Sharkpaper logo Sharkpaper logo Order Now
  • Writers
  • Why Us
  • Pricing
  • Samples
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • FAQs
  • User Avatar Account
    • Login
    • Sign Up
  • Order Now
  • Order Now
info@sharkpapers.com +971509963019
  • Login
  • Sign Up
Make an Inquiry

Home

>

Blog

>

Literary Analysis Essay

Last updated on: Jan 2, 2023

A Guide on Literary Analysis Essay - Know How to Write One

By: Nova A.

7 min read

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Jan 3, 2023

The goal of a literary analysis essay is to examine and evaluate the text, identifying its key messages.

It also tries to understand how each part fits into their overall message or meaning for readers. It shows the reader understands what all these pieces add up to when combined together as one piece of writing.

The meaning and true essence of literature is something that every student should understand to write a good creative essay. Creating a good paper doesn't take years of experience, it just takes some creativity and the right approach.

One of the most difficult assignments for students is writing a literary analysis essay. It can be hard to come up with an original idea or find enough material to write about. You might think you need years of experience in order to create a good paper, but that's not always true.

Here are some tips to help you write a literary analysis essay that is on point. So let us begin with the detailed blog on writing an analytical essay.

Literary Analysis Essay

On this Page

What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

A literary analysis essay is a type of essay that focuses on the detailed analysis of a piece of literature work.

A literary analysis essay is used to explain the author's reasons for writing a story with a specific theme. It can also be used to examine the characters, themes, literary devices, figurative language, and settings in the story.

This type of essay encourages students to think about why the author wrote the book or short story. The author has made choices for a reason, so it's important to think about what those reasons might be.

You will be breaking the essay down into various parts. This will help you understand the idea better. The essay should explain the author's choices and point of view, as well as your answers and personal analysis.

Types of Literary Analysis Essay

Following are the major types of a literary analysis essay.

  • Close Reading - Close reading is a way to read and analyze something in depth. You don't need to be creative for a close reading essay. Or you should not know a lot about the topic still, you can write this essay.
  • Theoretical - In this type of essay, you will use theories to back up your points about the topic.
  • Historical - This type of essay is about history. Sometimes you need to write about history to explain what happened.
  • Applied - This type of essay involves analyzing a specific issue from a practical perspective.
    Comparative - In comparative writing, you compare two or more alternatives.
  • Comparative - In comparative writing, you compare two or more alternatives.

Order Essay

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Order Now

What is the Purpose of Literary Analysis Essay?

A literary analysis essay helps students understand the important elements of fiction. It is a way to present the details and analysis of a specific piece of literature.

To understand a literary analysis essay, first, it is advised to learn about the fundamentals of literature.

Following are some of the most prominent literature elements:

  • Plot

The plot of a story is important. It tells you how the story unfolds. It also talks about the events that happen in the story.

Some authors tell stories using flashbacks or future events to make them more interesting. While you are writing a literary analysis essay, you need to pay attention to this point.

  • Point of View

In literature, it is important to have a point of view. This is the perspective of the story that the author has chosen. This part of the essay tries to explain why the author made this choice.

  • Setting

The setting in a story highlights the time and place where the characters are living and working.

Just like characters, settings are also important to analyze. As the author expresses his thoughts about a character, they might also have opinions about places that can be provocative.

  • Characters

They are important in any story. They help the story to develop. You need to think about how the characters change and how they are shown in the story.

  • Imagery

The author uses imagery to create a picture in the reader's mind. This is important because it helps the reader understand the story better. In your literary analysis essay, you should discuss how the imagery affects the story, its development, and the characters.

  • Symbolism

It is another way writers can communicate ideas in their stories. It is when an object represents something more than itself. This might be done through words, but it can also be communicated through different means.

  • Irony

It is a powerful tool in writing that can create a lasting impression on readers. It is the unexpected opposite of what is expected or desired by characters and readers.

  • Foreshadowing

The author often provides hints about the future or what might happen through their descriptions. This is called foreshadowing. The writer gives readers hints about what to expect from the characters or the story’s plot. Present your point of view and analysis of such an incident to impress your teacher.

Now, after discussing the elements of literature, let us move to the writing process of a literary analysis essay.

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay

How do you start a literary analysis essay? The answer is quite simple. You need to follow the guidelines given below to write a successful essay. It is a 5 paragraph essay like any other and you can write it easily by following the following steps.

  • Literary Analysis Essay Introduction

The introduction is meant to provide a context for readers and give them some background information on the topic.

In order to do that, you need to introduce the author of the literary work and its title. The introduction should be effective in grabbing the reader's attention so that they want to continue reading.

  • Literary Analysis Essay Body

When writing the body paragraphs of a literary analysis, it is important to create a summary of the story. Additionally, you should develop your own ideas and observations about the text and aim to write around thousand words.

When writing the body section of your essay, be sure to base your observations on evidence and use your own unique writing style.

The body of your essay should be divided into three paragraphs. Each paragraph should have one strong argument and use facts related to the thesis statement. When writing each paragraph, start with a topic sentence and use transition words when moving to the next paragraph.

  • Literary Analysis Essay Conclusion

In conclusion, the author effectively employs a variety of literary texts to develop the characters and advance the plot. The use of symbolism and metaphor is particularly effective in highlighting the emotional journey. Overall, a conclusion must be well-written.

This section will not provide any new information. It will just restate the main points that you made earlier. You should also provide a short description of your arguments and end with your supporting details.

Here is an outline of a literary analysis essay for your better understanding.

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

Literary Analysis Essay Examples

If you do not have experience in writing essays, it will be difficult to write a good essay. In that case, it is important to research the topic before narrating. There are two important things to remember when writing a literary analysis essay.

  1. First, make sure you pick a topic you're interested in. This will help keep your reader's attention and answer the question you are dealing with in your essay.
  2. Second, the topic should also reflect the main idea of your essay and express your point of view.

Now for your understanding, let us take some examples of a literary analysis essay. Following are some among the list.

THE GREAT GATSBY LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

LITERARY ESSAY RUBRIC

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Many literary analysis essays are based on artistic works like books, movies, and paintings. However, most students choose to write about novels and books.

Below listed are some amazing topics of literary analysis essay:

  • Discuss Ajax as a tragic hero.
  • The Judgement of Paris: Analyze the Reasons and their Consequences.
  • Describe the Oedipus complex and Electra complex in relation to their respective myths.
  • Betrayal is a common theme of Shakespearean tragedies. Discuss
  • Analyze the theme of identity crisis in The Great Gatsby.
  • Analyze the writing style of Emily Dickinson.
  • Role of the Three Witches in flaming Macbeth’s ambition.
  • Analyze the themes of the Play Antigone,
  • Oedipus Rex: A Doomed Son or a Conqueror?
  • The use of multiple narrative voices in Bleak House
  • How does the family structure influence youth crime?
  • The wrongs of the modern society in Fight Club by Palahniuk
  • Identify and analyze the traits of history in T.S Eliot’s ‘Gerontion’.
  • Analyze the purpose of the play.
  • The importance of memory in 1984

Order Essay

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Order Now

After reading this now, the theme of a literary analysis essay must be clear in your mind. As a reader, you have to examine the narrative voice of an author what actually he wants to say.

The process of writing a literary analysis essay can help you better understand the piece that you are reading. If this sounds like something that you wouldn't be able to try your hand at, reach out to SharkPapers.com for assistance. We have expert essay writers who can help you craft an outstanding paper on any topic.

We can write excellent literary essays or any other type of essay for you. This includes compare and contrast essays, descriptive essays, and rhetorical essays.

We have experts who can help you with all of these types of papers. Don't waste your time online looking for help. Place your order now to get a well-written custom paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a literary analysis essay include?

To write a good essay, you need to explain your ideas and provide evidence from the text to support them. This includes summarizing the text, paraphrasing important points, and including specific details.

Why literary analysis essay is important?

It encourages students to think beyond their own knowledge, experiences, and beliefs; they can develop empathy. This can help them improve their writing skills.

How do you do a literary analysis?

In a literary analysis essay, you study the text closely to figure out what it means. You also try to find out why the author chose certain symbols, themes, and objects for the work.

Nova A.

Nova A.

Literature, Marketing

Nova Allison is a skilled Digital Content Strategist with eight years of experience in crafting scientific and technical content. What makes Nova’s online content plans stand out is her perfect mix of engaging and informative writing styles. Her years of writing experience have polished her skills in writing accurate technical content.

Was This Blog Helpful?

No Yes

Burdened With Assignments?

Bottom Slider
Your first order with us is FREE!

Advertisement

LEGAL

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Money-back guarantee

COMPANY

  • About us
  • Why us
  • Blog
  • Our Team

SERVICES

  • Essay Writing Service
  • Paper Writing Service

OTHER

  • Pricing
  • FAQ
  • Reviews

CONTACT US

  • +971509963019
  • info@sharkpapers.com
  • Secure Payment by:

    stripe
    Payment Methods
payment exclusive lock DMCA

© 2023 - All rights reserved

Sharkpaper logo
  • satified students

    2000+ SATISFIED STUDENTS

  •  satisfaction

    95% Satisfaction RATE

  •  satisfaction

    30 Days Money Back GUARANTEE

  •  satisfaction

    95% Success RATE

  • linkdin
  • Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us
  • DMCA american-express master visa-payment discover
google image

© 2022 Sharkpapers.com. All rights reserved.