Audience: (a formal essay written to) peers who are also taking an English class

Purpose: Literary analysis that gives insight into an aspect of the text that readers may not notice

The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to carefully examine and evaluate a work of literature or an aspect of a work of literature. As with any analysis, this requires you to break the subject down into its component parts. Examining the different elements of a piece of literature is not an end in itself but rather a process to help readers better appreciate and understand the work of literature as a whole. So, keep in mind these two questions:

What is the work doing? How is it doing it?

What it is doing is open to interpretation, but you should be able to back your personal interpretation up with evidence from the text.

For instance, an analysis of a poem might deal with the different types of images in a poem or with the relationship between the form and content of the work. That is, a poem written from the perspective of a tiny old woman might have very long lines to indicate that her thoughts are not as diminutive as her stature. Analyzing a short story might include identifying a particular theme (like the difficulty of making the transition from adolescence to adulthood) and showing the writer's commentary on that theme by explaining how the main character's attitude toward authority is revealed through his dialogue and/or actions.

You do not have to utilize one of the literary theories discussed last week, but you certainly can, especially if you are looking for a clear critical framework to help you frame your argument.

Topics:

What features of the text make "Bartleby the Scrivener" resistant to interpretation? Consider diction, form, genre expectations, character development, setting, theme development, etc. Keep in mind that you could argue that this resistance actually makes a point itself.

Please make sure you read the story here :http://www.bartleby.com/129/

Be sure to include:

• an introduction featuring the author's name and the title and any background information required (such as a very, very short summary of the text)

• a clear purpose or argumentand a clear description of how you came to have this idea (the answer should be in the text primarily, but you can also do some historical or other research if necessary)

• quotes totaling no more than ~15% of your paper&your analysis of those quotes

• a conclusion that doesn't repeat the introduction, but makes the paper relevant to the reader

Definitely do not:

• confuse analysis with summary; don't just point out what happens in the story as evidence... a good paper will work with the ambiguous or interpretable aspects of the text

• turn in a paper with sloppy proofreading

• rely on cliché or vague generalizations about "people" or "society"

• moralize about characters as if they were real people; remember that they are creations made for a purpose

Write 1000 words
1500 words (don't go over 1800)