Introduction to Literary Analysis Essay

PRESENTATION

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

The literary analysis essay is NOT a book report where you simply summarize the plot or provide your opinion of a novel. A literary analysis essay is a paper in which you examine ONE aspect of a piece of literature and make a well-supported ARGUMENT about the text.

What is a literary analysis essay?

A summary of your main points and a restatement of your overa;; argument.

Conclusion

One sentence that outlines your central argument and provides a roadmap to your essay.

Thesis Statement

Documentation of the sources you used to prepare your argument, gather evidence, or compare ideas.

Work Cited

The bulk of your essay that explains and proves your thesis statement using detailed textual evidence.

Body Paragraphs

A paragraph in which you briefly summarize the text, provide background information and state your main argument in the thesis statement.

Introduction

• Always use present tense in a literary analysis essay.
• Keep your audience in mind. Assume your reader has not read the book you are discussing.

Tips!

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