Literary Analysis Handout

Pick one of the following literary elements to write your analysis about:

Term Definition Some examples of what it looks like in a sentence…

Setting … refers to time periods, geographic locations, ● The story is set in… the setting of (Story title)
cultural contexts, immediate surroundings, evokes…
weather, times of day, or times of year employed ● One of the most interesting aspects of the
in the story. A setting can be used to create a (novel’s) setting is… This shows…
mood, as an integral part of the plot (creating a ● The story’s setting, which , is clearly
conflict, etc.), to bring out certain aspects of the used by (author’s name) to…
characters.
Tone … refers to the attitude the work takes toward ● * The tone of (Novel), which can be best described
the audience and subject. A work’s tone can be as…. , implies…
playful, serious, upbeat, detached, ironic, ● (Novel’s) tone shifts over the course of the story
intimate, haughty, objective and any other from… to…suggesting that…
number of great adjectives used to describe an ● (Novel’s) tone is notable because…
attitude toward something. ● (Novel) has a distinctly…tone, like
● The tone evoked by (work) is and
, sort of like…

Narrative … refers to the point-‐of-‐view from which the ● (Author last name) chose to write the story from the
perspective / story is narrated. The story can be from the first …point-‐of-‐view which has the effect of…
point of view person point-‐ of-‐view (“I saw…”) or the third ● The … point-‐of-‐view underscores/
person point-‐of-‐view (“he saw”). highlights /enhances/
intimates/suggests/creates/…
● The most interesting part about (novel’s)
narrative point-‐of-‐view is…
Figurative Metaphor: word or phrase that compares two
Language unlike things Simile: word or phrase that ● In…, the author chooses to use metaphors such
compares two unlike things using “as” or “like” as…in order to...
(Eg. Metaphor
● One of the most interesting metaphors in the
or Simile) book is… (Author’s name) comparing…to…in order
to…
● It is worth paying attention to the metaphor…
because…

Figurative
Language- … refers to when animals, inanimate objects, or ● … (work) personifies , suggesting that
places are metaphorically given the qualities of perhaps…
Personification human beings.

Imagery ● One of the most

…refers to a description of something, using compelling/strange/ironic/paradoxical/
 stirring/ambiguous/revealing images in (work)
Visual, Auditory, Olfactory, Gustatory or Tactile shows up at (the end, beginning, etc. ) when
Imagery. (author’s name) describes…
● To understand the theme of (Novel) one need look
no further than its most revealing imagery,
which…

Citing and Explaining Evidence to Support Analysis:

Topic Sentence Textual Evidence Paraphrase Analysis

(Literary Element) (It says) (I say) (And so..)
What literary element does the author What textual evidence supports What is the textual evidence What is your interpretation of this
use in the text and WHY? How does the your reasoning for why the saying (IN YOUR OWN WORDS) textual evidence? How does it connect
author’s use of this literary element author uses this literary element to your topic sentence
affect your understanding or (topic sentence)
interpretation of the text
The author uses _____ to For example, on page ____ In other words, the From this, (we/the reader) can infer
illustrate/convey/ (or in lines____), the character/speaker/ narrator that______
demonstrate/reveal…. character/speaker/ narrator is_________
says, “…..”

The author uses ____ to help As an illustration, in the text In this quote, (the author/ This can be interpreted to
visualize, understand/ on page ____ (or in character/speaker mean______
realize/connect….. lines____), it reads, “___” compares/describes/refers
to_____ The author/This
The author includes _____, as a For instance, in the text it suggests/conveys/intimates/
result/ consequently, the reader….. states, _____________” At this point in the Implies/illustrates_____
story/poem, the character/
By using __________, the author To illustrate this idea/theme, speaker is….. ____refers to/represents____
suggests/intimates/ implies….. the author describes….
That is to say, the Possibly/Maybe the
The use of _____ helps the reader The description on page ____ character/speaker character/speaker is_____
visualize/connect with (to), (or lines____) is a perfect (feels/thinks/believes)____
understand…. illustration of ______ (cite ____may suggest (is suggesting)
description) In the literal sense/Literally that ____
The author illustrates/ conveys/ speaking_____
reveals the theme of ______ by……. The following lines “_____” ____, suggesting/implying/
illustrate/ demonstrate this In the figurative Intimating______
Another example of _____ used to idea of [cite lines/quote] sense/Figuratively speaking
illustrate/convey/ ___________ It seems to me that _____
demonstrate/reveal_____ is…… For example/For instance/As
an illustration, lines _____ Here, we note that the On a figurative level (Figuratively
______ is also used to read, “___” character/speaker______ speaking),____
illustrate/convey/ demonstrate/
reveal….. To sum up/In summary, the Like/Similar to ______, ________ is
character/speaker____ compared to ______ because____
Additionally/Furthermore,
Moreover/Finally, the author uses According to the The author makes this comparison
_____to illustrate/convey/ author/speaker,_____ because/so that ______
demonstrate/reveal….
Basically, the author/speaker is
The use of ______ is another saying___
literary element the author uses to
help the reader visualize/ In making this comment (or
understand/ connect…… doing this action), the
character/speaker is___

Providing a Conclusion:
Introduction Statement (rephrase) Evaluation Personal Reflection
As one can see,/Upon examination, the use of The author’s use of these literary After reading______, I realize(d)____
__________ in the text helps to convey… elements is very
effective/successful/powerful This story/poem is reminiscent of _______
To sum up,/In summary, the author conveys the because….
theme of ____ by using (literary element) and By reading ______, helps me to
(literary element)___ Due to/As a result these understand/makes me realize that _______
effective/successful/powerful use of
Form this analysis, we can see that the author these literary elements, the author Upon reflection, the (story/novel/ poem) is
uses (literary element)_ to (name of author) is able to ____ reminiscent of _____
illustrate/demonstrate/convey/
explore/emphasize ____(theme) The effective/successful/ powerful By reading _______________, it reminds me of
use of these literary elements ____________
Upon analysis of (title of story/poem), (name of results in_______
author)’s use of (literary element) and (literary
element) in the (story/poem/novel) helps to
express/convey/illustrate/explore
______ (theme)

Overall, by using (literary element) and (literary

element) the author
illustrates/conveys/demonstrate/ delves into
____(theme)

Upon examination, through the use of (literary

element) and (literary element), ______
communicates/conveys/reveals….

Bonus!
Story Progression Analysis:

Beginning of story/poem Middle of story or poem End of story or poem

In the beginning of the story/poem In the middle of the story/poem,….. At the end of the story/poem,….

The story/poem begins with Then,…. Next,….. Later in the story/poem Finally,…..Ultimately,….

Initially, (main character/speaker) As the story/poem progresses,….. Due to (the fact that,/as a result of…, the
(feels/believes) _____________ main character/speaker feels/believes……
because/due to/the fact that/as a result of At this point in the story/poem, the
……. character/speaker feels ____________
because/due to/the fact that/as a result of
…….