The

Literary Analysis
Paper
Key Points: Title
 Every paper should have a TITLE.
 The title should tell specifically what a paper is
about.
 Often times a title may also have a SUBTITLE.
 It is a good idea to make your title “catchy.”
 Titles should be centered and written in upper
and lower case.
 Do not underline or put in quotes.
 Ex: Adolescence Misunderstood:
A Study of Holden Caulfield
Tense

 You must stay in the PRESENT tense

when you write about what happens in a
book or poem. Ex: “ Holden is…”
 The main thing to remember here is that
“literature is not dead,” so do not talk
about it as though it were a corpse!
Always remember to
avoid…
 First person pronouns
 I, me, my, we, us, our
 Second person pronouns
 You, your, you’re, yours
 Summarizing the work
 Slang/informal language
 Gonna for “going to”
 Cause for “because”
 4 for “for”
 Ur for “your”
Always remember to
avoid…
 Tired words
 Example: do NOT use sad, nice, good, bad,
happy, etc.
 Instead, for sad use: mortified, crushed,
heartbroken, melancholy, depressed, etc.
 Using contractions (don’t, isn’t, won’t, I’m)
Other reminders…
 Pay attention to similar words
 Examples:
 Their, there, they’re
 Than, then
 Who’s, whose
 It’s, its
 Where, were
 Watch subject-verb agreement
 DO NOT use awkward words like “stuff” or “things”
 Separate your paragraphs
Other reminders…
 A LOT= 2 words
 Watch commonly misspelled words (i.e. definitely)
 The title of your book is italicized or underlined.
 Make sure that you have an in-text citation for every
direct quote you use
 Example: “__________” (Salinger 58).
 You also need an in-text-citation every time you use
information from the book and write it in your own
words (paraphrased idea)
 Example: __________ (Salinger 58).
Key Point: Thesis
 There should always be a point to your
analysis, and this point should be stated in
your thesis.
 A thesis statement should be specific, not just
a general statement, and should clearly
communicate your essay’s main ideas.
 Avoid something like: “This work is positive in
some ways but negative in many other ways.”
 The thesis statement will normally be one
sentence, but sometimes it is 2 or 3 sentences
if the paper is significantly longer.
Thesis statement
 A good thesis statement:
 should make the reader say: “Wow, really? Prove
it!”
 answers the “what” question – what is the
argument?
 gives the reader a clue to the “why” question – why
is this argument important?
 suggests your essay’s scope, purpose, and
direction.
 is assertive (not opinion based), focused, and
specific enough to be proven within the paper.
How do I get a thesis
statement?
 A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking
process.
 It is not something that you can think up in a
couple of minutes!
 Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do
after getting an essay assignment.
How do I get a thesis
statement?
 Before you develop an argument on any
topic, you have to:
 collect and organize evidence
 look for possible relationships/connections
 think about the significance of these
relationships
Sample essay question

 Write an analysis of some aspect of J.D.

Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye
that is important to its meaning.
Let’s look at a sample
thesis statement
 J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the
Rye, is a great American novel.

 Why is this thesis weak?

It’s weak because
 The reader would expect a summary of the
novel.
 The teacher asked you to analyze, not
summarize.
 The question asked you to pick an aspect of
the novel.
 You should pick an aspect that is important to
the meaning of the novel: imagery, language,
symbolism, setting…
 For example: you might discuss the various
symbols that aid in people’s loss of innocence.
Let’s take it further

 In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger uses

symbols to show how people will lose
their innocence.

 This is a working thesis that has

potential.
It’s still not complete
because
 You have identified a specific aspect you want
to talk about, but the reader would still not
know where you are going with it.
 The reader is left asking: So what? What is
your point?
 Perhaps you do not know yet, and that is fine.
This is still a good working thesis.
 After you have done more research, you
should be able to refine it.
The refined thesis
statement
 Through its use of intricate symbols, The
Catcher in the Rye suggests that all
people will eventually lose their childhood
innocence over the passage of time.
Now

 The reader knows where you are going

with your paper!
 You must present evidence in the text to
support your interpretation.
Sample Thesis Statements
 In the novel, characterization is thoroughly depicted to show
the belief that through time all people lose their childhood
innocence.
 As a result of the many symbols presented throughout the
book, it is clear that holding onto childhood innocence is
necessary for a person to preserve memories.
 Salinger’s ability to focus on the importance of setting
contributes to the belief that people are forced to lose their
childhood and grow up too quickly.
 Holden Caulfield is often critical of the phoniness of the
world around him due to the many characters he encounters
through his journey.
Sample Thesis Statements
 The belief and fear that death is a powerful and complex
idea that people are unwilling to accept is demonstrated
through Salinger’s characters.
 Throughout the story, extensive symbols are portrayed as
Holden Caulfield struggles to find his identity in dealing with
adolescent problems and struggles.
 It is clear that the multiple settings used throughout the story
contribute to the belief that Holden is alienated and isolated
from society.
 As a result of Holden Caulfield’s inability to relate to other
characters, the protagonist struggles to form mature and
long-lasting relationships with those around him.
Sample Thesis Statements
 Salinger displays the importance of characterization by
showing that teenagers struggle to find their places in
society due to the fact that they have a lack of
communication with those around them.
 In the novel, it is clear that the use of (insert literary
device) contributes to the loss of innocence and the
realization that everything cannot always remain the same.
 As a result of the (insert literary device) presented in the
story, Salinger discusses that people’s shortcomings and
problems are a result of the phoniness that exists in society.
 Throughout the novel, the belief that people need to
overcome alienation and loneliness by positively interacting
with those around them is demonstrated through the
extensive use of (insert literary device).
Key Points: Introductory
Paragraph
 Your thesis should usually be the last
sentence of the introduction.
Introductory Paragraph
 A typical introductory paragraph should contain the
following:
 name the author and title of the work you are going to
discuss in the paper
 provide a map of the rest of the paper
 give any background information that the average reader
would need to know to understand your paper. (THIS
DOES NOT MEAN SPECIFIC DETAILS OR A
SUMMARY OF THE WORK!)
 discuss the specific literary device you are using in your
paper (characterization, setting, or symbolism)
 one-sentence thesis statement that provides the main
idea in your paper
 FIRST SENTENCE
DO: Mention the title and author of the novel.
DO NOT: Provide an artificial “grabber” to “get the
audience’s attention”

NEXT SENTENCE OR TWO

DO: Elaborate on the subject of the
book by providing brief background
information (no more than two
sentences). Provide only details
relevant to your thesis.
DO NOT: Provide irrelevant or drawn
out summary of the novel.

Discuss the
NEXT specific literary
SENTENCE OR device you will
TWO address in your
thesis.
THESIS
 Sample Introduction
The Catcher in the Rye, a novel written by J.D. Salinger,
portrays the struggles of adolescence and the inevitableness of
growing up. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, is
sixteen in age but twelve at heart. Refusing to accept that he has to
transition from childhood to adulthood, he breaks away from the
confines of his school and begins an unforgettable three-day
journey that brings him to the edges of maturity. As Holden begins
to find his place in society, Salinger presents numerous symbols
that remind Holden of his childhood. Ultimately, though, Holden
begins to view the many symbols he comes across as pathways to
his future in order to enable his progression to adulthood. Due to
Salinger’s extensive use of symbolism, Holden finally discovers his
place in the world and learns how to accept change through his
slow progression to the next phase of his life.
Length of Intro Paragraph

 For a 2-3 pg. paper: ¼ page long

 For a 4-5 page paper: ¼-½ page long
 Papers that have a minimum of six
pages: 2-3 paragraphs
Purpose of Literary
Analysis Paper
 Summary is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
 Remember, you are analyzing literature, not
telling someone what it is about.
 There should be a point to the analysis: the
whole paper should be organized so as to
prove a statement you are making about the
work.
Key Points: Supporting
Paragraphs
 The topic sentence should set the focus of your paragraph.
 It should include a controlling idea. This means that you
should identify and establish what you plan to talk about and
the point you plan to make.
 The sentence should be clear and precise.
 Ex. While most schools provide their students with
numerous food options in the cafeteria, too few offer
healthy choices for consumption.
 Topic: healthy food choices
 Controlling idea: few schools provide healthy food
options for their students
Key Points: Supporting
Paragraphs
 Refined sentences build on the point that you made in
the topic sentence.
 They do not simply repeat the topic sentence.
 They add additional information and continue to fine-
tune (or refine) the point you are making in the
paragraph.
 Ex. While most schools provide their students with
numerous food options in the cafeteria, too few offer
healthy choices for consumption. Interestingly and
ironically, healthy food causes students to be more
alert in class.
Key Points: Supporting
Paragraphs
 Introduce evidence and embed your quotes.
 Embed means to smoothly, effectively, and logically
combine a quote with your own statement.
 Do not just throw a quote in there. Lead into it and
explain it.
 Do not say “This quote is important because…,” or
“This quote shows/means/says…”
 Properly embedded quotes strengthen your argument.
 It is an evidence chain!
 Context + properly cited quotation + analysis
Key Points: Supporting
Paragraphs
 Example of embedding/analyzing a quote:
 Early on in the story, it is clear that Holden has a
special connection with Jane Gallagher, and the
memories of their checkers games are still vivid in
his mind. When Holden used to play checkers with
Jane, she would leave all her kings in the back row
because “she just liked the way they looked when
they were all lined up in the back row” (Salinger
32). She is a non-competitive person who has no
concern for winning but wishes only to play the
game. Childhood is a pure, simple place, lacking
the vicious competition of grown-ups.
Key Points: Supporting
Paragraphs
 Closing sentence summarizes the paragraph.
 It neatly and effectively wraps up the paragraph before you
move on to discuss something else in another paragraph.
 Do not repeat your topic sentence!
 It ties everything together!
 Tie your analyses to each other, to the topic sentence,
and to your thesis (the argument). Make it painfully clear
to the reader, without being condescending, that your
point has been carefully made, is logical, and leaves no
room for doubt.
 Use a minimum of seven sentences to fully explain the
idea. This is the meat of the paper, and there needs to be
extensive content.
Supporting Paragraphs
 A typical body paragraph should contain the following:
 one or two word transition that leads into topic sentence
 refined topic sentence that is a bit more specific
 brief transition to introduce first piece of evidence used in
support of idea
 sufficient evidence (examples, quotes, details) that is
fully supported by a few sentences of analysis
 transition to second piece of evidence used in support of
idea
 sufficient evidence (examples, quotes, details) that is
fully supported by a few sentences of analysis
 repeat cycle if more evidence is used
 closing sentence that reconnects to the thesis
 Transition into
paragraph (one or Topic Sentence (1)
two words)
Transition to First
Refine Topic Sentence (2) Evidence (a few words)

Introduce evidence (a
Quote Evidence (3)
few words)
Analyze Evidence (4)

Transition to Second
Evidence (a few words)
Introduce evidence (a few words)

Quote Evidence (5)

Repeat Cycle
Analyze Evidence (6)
as Needed

Reconnect to the Thesis (7)

 Sample Body Paragraph
Although Holden is almost an adult, he sees childhood as
a better place than adulthood due to the purity it represents.
Early on in the story, it is clear Holden has a special connection
with Jane Gallagher, and the memories of their checkers games
are still vivid in his mind. In his mind, childhood is filled with
games of checkers with his soulmate, Jane Gallagher. When he
used to play checkers with Jane, she would leave all her kings in
the back row because “ she just liked the way they looked when
they were all lined up in the back row” (32). She is a non-
competitive person who has no concern for winning but wishes
only to play the game. Childhood is a pure, simple place, lacking
the vicious competition of grown-ups. To Holden, Jane portrays
innocence and everything that is great with the world.
 Sample Body Paragraph
Similarly, when he sees a certain obscenity written in his old
school, he assumes that “…some perverty bum…sneaked in the
school late at night… and then wrote it on the wall” (201).
Holden knows he cannot protect children from all the ugliness
and obscenities in the world, but this does not stop him from
trying to protect their innocence (202-203). In the end, the
numerous symbols Holden encounters lead him to the
realization that childhood is a more sacred time of life than
adulthood. Holden shows he will do anything to hold onto this
feeling forever. Despite the symbols he encounters that prevent
him from ridding children of society’s evils, Holden observes that
to be unique and innocent defines childhood while corruption
and competition defines adulthood.
Key Points: Conclusion

 This is the last chance to give the reader

a complete sense of your paper.
 Never begin by using the words “In
conclusion.”
 Provide a “so what” factor to wrap up the
essay.
 Between 4-6 sentences
Conclusion

 A typical concluding paragraph should contain the

following:
 restatement of the thesis that is not simply
copied from the introduction
 summary of the main points described in the
paper without adding any new information or
quotes
 suggest further implications of your argument by
leaving the reader with something to think about
without using artificial zingers
 Thesis
Restated

Summary of Major Points

What This Means to the Rest of Us /

The “So What” Factor / NO
ARTIFICIAL ZINGERS!
 Sample Conclusion
Throughout the novel, Holden encounters many symbols that
enable him to come to the realization that maturation is something
that he needs to experience to enter adulthood. As Holden begins his
journey, he is unwilling to let go of those childhood thoughts that bring
back so many memories. His constant visions of a checkerboard,
baseball glove, and a museum allow him to freeze time and forever
protect the youthfulness of those around him. However, by the end of
his emotional adventure, Holden is finally able to accept the reality
that he cannot hold onto his adolescence forever when he takes note
of the vandalized walls and watches Phoebe struggle to grab the
golden ring. This epiphany causes Holden to understand that he
cannot always live in the past and, as a result, it transforms him into a
new person. By the end of Holden’s narrative, it is clear that he has
changed for the better and truly appreciates the beauty of growing up
and advancing to a new stage in his life.