WRITING A CRITICAL ANALYSIS PAPER
December 21st, 2006SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A critical analysis of a literary piece is not a summary of the plot or a retelling of the story. It is, instead, a critical discussion of one or more important aspects of the literary selection in question. The words critical analysis imply the use of your own understanding, opinions, and judgment of your chosen topic within the context of the literature. The term also implies a careful study of the various aspects of your topic (or thesis) and the ability to support your statements with proof from the literature itself. Such support lends credence to your opinions and enhances your argument.
In order to write a critical analysis of a piece of literature, the writer must assume that the reader is fairly well acquainted already with the literary piece. In some cases, a brief account of the “essence” of the story can be woven into the fabric of the analysis. But in no way do you want to recount the plot, i.e., retell what happened—what E.M. Forester calls the “and then” of the story.
The first item of business is to determine the thesis (the primary idea or ideas) which you intend to discuss. Remember, the more narrow the scope of your paper, the better able you are to handle the material. Secondly, familiarize yourself with the literature you are analyzing—its structure, its plot, its imagery, its tone, and its themes, or primary ideas. Even though your paper will cover only one or two of the above elements, an understanding of the interrelation of all will help determine your own organization and facilitate your analysis. It is usually difficult to discuss one aspect of a piece of literature without at least touching upon some of the other aspects.
Thirdly, some research is necessary and helpful. Check your bibliography and choose two or three which relate to your particular thesis. Your research of secondary sources should help prove your point. Do not plagiarize! Simply see what the critics have to say. You may agree or disagree with them. You may use them to support your opinions; but if you quote a critic directly, you must give him the credit by enclosing the quotation within quotation marks and then acknowledging the quotation. This is also a good way to enhance your own contrary opinions, provided you support your ideas with evidence from the literature in question.
Fourthly, do not generalize. Be specific. Do not pad your paper for the sake of length. And always, always support your opinions, ideas, and statements with specific evidence from the literature you are analyzing.