Literary criticism, sometimes called literary analysis or literary critical analysis, is the study of literary works. The scope of literary criticism is to examine one aspect or the work as a whole, and involves breaking down a literary work into its separate elements and evaluating how they all come together to achieve the work's purpose. Literary criticism is usually composed by students, scholars, and literary critics, but anyone can learn how to write literary criticism.
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Method 1 of 3: Writing Basic Criticism for Beginners
Step 1. Read the literary work carefully
The beginning of critical writing is not when you sit down to write an essay, but when you sit down to read the literary work. Ask yourself why the characters do what they do in all literary works, whether novels, short stories, essays, or poetry.
Step 2. Create a chart
Make a chart to help organize the plot and characters so you can think about the text. There are many ways to create charts so you can organize your observations, including idea nets, Venn diagrams, T charts, and more.
For example, for a T chart, while reading, list the names of the characters in one column and their actions in another column. After reading, you can add a column with reasons why you think they performed each action
Step 3. Think about the literal meaning
After you've finished reading a piece of literature, think about what each character does and how each action contributes to the plot. Look at your chart to help understand what's going on in the book. Don't try to decide what the author is saying at this stage. Just look at the actions and plots for what they are.
This method applies to works of art. Instead of looking at a painting to find out what the artist is saying, just look at what's literally in the painting. For example, what elements are in the painting 'Starry Night' by Van Gogh? Don't think about what he is trying to convey in this painting; think of the stars, the swirling night sky, and the houses beneath
Step 4. Think about what the author might suggest about society or humanity
Once you have a good understanding of the events in the book, you can try to understand what the author is showing about human nature through the characters and their actions. This is called a theme.
- For example, ask yourself, why did the witch turn the prince into a beast in Beauty and the Beast? What does this action show about human nature?
- Also think about what lessons the reader can take from the characters. What does the Beast character teach us?
Step 5. Write a thesis statement
Once you have selected a lesson the reader can take from the literary work, it is time to make a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a single sentence that states about a literary work that can be supported by using textual evidence, such as quotes from the literary work.
- The thesis format could look like this: _ is true because _, _, and _. The first blank is your opinion. For example, the Beast character teaches that we should be kind to everyone.
- Another blank section states the reason for your opinion: The Beast character teaches that we should be kind to everyone because he learns from his mistakes, has been a compassionate person throughout his time as a beast, and regrets that he was ever rude to a wizard.
- However, keep in mind that there are many different ways to write a thesis. The most important thing is to make sure that your thesis includes a statement and a summary of the reasons for your statement. For example, perhaps the structure of your thesis is this: "Because the Beast suffers for his actions, Beauty and the Beast teaches that we should be kind to everyone and this theme is contained throughout the story."
Step 6. Find evidence in the literature to support your thesis
Look again at your chart and look for events that show all the reasons why your thesis is correct. Highlight this event and make sure you note the page number.
- You can summarize these events, or use a direct quote from the book, but both must include page numbers. This step is to prevent plagiarism.
- For example, as one of the first examples, you could use a quote that shows how the Beast is being unfriendly. Then, you can use another example of the text to show the continuation of this theme.
- You don't always have to use direct quotes. You can also paraphrase a passage using your own sentence, or summarize longer passages by describing events in less detail in your own words. Whether you are quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing, make sure you include the page numbers as evidence.
Step 7. Create an outline
Outline using your thesis statement to prepare a structured essay. Outlines should have Roman numerals for each paragraph and regular numbers for the sections of each paragraph. Look for a good sample template to guide you.
Complete the outline with topic sentences and events from the literary work that support each topic sentence
Step 8. Write an essay
Writing an essay will not be difficult if you have prepared a detailed outline. Write at least five paragraphs. Include a thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph, and each body paragraph contains one or two quotes or examples from the text. Make sure you introduce each quote and then explain the quote or example once it's included in the body paragraph.
Close the essay with a concluding paragraph, where you summarize the essay in just a few sentences
Step 9. Make revisions
Make sure you proofread and edit your essay. Look for typos, punctuation errors, and grammatical errors. You must correct these mistakes (called revising) before submitting the essay. Ask someone else to read the essay and help you find these mistakes.
Method 2 of 3: Applying Advanced Criticism Techniques
Step 1. Read a literary work critically
When reading literature with the intention of criticizing it, be it poetry, short stories, nonfiction essays, or memoirs, you should read it with an active mind. This means that you have to ask questions as you read.
- You should read while you have a pen and paper and a dictionary ready. Write the main ideas in the margins and look for specific word-by-word meanings as you read.
- Ask "how," "why," and "then why" to help you read critically.
Step 2. Evaluate as you read
In addition to noting when important ideas appear in the margins of the text, you should write down important ideas and themes on a piece of paper as you read, noting the page numbers. You should also think about the text in a critical frame of mind, such as evaluating the clarity, accuracy, and relevance of the work to today's society.
Evaluate the elements of the work while reading, such as plot, theme, character development, setting, symbols, conflict, and point of view. Think about how these elements interact to form the main theme
Step 3. Explore which aspects to write about
Before deciding on a thesis statement-even drafting a thesis statement from the start-you should examine which aspects of the work you want to write about. Look at your reading notes and see if there are any ideas you have drawn from the work, and place these ideas in your study. Perhaps you want to choose a theme from the work that moved you the most and criticize how well the author presented this theme through the elements you evaluate in your notes. There are many ways to conduct a study, including:
- make a list,
- map with nets, and
- free writing.
- For example, while reading Pride and Prejudice, you may feel that the character Mr. Darcy needs more development than Jane Austen gave her, or maybe you prefer the character Jane over Lizzy and feel that she would make a better heroine (for example, since Jane shares the author's name, you have reasons to explore argument that Austen might actually prefer it). Make lists, webs, or free writings of ideas like these.
Step 4. Formulate a thesis statement
After completing the review checklist and selecting a critical perspective (based on both your own observations and a critical theory), you should develop a useful thesis statement. A "useful" thesis is one that can be modified and adapted to your writing in essay preparation.
- The thesis should present your opinion in a debatable manner with strong reasons why your opinion is correct.
- The formula for a basic thesis statement could look like this: _ is true because _, _, and _.
Step 5. Create an outline
You should always use an outline because it requires you to organize your thinking logically so that your critique is sound and credible. The outline will include elements such as a thesis statement, the body of the body paragraph, and citations and examples with page numbers. This step makes writing the actual essay easier because all of your research is already organized in one place.
You can also use outlines to form key sentences such as hooks (the first sentence of the introductory paragraph), topic sentences, and transition sentences for each of your body and conclusion paragraphs
Step 6. Choose quotes and patterns that support your thesis
When creating an outline, you can start by selecting direct quotes and examples from the text itself (primary sources) and any research you have done (secondary sources). If you place a topic sentence in each body paragraph, you can add appropriate citations to support each idea.
- Look at your notes and identify any patterns you see in the text that support your thesis statement, such as how no one can ever know for sure what Mr. Darcy arrived after the incident, contributing to the lack of character development in Pride and Prejudice (this is if you're trying to prove the validity of the argument that Mr Darcy's character isn't developed enough).
- You must include a page number or mention of an author whenever: talking about a particular event; paraphrasing a quote; paraphrasing a passage; or use any direct quote. Usually you should include the page number in parentheses after the sentence.
Step 7. Look for other criticisms to support your thesis
To write a strong critique, you need to find outside sources who agree with you. This increases the credibility of your argument and shows that you have the mind power to think critically about what you read. Outside sources are also called secondary sources, and you need to make sure they are reliable, such as reviews in literary journals or magazine articles, published books, and chapters from books.
You should also face any criticism that disagrees with your thesis because refuting counter arguments can also build your own credibility
Step 8. Use an outline to write your paper
After collecting the research results, compiling a thesis statement, and filling out the detailed outline, it's time to write a critique. At this point, you will have a lot of information, and all the organizing has been done. So, writing should be easy.
- If you're outlining a word processor, you can simply fill in the outline with additional information.
- You can also treat the outline as a map. Check as you structure your paper to make sure you include all the points and examples that have been identified.
Step 9. Pay attention to the terms of the assignment and style guidelines
Make sure you follow the teacher's guide for the assignment. For example, there may be a specific question that you need to answer in your paper. There may also be a page count or word count requirement that must be met. You should also use an appropriate style for formatting your paper, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago.
MLA is more commonly used for literature-based essays, but you should check with your teacher if you're not sure
Step 10. Discuss your quote
Your paper should include citations from both the main source (the literary work itself) and from secondary sources (articles and chapters that support your argument). Make sure you analyze each included quote so that you express your own opinion rather than repeating the opinion of others.
- For example, after including a quote, explain what the quote means or show how it supports your thesis. Don't just paraphrase or summarize a quote after you've included it. Summary does not demonstrate critical thinking. Instead, try to explain the importance of each quote or example to your readers.
- Try to make quotation brackets. Citation brackets are how you position citations in an essay. You should create a sentence that introduces the quote and its author, then include the quote itself, followed by one or more sentences analyzing the quote right after.
- Make sure you include a list of references/works cited from all the sources you cite or paraphrase in the essay. This is to prevent plagiarism.
Step 11. Revise the critique
Correcting, editing and revising are all important parts of the writing process and should be done before submitting or publishing literary criticism. When revising, it is helpful to have someone else check the essay or read it yourself aloud for sloppy mistakes, awkward sentences, and poor organization.
Method 3 of 3: Evaluating Literary Works While Reading
Step 1. Pay attention to the author and cultural context
If you are reading a literary work with the intention of criticizing it internally rather than for an essay, you should start by understanding the cultural environment of the work. Knowing the social context of the essay will improve your understanding of the character's vocabulary, setting, and motivations, all of which are essential to crafting an accurate critique.
Step 2. Highlight and pay attention to words and parts you don't understand
Have a highlighter or pen handy as you read, and mark any words you don't understand. Looking up these words in a dictionary while reading will improve your understanding of the text, as will knowing the cultural environment in which the text was written.
Step 3. Explore the meaning of the title
Once you start reading, think about the significance of the title. Ask yourself why the author chose this title. Is the title simple, just connecting with the main background or object, such as the title of the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”? If so, why did the author despise the work so much?
Questioning the title helps define the main theme and contributes to a more accurate critique
Step 4. Determine the central theme
Thinking about a title will help you determine the main theme of a work. Defining the main theme provides a trunk from which the branches of your subsequent text observations will emerge. You'll look for the literary elements of this text, and find out what themes they represent to help you critique how well the author describes these themes.
Step 5. Observe the elements of a literary work
Observe the elements of the literary work you are reading by exploring how each element is presented in the text. Identify examples of each element and determine the relationship of each to the main theme. Write down where these relationships occur to organize your thinking.
- Description of the surrounding environment.
- Plot-events in the text.
- Character-motivation and depth of each character, such as how much they changed or did not change as a result of events. Characters can be people, objects, even ideas (especially in poetry).
- The conflicts faced by the main characters and their climax and resolution.
- Theme-what the narrator observes about human nature.
- Point of view-the character's way of thinking, be it curious, condescending, etc. It can also be from the point of view of the storytelling of the text, be it first person, third person, etc.
- Tone-the way the text feels, be it sad, happy, angry, apathetic, etc.
- Symbols are objects, people, or places that repeat consistently throughout the story and seem to represent other abstract ideas.
Step 6. Develop an interpretation of the work
After analyzing the various elements in the text, you can build an interpretation based on your analysis. This interpretation could be that the author could have made an even better work, that the author was very insightful, that some elements of the text relate to modern society in an interesting way, etc.
- If you ultimately need to write a paper on this text, write down your interpretation of the work at this stage, as it is an excellent stepping stone towards a thesis statement.
- You can review outside sources such as other people's articles and books to verify that your interpretation is accurate or needs further refinement.
Tips
- You should always consider how the author's technique contributes to the overall meaning of the text.
- If you don't think you really understand all of the specific elements in one reading of a literary work, read it again, thinking about all of them, before drafting a critique.
- Do not summarize the entire literary work when writing literary criticism. Your job is to evaluate the meaning of the work, not to decipher its plot.
