Literary Analysis Essay

What is a Literary Analysis Essay?

Profound analysis of a novel, story, poem, or any other literary work is a time-consuming and demanding academic assignment that the students get from their professors at a certain point of their study.

A literary analysis essay is a combination of a challenge and fun as it implies in-depth involvement into the beauty and joy of the world of poets and writers.

Although the analysis of prose is different from the analysis of poetry, they also have numerous similar features that the students should know well.

How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay?

While analyzing both prose and poetry, the students are supposed to rely on the text of the literary work that can support all their assumptions and statements. They should remember that the process of working on the literary piece can be different. In some cases, it is sufficient to focus on the textual elements, while in other cases, it is important to take into account the gender and background of the author, historical context, or social and economical factors of that period of time. While writing essays about literature, it is essential for the student to know the terminology related to literary analysis and the main principles of that analysis. Every literary work will have its own specific textual elements. A poem, for instance, can be written in different forms; it can be a villanelle or a traditional sonnet. It is interesting to analyze how those formal elements emphasize the implied meaning and help the reader have an insight into the sense. On the other hand, the most powerful insight into the meaning of a novel or a short story is given by the setting or the plot. However, an essay about literary work, as well as other types of assignments, is formed to fit the well-written thesis.


Literary Analysis Components


An essay on literature starts with an efficient thesis notwithstanding what type of literary work it is about. It is crucial not to use the general and threadbare thesis statements; it is much better to search for something more specific and back it up with support from the text. It is important for the students to know the text and be able to find the quotes and relevant ideas with specific pages from the book. A good thesis is given a good deal of thought, so it can be changed throughout the writing process.

Introduction, Body, Conclusion

A literature essay typically has a similar format with a common academic essay; so, the students can feel more confident while working on it. The introduction to the literary analysis always contains the thesis. The body contains the main ideas with quotes and citations, and the author should always keep in mind the audience that may not have read the literary work. The conclusion of the essay summarizes the final thoughts of the students.


Quotations and vivid examples are essential while working on literary analysis; however, there are strict rules and limitations which should be followed. It is not right to avoid using quotes; however, it is wrong to overdo as well. The idea to take a large text block might be tempting, but the students are supposed to make the essay sound as their own analysis. The best way to use a quote is to incorporate it smoothly into a sentence, but not in the final sentence of a paragraph. The conclusions should be based on the student’s thoughts and ideas, not the quotes from the text. Block quotes should not be too extensive; otherwise, it may appear as if the student cannot provide his or her comments and uses the long parts of the text to disguise that inability. 

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