Literary Analysis Essay: Expectations, Choices, and Power Re…
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Literаry Anаlysis Essаy: Expectatiоns, Chоices, and Pоwer Readings: “Little Red-Cap” / “Little Red Riding Hood” by the Brothers Grimm “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning Essay Prompt The three works explore characters who face expectations about how they should behave and who experience different kinds of power, choice, and consequence. Write a literary analysis essay in which you compare how at least two of the three works portray characters responding to expectations placed upon them. What do the works suggest about the relationship between expectations, personal choices, and consequences? Your essay should make an argument about the literature, rather than simply summarize what happens. You may focus on ideas such as: obedience and disobedience gender expectations power and control social status relationships freedom and independence temptation and choice consequences growing up or gaining experience who has a voice and who is silenced You do not have to address all of these ideas. Choose the idea that you find most interesting and develop your own interpretation using evidence from the readings. What Your Essay Should Do Your essay should: Make a clear argument (thesis).Your thesis should answer the essay question and make a claim about what the texts suggest. Avoid simply stating that the texts have a particular theme. Analyze at least two of the three readings.You may use all three, but you are not required to. If you use only two, you should analyze both texts thoroughly rather than briefly mentioning a third. Use specific textual evidence.Support your ideas with quotations or specific passages from the readings. Do not rely on general statements such as “the Duke is controlling” or “Little Red-Cap learns a lesson.” Show where and how the text demonstrates this. Explain your evidence.This is the most important part of literary analysis. After introducing a quotation or example, explain: What does this detail show? Why is it important? How does it support your argument? What does it reveal about the character, relationship, or theme? Do not let the quotation do the explaining for you. Compare the texts.Don't write an essay that simply discusses one entire story and then another. Show how the texts are similar and/or different in the way they address your chosen idea. Stay focused on the literature.Your essay should explain what the authors communicate through their characters, events, language, imagery, speakers, and other literary elements. You may make connections to real life, but the primary evidence for your argument should come from the texts. Literary Analysis Structure Introduction Your introduction should: Introduce the general idea you will be discussing. Introduce the literary works and authors. Provide enough context for the reader to understand your argument. End with a clear thesis statement. Avoid beginning with a dictionary definition such as “According to the dictionary, power means…” Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph should have: 1. Topic sentenceStates the main point of the paragraph. 2. ContextBriefly explain what is happening before the evidence. 3. Textual evidenceUse a quotation or specific example from the reading. 4. AnalysisExplain what the evidence means and how it supports your argument. 5. Connection/comparisonWhen appropriate, connect the idea to another reading. A useful formula for students is: Point → Evidence → Explanation → Connection The explanation should generally be longer than the quotation. Conclusion Your conclusion should: Return to your main argument without simply copying your thesis. Explain what your analysis reveals about the readings. Leave the reader with a final insight about the larger idea. Do not introduce a completely new argument in the conclusion. Evidence Requirements For this assignment, I would require: At least 2 quotations from each text discussed Quotations should be short and purposeful Each quotation must be introduced and followed by analysis Students should use MLA in-text citations Students should include a Works Cited page For example: The Duke's description of the Duchess reveals that he sees her behavior as something he should be able to control. He complains that she was “too easily impressed” (Browning). Rather than viewing her appreciation of ordinary things as innocent, the Duke interprets it as a personal insult. His reaction suggests that his concern is not simply with the Duchess's behavior but with his own status and authority. The important thing isn't the length of the quotation. It's what the student does with it. MLA Requirements Your final essay should follow MLA format, including: 12-point, readable font (typically Times New Roman) Double spacing throughout 1-inch margins First line of each paragraph indented ½ inch No extra spaces between paragraphs Student's name, instructor's name, course, and date in the upper-left corner A centered essay title Last name and page number in the upper-right header MLA in-text citations for quotations and paraphrases Works Cited page Important: Do not use outside sources for this assignment unless your instructor specifically allows them. The goal is for you to develop an interpretation based on your reading of the literary works. What Makes This a Literary Analysis? This is important enough that I'd actually put it on the assignment sheet: Summary says what happens. Little Red-Cap leaves the path, meets the Wolf, and is eventually rescued. Literary analysis explains what the events mean. Little Red-Cap's decision to leave the path demonstrates her willingness to reject the instructions given to her, but the second encounter with the Wolf shows that she has learned from the consequences of her first decision. Even stronger literary analysis connects the evidence to an interpretation. By including a second wolf at the end of the story, the Grimms show that Little Red-Cap's experience has changed her. The second encounter allows her to demonstrate knowledge and caution that she did not possess during her first encounter, suggesting that experience—not simply obedience—is what ultimately teaches her how to protect herself. That last example is the level of thinking I would want them to work toward. A simple rule for students Don't just tell me what happened. Tell me what the author is showing you through what happened—and prove it with the text.
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