious breath of rain") is unexpected for a widow, indicative of her escape from oppression.
• Concluding Sentence:
  • Restate the main idea of the paragraph.

Subsequent Body Paragraphs

• Follow the same structure:
  1. Reason
  2. Evidence from the text
  3. Explanation of how the evidence supports the reason

Conclusion

• Summarize the main ideas discussed in the essay.

Final Notes

• Ensure each part of the essay clearly links back to the thesis statement.
• Consistent structure: Reason, Evidence, Explanation for each body paragraph.