Reference no: EM133724231

Essay: Assignment Sheet: Literary Analysis (writing about a short story)

English 101, Baltimore City Community College.

Your essay presentation should be a coherent discussion that helps your classmates or reader appreciate, understand, and relate to your chosen short story.

Written Explication (100 points)

The Author's Biography:

How has the writer's personal life affected this story? What literary influences are evident from the writer's background or from the story itself?
The Writer's Other Works: Is this work typical for the writer? Are the themes in your story consistent with themes in other works by the writer? Has the writer used other literary forms in any way that might be significant or interesting? Show us the connections.

Précis of the Short Story: Following directions given in class, write a one-paragraph summary of the story. Do not draw conclusions or interpret in your synopsis. Be accurate and concise. Write in your own words, but avoid choppy sentences.

Technical Details about the Short Story:

Note: your essay must include, at a minimum, three (3) literary devices (found on the reference website www.literarydevices.net).

Setting: Describe the setting, as to both time and place. Is the setting integral to the story or independent? Analyze whether a change in setting would significantly alter the story.?
Characters: List and analyze the major characters. Discuss dominant traits and significant actions. Are they flat or round, static or dynamic? Examine whether character is revealed directly or indirectly. Explore character relationships if appropriate for your story. Identify protagonist and antagonist. Note any foils or doubles

Point of View: Who is the narrator? Is he reliable? What point of view is used? First or third-person? Limited or omniscient? Major or minor character perspective? Objective or subjective? Analyze how the writer's choice of viewpoint influences the reader.

Plot Structure: List and analyze the elements of plot (narrative hook, exposition, rising action, climax or turning point, falling action, and resolution). Does the story fit Freytag's pyramid, or is it organized differently? Are the conflicts internal or external? Specifically, who vs. whom? Are the conflicts resolved??

Theme: List several possible themes offered by your story rather than committing your group to one and one alone. Indicate whether theme is stated or implied. Remember theme must be a statement.

Significant Quotations: Cite sentences and/or passages which seem significant or which illustrate the writer's style. Include the page number and be prepared to discuss what each quotation means, why you chose it, and how it is important to the story. Remember that dialogue and quotation are not the same thing.