A Literature Essay in Detail
Many times, students are asked to write a literature essay with a profound analysis of the read text. There are many writing techniques used for analyzing poetry and prose. However, in any case, learners should be able to read between the lines, extract brilliant ideas from the text, and include much evidential support to prove their ideas. There are different assignments given to students of majoring in literature. Some teachers ask to focus on literary devices and textual elements in essays, whereas others tend to focus learners’ attention on the historical background and cultural context behind the text creation.
Writing essays about literature obliges students to know much about literary devices and textual elements, which differ from author to author. Moreover, in poetry, there are different forms of rhyming, which make the literary analysis even more complex. However, what makes this writing task similar to other academic papers is the need to present a clear thesis statement in the end of an introductory paragraph.
The Thesis Statement
If you write an essay on literature, it is very important not to write in a clichés-form, meaning do not include information that refers to the common knowledge. Professors know much about the stories or poems you read. Therefore, you have to be specific and somehow extraordinary in your writing. Sound solid in your thesis statement and do not hesitate to revise it while working on your paper. Sometimes students add/exclude/replace some parts, which means that the thesis statement should be adjusted according to the new content. Your claims made in the thesis statement should be well-supported with evidence, so be sure to conduct research based on the given topic.
Introduction, Main Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion
Be it a drama essay or any other form of literature analysis, you should follow a specific writing pattern that is used in most subjects. The typical essay structure includes an introduction (with a thesis statement in the end), a couple of main body paragraphs, and conclusion. You should be careful with the choice of words and mind the specific audience preferences. It does make a difference if you write a paper to your teacher, classmate, or journal publisher. Stir readers’ imagination with a couple of catchy examples and direct quotes. Make sure that the main body paragraphs are coherent and connected with each other, which can be reached only if you present ideas in a logical order and utilize linking phrases. Your conclusion in a poetry essay should be the ending thought about what you think of the read text.
Include Direct Quotes
In a poetry analysis essay, it is extremely important to include direct quotations in support of your claims. However, please mind that your paper should not include more than 10-15% of direct quotes. Your teacher is not interested in reading the poem again; he/she expects to see your thoughts backed up with some specific lines from the text. Moreover, please mind that there are specific formatting peculiarities. Since there are various citation styles (APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.), make sure you follow rules of how to introduce a direct quote into the text (especially, block quotes).
Do not introduce too many direct quotes and mind that all of them must be properly explained in your literature essay. Do not end your paper with a direct quote and do not include it in the thesis statement. The reader should clearly see that you are able to express your own opinion without referring much to the original text. All direct quotes must be smoothly incorporated in the text.
