Whereas a summary of a work of literature states the events (the plot) of the story, an analysis will focus on one central item within that story and explain
what it represents as well as why it is important- its significance. This semester, we have been discussing several poems, short stories, and plays. For your
literary analysis essay, choose one or two of the works we have discussed to write on (I would suggest that if you are looking at a poem, you can use two, but
for a short story or one of the plays, just focus on one). You can either write on a theme that appears in the work, the importance of a character in a work, or
the significance of a reoccurring motif or symbol. Explain why this is important to understand a deeper meaning or message within the text. Finally, apply one
of the critical theories we have discussed to provide a possible interpretation of the text.
Essay should be five full pages in length (minimum). You must use at least 3 sources-including quotes from the text(s) being analyzed, and you must also
have a “Works Cited” page. The entire paper and Works Cited page must be adequately and appropriately documented in the MLA style as stated on the
“guidelines” page.
Essay should also have a creative title centered right below the heading and right above the text of the essay.
Finally, I am adding a PDF of a passage I have my 101 classes read as we discuss Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. This was an introduction written for the
60th anniversary edition by Neil Gaiman. I am including it here because the first two pages speak to dystopian fiction in general and makes good points as to
why the author writes within that genre. I would like for you to read those first two pages, finishing up that final paragraph that goes over a few lines on the
third page, ending at “…and even she cannot see everything that her book is about.” The rest of the intro goes specifically into discussing aspect of
Fahrenheit 451 that are not relevant for our class, but those first 2 pages are. The link to the PDF is below.
https://www.stjoe.k12.in.us/ourpages/auto/2015/3/9/49008830/Bradbury%20-%20Gaiman%20Intro.pdf
