Extended Literary Analysis

Final Essay: Extended Literary Analysis

Due: Monday, May 12, by 5 p.m.

For your final essay, which takes the place of a final exam for this class, you will develop a 6-8 page analytical paper that advances either a focused interpretation of one text (short story or novel), or a comparative analysis of two texts. Any of the texts read this semester can be used for the final essay. You are also welcome and encouraged to use work from one of your short essays to revise and further develop into this longer essay.

Literary Analysis:

This essay will, similar to the short essays, focus specifically on a critical issue, will be organized around your topic, and will include an introduction that clearly sets up your intention for the paper. Create a literary argument that provides a framework for interpreting the text. In this argument, you are advocating a specific and non-obvious “reading of the text”- an argument about how the story can be read and understood. You will select one to two literary elements and discuss their significance for a larger theme or issue within the text.  Your discussion of the literary elements will not be an end unto itself, but will ultimately prove their significance to the critical issue you identify. Your essay should also incorporate textual evidence and a discussion of this evidence, including integrated direct quotations to support your claims (in MLA format).

Literary Comparison Option:

What is a Literary Comparison? A comparison presents two or more texts and describes and analyzes their similarities and differences in order to illuminate something new about each text. When writing your literary comparison, you will answer the question, so what? Make clear to your reader the purpose of your comparative reading: It is not simply enough to describe the similarities and differences between to works; you must also provide the significance of your comparison. Your goal is to inform readers of something they haven't thought of before-- a non-obvious connection between two texts that helps the reader see each in a new way. Highlighting the differences is not enough; ask yourself what the deeper implications of those relationships are for the topic at stake. The elements being compared must either: A) Appear different but have significant similarities; or B) Appear similar but have significant differences.

Method: Establish a basis for your comparison. In a comparison of two literary works, some common grounds for comparison include plot, character background, character actions, character motivations, setting, and theme. Develop your discussion of the element you choose as your basis for comparison by describing and interpreting the attributes of a common element. 

Organization: Although there are two main ways comparative essays can be structured-- the block method (presenting each work separately) and the alternating method-- for the purposes of this course, you will use the alternating method. In the alternating method, also called point by point, you will structure your argument around the attributes of comparison for each text rather than dealing with one text at a time. This will make it easier for your reader to grasp your specific points of comparison between the two texts.

Thesis Statement: In your thesis statement, include the names of the texts being compared, indicate the purpose of the comparison, and state the basis of the comparison. 

Examples: 

Unacceptable thesis: I am going to compare the similarities and differences between Bram Stoker's Dracula and Angela Carter's "The Lady of the House of Love." 

Acceptable thesis: The seduction of male victims by female vampires depicted in both Bram Stoker's Dracula and Angela Carter's "The Lady of the House of Love" demonstrate each author's approach to cultural fears about feminine sexuality.

Additional Guidelines:

• If you choose to extend work from one of your short essays, you are not simply adding additional material to what you have already written, but should be revising all aspects of your essay to make it into a coherent longer essay. This may mean restructuring, reevaluating claims and evidence, and possibly even revision to your initial thesis. This option allows you to refine an idea you have already worked on, applying the process of revision to strengthen and supplement your original argument.
• As always, revise your essay for clarity and style. Edit your paper for spelling, grammatical, and mechanical errors. Make sure all citations and quotations are formatted correctly, including punctuation. 
• Use MLA for your paper formatting, citations throughout, and your works cited page.