1. Short Story Literary Analysis
This is an essay which will analyze
the author’s development of a theme
or character in a short story.
2. Introduction
The introduction must introduce the author,
the title of the story, provide a brief plot
summary, state the theme of the story, and
explain which literary devices the author
uses to develop the theme.
3. Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph must focus on one
literary device
Both stories must be discussed
4. Quotes
Each body paragraph must include at least
one quote and must follow proper format
for integrating quotes.
5. Conclusion
Restate your thesis in different words
Tells what you’ve learned by analyzing the work
Why is it important that we still read this piece of
literature?
6. Summary versus Analysis
A summary re-tells a story.
An analysis examines the cause or effect of an
incident in the story, compares or contrasts 2
characters, explains how an event occurred etc…
Ex: Mary had a little lamb
7. Summary: Mary had a little lamb. It followed her to
school. No lambs were allowed in school. The
children laughed.
Analysis: One reason Mary may have brought the
lamb to school was to get attention. All the children
“laughed and played”, making Mary feel at the
center and popular.
9. The author’s last name and page number go after
the quotation inside of parentheses. This is
called the QUO-PAR-PUNC rule.
“I shall not see on earth a place more dear”
(Homer line 137).
QUO= PAR= PUNC=
quotation parentheses punctuation
10. Clothe the Front
There are two ways to
begin a sentence that
includes a quotation.
1. Use a signal phrase.
2. Integrate the author’s words into your own
writing.
11. Signal Phrases
A signal phrase indicates that you are
about to use language that is not your
own.
12. Example 1
Revise:
Odysseus shows that he is an epic hero
in the Cyclops episode, “I would not
heed them in my glorying spirit,/ but
let my anger flare…” (Homer lines
500-501).
13. Example 2
Fixed:
Odysseus shows his loyalty to his
homeland by forcing his men to
continue on their journey. He
explains, “I drove them, all three
wailing, to the ships…” (line 211).
