3 Steps For Analyzing Artistic and Literary Mediums

Step 1
Observation and Collection of Evidence
 List the objects or people that draw your attention.
Focal Point  What words do you notice?
 What action is taking place in the literary medium?

 What colors are used?

Color and
 What feeling does the image create?
Mood  What is the effect of the color choices on the mood?

 Can you locate a title, date, or identification of the artist?

 What is the source of the image?
Sources
 What historical or cultural events does this information
suggest?

Step 2
Make Inferences
 Think about the people and objects in the image.
Objects /  Why might the artist use these people or objects in the image?
People  Are there symbols? What do you think the symbols mean?
 What inferences can you make based on your observations?

Words /  What is the topic or subject of the literary medium?

Phrases  Which words or phrases are most significant? Why?

Step 3
Synthesize and Use Evidence
 How do the words clarify the symbols?
 Explain the overall message of the literary medium.
 How do the colors, words, and/or images support the message
of the literary medium?
Synthesis  When comparing multiple mediums, how does each medium
convey the subject?
 When comparing multiple mediums, what is emphasized in
each one? How do they differ from each other? How are they
similar?