tips for analyzing literature

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thursday, april 26, 2018

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Hey, how are you all? Today I'm going to talk about some tips for analyzing literature.

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tip #1 : identify a central idea or focus

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This is probably the most basic step (besides yknow, reading the piece of literature) in analyzing. Really, to be able to analyze, you have to be able to identify at least one central idea/focus so you have something you can base your analysis on.

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tip #2 : and reasoning

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In order to create a good analysis, you absolutely have to have and reasoning!!! If you have a central idea that you're focusing on, and no , explanations, etc. to back it up, not a lot of people are going to be inclined to believe it.

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tip #3 : make connections using the elements of literature

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Using the elements of literature and making connections with it makes really good , elaboration, and reasoning. Examples of literary elements include:

• allegory - narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic trait and attempt to convey some lesson or meaning to life

• figurative language - use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves

• imagery - author's attempt to create a mental picture in the mind of a reader

• meter - measure or structuring of rhythm in a poem

• plot - arrangement of ideas/events that happen in a story

• point of view - pertains to who tells the story and how it is told

• setting - place, location, and time period of a story

• symbolism - when an object is meant to be representative of something or an idea greater than the object itself

• tone - the implied attitude towards the subject of a piece of literature

If you incorporate these elements into your literary analyses, it should help your grades :'))

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tip #4 : discuss!!!

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oh my god, discuss, discuss, DISCUSS!!! Discussing and putting your own thoughts into your analysis is EXTREMELY important! Without your thoughts, you're basically just taking the author's words and purposes and rewriting them in a different format. If you don't know what to discuss, try discussing:

• what happens in the age and why it's significant to the development of the story

• how the characters and events advance the plot

• how current day events and ideals are set differently in the piece of literature

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that's all I have off the top of my head, hopefully this helps you all!

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