How
to Analyze Literature
1)
Novels/literature/language create meaning and develop ideas through
relationships of one or more element (one to one or more other element);
we understand general themes by analyzing the whole into elements; identifying
the elements; identifying the relationship between those elements. The
general elements we can use are: plot,
character, setting, style, symbol, history, biography, other texts, the
signified/thing itself, reader's emotions
2)
Analysis: "to dissolve"
Separate whole into parts; dissolve the “story” into
different elements; identify and label the elements; identify the relationships
between the elements: how each part works in conjunction with the other parts to
form the whole.
a) These are the basic literary (and dramatic)
elements:
~ Plot: what happens, action, history, movement thru
time and space; what happens
~ Character: who what happens, happens
to
~ Setting: the physical environment; where stuff
happens
~ Style: language, genre, organization,
rhythm/repetition of elements: motifs, patterns of repetition (compare the
language used in Grendel with that used in Frankenstein)
~ Symbol: one thing representing another; usually
something singular and/or simple that represents something large and complex.
(Ex: any given monster represents larger, much more complex cultural concepts;
Ex: a simple word can evoke complex emotions; Ex: common cultural symbols --
nature, cross, heart -- convey complex concepts).
b) Identify relationships between parts (how the
above shape and define each other. Key example: hero can’t be defined without
monster). Look for:
~ How plot shapes character
~ How characters conflict with and shape each other’s
actions and beliefs (development)
~ Representational qualities of setting; setting
symbolizes cultural concepts; how
place shapes plot, character, theme
~ Repetition/Rhythm: what happens or is represented
repeatedly in shifting patterns throughout plot.
~ How diction/language/style reflects on the narrator; how the word choice of specific characters reflects character; how word choice is used to make setting more than just a place.
~
etc
3)
Reconstruction/Criticism: Valid arguments (in any arena) are a
combination of valid logic and evidence.
a) Logic: the formula used to combine premises to reach a conclusion; how
you combine what you already know to make an educated guess (to deduce) what is
unknown.
b) Evidence: the specific information, separate
from the formula; the “2’s” in the above equation.
~ Basic Logical formula:
~ known + known = deduced unknown
~ 2+2=x
~ IF+IF=THEN
~ Premise 1 and Premise 2 combined lead to deduced
Claim
~ IF we know that listening to Britney Spears
causes insanity in laboratory rats and IF we know rats are mammals and IF we
know humans are mammals and IF we know my daughter is a mammal THEN we can
deduce that listening to Britney Spears caused my daughter's insanity.
In
literature the evidence includes the text itself (this is why you have to use
lots of quotes); historically accurate information about the topic, time-period,
author etc; and it must be combined in logically valid ways.
Summary:
~ The known or factual evidence includes what
the text tells us about the characters, plot etc.
~
The unknown we must deduce is the theme, meaning or claim to truth.
~
By analyzing and recombining the known elements and examining the relationships
between them, we can deduce the texts theme etc.