Literary Analysis
YOU MAY NOT
MERELY SUMMARIZE THE BOOK. YOU WILL RECEIVE A “0” if you write a summary. This is the last part of your SSR grade. You
must choose one of the following topics and defend/support your thesis by
providing thorough analysis of TEXT FROM THE BOOK!
The topics you
can choose from are the following (circle ONE):
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TOPIC
1:
Often characters show love and
compassion towards others. Analyze the
compassionate actions of one or two characters. What is the author suggesting we do
differently in our own lives by following these examples?
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TOPIC
2:
Motifs play a significant role in
books. Choose one motif, discuss how
it’s used to create meaning, and analyze the author’s purpose for using it.
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TOPIC
3:
Trace the change and transformation one
of the main characters. What are we
supposed to learn about life from this character?
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TOPIC
4:
There are moments of sacrifice in most
novels. Analyze moments of sacrifice and discuss what we are supposed to
learn about life from these examples?
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REQUIREMENTS:
-
your
typed literary analysis should be between 2-4 pages; you can’t do this well in less
than that
-
Manuscript Rules
– look at the rubric
to format your document using Word. I will review formatting in class.
-
this
will be written in 3rd person so using personal pronouns (he,
she) to refer to characters is acceptable
-
FOR THIS PAPER
DO NOT use “I” and DO NOT use “YOU/YOUR”
-
Since this is a formal essay, DO NOT use contractions – they are
informal
-
write in the present
tense and be consistent about it; characters in novels are considered
living, breathing human beings
-
5 quotations
(w/citations) from the novel (for maximum points). Quotations should support your thesis.
SCORING: (100 pts. for the
Final Draft)
DUE DATE: No later than: Monday,
December 2nd at the beginning of the period.
NOTES ABOUT THESIS STATEMENTS
Keep
these things in mind when writing a thesis statement:
1.
A thesis is NOT the whole essay; a thesis is the main idea,
often expressed in a single sentence.
2.
A thesis can also be thought of as the main argument of your
paper
3.
A thesis should NOT
be a laundry list of your main points
4.
It should merely set up the topic and give any
general information the listener needs to know.
5.
Every topic paragraph should clearly support your thesis –
create strong links that return to what you are explaining throughout your
paper.
There are three kinds of thesis statements:
- SIMPLE: Usually more descriptive and generic in
nature
SPECIFIC SUBJECT + SPECIFIC FEELING[S]/FEATURES[s] =
THESIS
EXAMPLES:
·
The history of the
United States is dominated by lust for money, possessions, and power.
·
Unexpecting, average people like Mrs. Dubose, Atticus Finch,
and Link Deas all show the real meaning of courage without the supernatural
powers or fancy costumes throughout the novel.
- INTERMEDIATE: Usually more
complex; addresses the larger message/call to action
AUTHOR
+ VERB + CHARACTER/SYMBOL/THEME/DEVICE/ETC. + PICK FROM BELOW + POINT
to discuss, in order to, to examine, to relate,
concentrates on, to trace,
to see if, to show [shows,] to prove [proves,] to
determine, to explain,
to argue [argues,] to persuade [persuades]
EXAMPLES:
·
Harper Lee uses references to flowers as a symbol to prove
that in times of despair one can always find beauty.
·
Harper Lee illustrates the theme of childhood innocence
through her young characters to represent the fact that things are not always
as clear as they may seem to be.
3. ADVANCED: This
developed thesis includes contrast and may use words like therefore or although.
With this type of thesis sentence, you will want to include the part and whole.
EXAMPLES:
- Though many people wait for an extraordinary
person to stop injustice, Lee passionately argues it is the courageous
acts of average people that change society for the better.
- Ralph’s
inability to lead exposes man’s inherent evil nature in the face of
adversity.
Literary Analysis RUBRIC
Formatting:
Presentation
Manuscript Rules:
name, course & class period, date, the first line,
upper left corner (double spaced)
all margins set at 1 inch
there is a creative title, centered, w/blank line
above and below
capitalize 1st, last, and all important
words in title
title is not larger or in bold, underlined, no quotes,
all caps., etc.
essay is double-spaced; no extra space between
paragraphs
Times New Roman 12 pt. font for all text including
title and heading
paragraphs are indented; 1 tab
page numbering
name (header) at the top of each page
5 all manuscript rules were followed (10)
4 one or two errors with manuscript
rules (8-9)
3 a few errors with manuscript rules
(7)
2 several errors with manuscript
rules (6)
1 many errors with manuscript rules
Formatting:
Research Skills
Proper Citation: (Hugo 38). – unless name is mentioned
in intro. then use (38).
Passages that appear in Literary Analysis text as less than 4
complete lines:
Introduced
with a comma
enclosed
in quotation marks
followed
by proper citation (as above)
Passages that appear in Literary Analysis text as 4 complete
lines are more:
Introduced with a colon
NO quotation marks (unless
you’re quoting dialogue then use single quotation marks)
Double indented & single-spaced
Followed by proper citation (as
above)
5 ALL evidence is properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
4 MOST of the evidence is properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
3 SOME of the evidence is properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
2 FEW pieces of the evidence are properly documented,
spaced, punctuated, etc.
1 LESS THAN 3 pieces of evidence are properly documented, spaced,
punctuated, etc.
Conventions
10 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation are correct
grammar and usage are correct
8 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation are mostly correct
minor errors with grammar and usage
6 several errors with spelling, capitalization, punctuation
some grammar and usage errors are repeated in a few places
3 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation errors occur often but the message remains
clear
many grammar and usage errors but the message remains clear
some fragments & run-ons present
1 spelling,
capitalization, punctuation errors occur often and interfere with the
writer’s message
grammar and usage errors occur often and distract from meaning
many fragments & run-ons present
Content:
Ideas/Support
20 5 effective/purposeful quotations are included
All integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
16 4 effective/purposeful quotations are included – 1 may be
ineffective
Most integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
12 3 effective/purposeful quotations are included – 2 may be
ineffective
Some integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
8 3 effective/purposeful quotations are included –
Few integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and
linked to the topic/thesis
4 2 or less effective/purposeful quotes are included –
2 or less integrated well and thoroughly analyzed
and/or linked to the topic/thesis
Content: Organization
10 well-written introduction, including an opener and thesis statement adequately introduces the essay
ALL topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body
paragraph and refer back to the thesis
All body
paragraphs end with some type of clincher
that analyzes the support & links back to thesis
well-written conclusion that leaves the reader with
something to think about
evidence of smooth, effective
transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas
8 introduction, including an opener and thesis statement
clearly introduces the essay; may be awkward
ALL topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body
paragraph and refer back to the thesis - one may be awkward
All 3 body paragraphs end with some type of clincher that analyzes the support
& links back to thesis; one may be awkward
conclusion attempts to leave the reader with
something to think about
a variety of transitions exist
in and between paragraphs; pacing is developing
6 introduction introduces the essay; may be missing a
component or unclear, or thesis may
be more than one sentence
MOST topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body
paragraph and refer back to the thesis - one missing or
may not link back to the
thesis
MOST body paragraphs end with some type of clincher that analyzes the support
& links back to thesis; one missing
or may not link back to
thesis
conclusion concludes the essay; may be missing a
component, unclear/awkwardly written, or may not indicate a deeper meaning
the transitions sometimes work
3 introduction is attempted but may need a lot of work
A topic sentence helps to introduce/transition one body
paragraph and refers back to the thesis; two may be missing or may
not link back to the thesis
A body paragraph ends with some type of clincher that analyzes the support
& links back to thesis; two may be missing or
may not link back to thesis
conclusion is present but needs a lot of work
missing or unclear transitions
force the reader to make giant leaps
1 no introduction or no thesis statement
no topic sentences are present to introduce body paragraphs or
no topic sentences refer back to the thesis
no body paragraphs end with a clincher or none of
the clinchers link back to thesis
no conclusion
no transitions
Total ______/ 50 x 2=
Sample Book Report
(does not include a header with page #'s, your report needs a header with page #'s)
Ms. Student
Mr. Scandrett
English 12th
May 13, 2012
Fatalism in Slaughterhouse-Five
The events that happen in our
life are all the effects of the choices that we make. One can choose to do
something and this choice will affect the course of their life. Everything in
life has been established and people simply choose a path that they wish to
follow. There are many outcomes from a choice that one makes, but only one
course will occur. Despite all these choices that we make there is one
inevitable thing that we can never change and its death. The novel
“Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut, tells the reader that in order to face
death one must embrace fatalism.
“Slaughterhouse-Five” relates the
entire life of Billy Pilgrim. He is a normal man that amazingly has the ability
to time travel. He jumps to different moments in his life and has no control
over this extraordinary ability. The wonders of his life are not limited to
time traveling. He is abducted by aliens and taken to their planet,
Trafalmadore, where he learns a whole new philosophy on time and death. This
philosophy eventually helps Billy cope with life after the devastating
fire-bombing of Dresden, where tens of thousands of people died. In this novel,
Billy learns how to embrace fatalism and accept his death without remorse. His
acceptance of this new philosophy is seen through the following quote “I
Billy Pilgrim, the tape begins, will die, have died and always will
die on February 13, 1976” (70). He then proceeds to describe other details
of his death. Even though he knows how
and when his death takes place he makes no attempt to prevent it. Billy Pilgrim
learns through his experience that fatalism is inevitable.
A major plot of this novel is the
firebombing of Dresden. The reader would expect to have some sort of hero in
the story. On the contrary the reader is presented with Billy Pilgrim. He is
weak, fearful, incompetent and shy. He is a weak character in mind and in body.
In attempt to teach him how to swim his father throws him into a pool but Billy
prefers to sink rather than swim, revealing his weak character and mind; he
makes no attempt to even try to swim (43). He is weak in body that he is
described as a filthy flamingo (33). “Saved your life again...Weary said to
Billy […] It was absolutely necessary that cruelty be used because Billy would
not do anything to save himself. Billy wanted to quit” (34). Through this quote one can see how weak in
mind and body Billy is. Billy did not have enough will power to continue on
with the hardships presented to him. He needed a constant force to push him to
try and work harder. The novel presents the reader with a weak character with a
purpose. This reveals how even the weakest person can eventually face death.
The novel is written in a very
unique manner. It has no regard for chronological order; there is no linear
progression. Everything is presented as a whole. Regardless of the fragmented
format Billy Pilgrim's life the book still ends the same way and fulfills its
purpose. This reveals that everything is already planned and chronological
order has no effect on how things result. In the beginning of the novel the
ending is revealed to the reader. “It ends like this: Poo-tee-weet” (22)? This shows that regardless of the events that
take place, the end of the novel will end the same way. The ending of the novel
has been set and nothing can change it. The following quote, “He came slightly
unstuck in time, saw the late movies
backwards, then forwards again. It was a movie about American bombers in Second
World War and the gallant man who flew it” (74). proves that the order in which events
happen have no influence on the bigger occurrences. No matter how Billy Pilgrim
views the movie, the purpose of the movie was to show the war to its viewers.
The war in the novel symbolizes
death and the inevitability of change. Billy Pilgrim had no choice but to go to
war. “The bombing of Dresden was a great tragedy none can deny […] ponder on
the fate of Dresden, where 135,000 people died as the result of an attack with
conventional weapons” (93). This quote shows us a part of the war and the
number of casualties from the bombing. This event is something that nobody had
the power to change. As much as people disagree with it, it still happened. The
war represents the events in life that are inevitable. Despite the efforts that
people make, the war was still bound to happen. At first Billy Pilgrim tried to
avoid and even escape, but as he time traveled and spent time with the
Trafalmadorians he learned that change was inevitable. Billy does not know why
there must be such atrocious disaster, but he still makes no objections to it,
revealing his acceptance of the things that happen.
Another symbol in the novel are the
horses. “[…] that the horses' mouths were bleeding, gashed by bits, that the
horses' hooves were broken, so that every step meant agony, that the horses
were insane with thirst. The Americans treated their form of transportation as
though it were no more sensitive than a six-cylinder Chevrolet” (96). The
horses represent how people embrace fatalism. The horses were in terrible pain
from the way they were treated yet they simply fulfilled their purpose as means
of transportation. They accepted the pain and the suffering that they were going
through. Billy Pilgrim had no idea why the war had to take place; he simply
obeyed the commands that he was told just like the horses did what they were
ordered to do. Billy learned to accept the war as it was without complaining or
questioning it. The same way, the horses simply accepted the pain that they
were going through. People must simply accept the circumstances because
anything that they do to try to change the events will be useless.
The prayer on Montana Widhack's, a
mistress of Billy on the Trafalmadorian planet, locket is another example of
symbolism. It said the following “God grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always
to tell the difference” (102). This reveals that people want to have the chance
to choose their fate and take control over their lives. Although people want to
be able to take control they cannot. Every choice that they make has already
been decided for them, it is not a choice, and the choice that people make is
just an illusion.
The phrase “Poo-tee-weet” (105)? is the last phrase in the book. It symbolizes
the end of life, a fate that everyone has. It represents the speechlessness of
the people. There is nothing interesting or good to say about war and all
negative talk about war is also useless. It will not change anything, because
the war has already been destined to happen. “We know how the Universe
ends […] A Trafalmadorian test pilot
presses a starter button, and the whole Universe disappears. […] He has always pressed it, and he always
will. We always let him and we always will let him. The moment is structured
that way” (57). The Trafalmadorians know
that it is not possible to prevent the destruction of the Universe so they
simply allow this course of action to happen. The death of everything is
certain so there is no point stopping it from happening. No one can completely
understand death. Despite the many encounters with death, Billy still cannot
fully understand why it happens. Billy only faces death after he's been in
Trafalmadore and learned their philosophy on time and death.
The death of many characters in the
book is ironic. “He […] drafted for military service in the Second World War.
His father died in a hunting accident” (24). This passage shows death of Billy
Pilgrim's father is ironic, because he is shot during a hunting trip. His father is the predator during this
hunting trip but he ends up dying. Billy
is overcoming the death of a loved one while at war. He has to kill in order to
survive but is also hurt by the death of his father. This irony shows that
nobody has control of what happens to them. Billy did not have any control over
what happened to him and fate took him to war right after his father dies.
Another ironic thing that occurs is that Billy Pilgrim survives the war,
despite his weakness. Billy survives the war by taking refuge in a meat house.
The location in which he takes refuge is a place where killing and death also
take place and this is the place where he finds safety. His survival reveals
that fate had other things planned for him. He survived the war to tell other
people about his adventure in Trafalmadore. Through the ironies in the death of
the characters, it is revealed that no one has the ability to change
anything.
The acceptance of death throughout
the book is shown through the phrase “so it goes” This phrase is mentioned
after every death in the story. “There used to be a dog Spot, but he died. So
it goes” (32). “There were hundreds of
corpse mines operating by and by. […]
But then the bodies rotted and liquefied, and the stink was like roses and
mustard gas. So it goes” (105). These two passages show the all the deaths in
the novel were considered equal, whether it was a natural death, an accidental
or an intentional death. This phrase allows the reader to accept the death as
something unavoidable and as something normal. At the same time though the
repetition of the phrase allows the reader to see all the death that occurs and
the inevitability of death.
Through Billy Pilgrim and his
experience in the war and in Trafalmadore the reader can see that everything in
life has been predestined and one must accept the fact that nothing can be
changed. Since everything has been predestined, then death is simply another
part of life. Billy Pilgrim comes to realize this which is why he is at peace.
He faces death and makes no attempt to change it. Once a person realizes that
they can do nothing to change the events that are to happen, they will also be able
to accept death much more easily.
