Literary Analysis

Literary Analysis

How to Properly Understand What You're Reading

Poll

Have you ever read for fun and not as a requirement?

• Yes, always

• Yes, sometimes

• Maybe, I'm not sure

• Not really

Literary Analysis

This is the evaluation or study of a work of literature, from books to essays, poems to stories.

Before we analyze literature...

Let us try to understand first - why should we read literary works?

Click on the external link for a short explanation of what literature is and its importance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neRyi3i3K20

So.. Literary Analysis.

What do we need to remember when reading and understanding a literary work?

Pre-reading

• Make sure you get enough light (avoid reading in the dark!)

• Be mentally ready

• Have paper and pen (or a device) ready to take notes

• Remove distractions in your surroundings (loud noise, etc)

Multiple Choice

Which one should you NOT DO before reading?

• read in a dark place

• remove distractions such as loud music

• prepare yourself mentally

• have something to write notes in

Annotate While Reading

• Note down unfamiliar words

• Read carefully

• Highlight or note down important details

• Enjoy!

Analyzing What You Read

• Write down as you think.

• Note the theme, conflict, characters, and setting of what you read.

• Try to think about the purpose of what you read - why do you think it was written? Is there a message it wants to say?

• Review and edit your analysis.

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The Climax is the most exciting, emotional, scary or crazy part of the story happens!​

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​What is a climax?

​

Meilin's mom shows up to the concert and starts destroying it. ​

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​Climax Example:

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Last is the conclusion!

​

this is where the story comes to and end and problems are resolved. ​

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​What is last in a story?

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Meilin and her mom come up with rules together and figure out how to work together. ​

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​Conclusion Example:

Multiple Choice

This is where the story comes to an end and the problem has a solution.

• conclusion

• climax

• falling action

• rising action

Multiple Choice

This is the most emotional, exciting, scary and crazy part of the story.

• climax

• conclusion

• falling action

• exposition

Open Ended

What is the most suspensful movie, tv show, or book you have ever watched/read? Why?

Multiple Choice

In a suspense story, the author works to keep the reader guessing what will happen next.

• True

• False

Poll

Is this suspenseful?

Cautiously, Darrell stepped farther out onto the ice-covered pond.

Poll

Is this suspenseful?

"We're not leaving until I find out who threw that snowball!" Mr. Lee yelled.

Poll

Is this suspenseful?

Gwen smiled to see the puppy cuddled side by side with her older dog, Quincy.

​Foreshadow

Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and it helps the reader develop expectations about the upcoming events.​

Multiple Choice

Define Foreshadow

• Something the author tells you in a story that happened in the past.

• A hint the author gives you of something that will happen in the future.

• The dark thing I see on the ground  when I'm walking outside in the sun.

• Men get it when they don't shave for a few days.

​Foreshadowing & Suspense

• ​Foreshadowing also creates suspense.

• ​In literature, suspense is an uneasy feeling that a reader gets when they don't know what is going to happen next.

• ​Authors build suspense by providing clues of a future event.

• ​Foreshadowing and suspense can creates feelings of tension or anxiety in readers and/or viewers because they want to know what is going to happen next, how an event is going to unfold, or what will be the result of a previous event.

Open Ended

Read the passage. Write some details that create suspense.

I strolled along the lonely beach. Just then a strange splash in the water caught my eye. I turned toward the water and peered into the waves. There was no sign of whatever it was splashing out there. I shrugged my shoulders and kept walking on the shore. Suddenly I heard the most unusual sound. Again, I stopped and tried to figure out what in the world was making that sound. All was still, except for the sound of the waves. I shook my head- it didn’t make sense. I walked closer to the water, trying to figure out what was out there. Without warning, something huge and shiny seemed to leap out of the water. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was a huge whale!

Multiple Select

Review...

What is conflict???

(choose two)

• A problem the main character in a story is facing.

• A struggle between two opposing forces.

• The highest point or the turning point in a story.

• How the story ends and the problem is solved.

Open Ended

What is the difference between foreshadow and flashback???

​As we read think about...

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1) Who are the different characters?

2) How to they act?

3) What do they do?​

4) What do they say?

5) Do we know any of their thoughts?​

Open Ended

What character traits would you say Brian has? Give at least one reason why.

Open Ended

What character traits would you say Justin has? Give at least one reason why.