Literary Analysis Diagnostic Essay

Literary Analysis Diagnostic Essay | AP Literature "In literature, recurrent images, words, objects, phrases, or actions that tend to unify the work are called motifs." --C. Hugh Holman and William Harmon in A Handbook to Literature (6th ed.) The Literary Analysis Essay: A Crash Course Thematic Statement: A thematic statement is a sentence making a claim or giving an opinion of a topic. While the statement must be universal, it should be something that can be supported by the novel The Great Gatsby. Example: Dogmatic obsession of romantic attraction leads to individual peril. Motif: You will choose one motif to help support the thematic statement in your paper, for example: mouths, mirrors, trees. A motif is a recurring symbol in the novel. A symbol is something that exists in the literal reality of the novel and it serves a larger purpose for the audience, representing meaning that is more than literal. In some cases it contributes to characterization, making suggestions to or showing the audience without telling them directly. Example: Melinda’s mouth is an external sign of her internal struggle. In the beginning of the novel she does not speak and her lips are destroyed because she was raped and outcast. When she begins to trust others, mainly Heather and Mr. Freeman, she begins to communicate more. David teaches the privilege and responsibility of speaking up. In the end, she defends herself and tells her secret. Evidence: You will select five direct quotations that comment on your thematic statement and that represent one motif. Direct quotations must be accompanied by page numbers. Example: “I sit like I have an egg in my mouth. One move, one word, and the egg will shatter and blow up the world” (117). Following the school rules and Mr. Neck’s directions, not talking in MISS, creates a situation where Melinda must take additional harassment from Andy Evans. Thesis: Your thesis statement is a claim that argues for the validity of your thematic statement within the novel. You must consider the theme as a piece of advice from the author, which she communicates to readers using motif as a tool to do so. Example: In her novel, Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson employs the motif of mouths in order to expose the dangers of following the social or school rules. Outline: Paragraph 1 ▪ Define your topic as a universal idea in your own words. ▪ State your thesis, which is the interpretation of your theme by the author in the novel. ▪ Explain generally how the motif shows the theme in the novel. *This paragraph must also include the author’s name. *The best introduction paragraphs will include all of the information above in a personalized way/order, instead of listing the bullet points. Paragraphs 2-4 ▪ Topic sentence: State one way that the theme is revealed and your thesis is supported in the novel. Use the author’s last name. ▪ Evidence: Introduce the quotation by giving it some context. Do not summarize the plot. Include one quotation of the novel that comments on the theme and shows the motif. Page number is required. ▪ Explain: (This is the most important thing.) The explanation should include an explanation of the motif; a symbol represents something beyond the literal events in the novel. Explain how the quotation, as one instance of the motif, is related to the theme and supports your thesis statement. Use present tense verbs like supports, shows, explains, details, complicates, etc. to explain how. *Paragraph 4 should have a more complex argument in it than paragraph 2. Each one should build on the previous. Paragraph 5: ▪ Clarify your thesis statement and its importance. ▪ Include your thematic statement and answer the “so what?” question.