Writing a literary analysis essay

A literary analysis makes an argument about how a work of literature creates meaning. Its thesis is a defensible interpretation, not a plot summary or a plain fact: "In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the green light to show how Gatsby's dream depends on distance, fading once it comes within reach" can be argued and supported, while "Gatsby throws parties" cannot. Each body paragraph advances a line of reasoning with a clear claim, specific textual evidence, usually short quotations, and commentary that explains how the evidence supports the interpretation, attending to literary elements like character, setting, structure, narration, and figurative language. Write about literature in the present tense ("Gatsby reaches toward the light"), integrate quotations smoothly into your own sentences, and cite them. A strong conclusion goes beyond restating the thesis by explaining why the interpretation matters to the work as a whole.

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