In the vast array of fiction works, poetry can be called the most rational and less susceptible to
such a technique as analysis. Knowledge of the scheme for analyzing a poem is also necessary for students studying at the Philology Faculty.
And if earlier, this question was in the shadow, today it is very relevant. That’s why let’s find out how to write a literary analysis essay correctly.
Requirements
The first requirement is for the essay’s volume: the paper must be at least 200 words. The optimal number of words to cover a topic is 250-300.
Also, keep in mind:
- the paper should be based on the source text
- it is essential to present an analysis of the work and how you understand the problem that is stated in it
- the essay must contain arguments
- the primary condition for a high grade is a competent text without spelling and punctuation errors.
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Comprehensive text analysis
There is no explicit instruction or scheme. However, it is necessary to adhere to some plan to draw up the analysis’s text, where the conclusion will follow from particular facts, supported by the arguments given. You should determine the theme and, already at the beginning, answer the question: “What did the author want to say with this passage?”
Knowing all the points will undoubtedly help in analysis, and the student will no longer ask the question: how to analyze the text. He or she will immediately begin to investigate the proposed work according to a specific plan. In the end, he or she can easily conclude with the given arguments.
Paper structure
An essay consists of several elements:
- introduction
- definition of the problem, its relevance
- formulation of your position
- reliable arguments that support it
Don’t make paragraphs too large, but don’t break the text into many small passages.
A plan for an essay
Think over what plan to stick to so that the flow of thoughts is lined up in harmonious, logically consistent sentences. Immediately after receiving the topic, ideas and images will begin to appear in your head. Using the draft, jot down the phrases or words that come to mind first.
- The introduction presents the information as if it would be read by a person who is entirely unfamiliar with the problem. Here you need to reveal the topic, issues, and relevance of the paper. Here you can tell the details from the author’s biography or the history of creating the work, touch on the historical context, or mention other books telling about this problem.
- In the main body, it is essential to highlight the thoughts that the work caused, emotions to the chosen character, or his/her circumstances. Here it should be indicated what place the problem occupies in the text and modern society. To highlight this point, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with literary criticism and historical manuals. Only a complete understanding of the context will help you as accurately as possible to form an idea of the author and his or her work.
- In the final part, answer the question you posed in the introduction. This is a short theorem, deduced from the paper’s previous parts’ entire lengthy proof. Summarize what has been said before.
Poem Analysis Plan
- Elements of a commentary to the poem: Time (place) of writing, history of creation; Genre originality; The place of this poem in the poet’s work or a series of poems.
- The interdependence of the poem’s content and its artistic form: Compositional solutions; Features of self-expression of the lyric hero and the nature of the narrative; rhythm, stanza, graphics.
- Associations caused by this poem (literary, life, musical – any).
- The deep moral or philosophical meaning of the work, revealed as a result of the analysis, the degree of “eternity” of the problems raised, their interpretation, riddles, and secrets of the poem.
- Additional (free) reflections.
While analyzing, determine the “belonging” of feelings and thoughts expressed in a lyric work: lyric hero (the image in which these feelings are expressed); – determine the subject of description and its connection with a poetic idea (direct-indirect); – determine the organization (composition) of the lyric work; – assess the originality of the use of visual means; – determine the rhythm (homogeneous – heterogeneous; rhythmic movement); – determine intonation (the speaker’s attitude to the subject of speech and the interlocutor).
After you finish writing, be sure to review the entire essay for compliance with the original plan. If you want to write your paper more authentically, check out how to write a creative essay. Good luck!
