Literary Analysis Task

Literary Writing Task
LEAP Essay Review

By Tristen Holwager

Poll

Do you know what a Literary Analysis Essay is?

• YES QUEEN!

• kind of sure but still sus

• meh

• not at all bro

What is a Literary Analysis Task?

A Literary Analysis Task/Essay is...

For a literary analysis task on the LEAP test, you are going to identify the text's main ideas, analyze literary devices, and support your answers with textual evidence from the passages. The task is the essay prompt that you are responding to.

Here's a breakdown of key elements for a successful Literary Analysis essay on the LEAP 2025 test!

The LEAP 2025 test includes both a Literary Analysis Task and a Narrative Writing Task, so ensure you are addressing the correct prompt.

Literary Analysis vs. Narrative Writing:

1. Understanding the Task:

The Literary Analysis Task requires you to analyze the text, NOT just summarize it.

Focus on Analysis:

Theme: What is the central message or idea the author is exploring?

Identify the Text's Main Ideas

2. Key Elements of a Literary
Analysis Essay:

Author's Purpose: What is the author trying to achieve by writing this text?

Tone: What is the author's attitude towards the subject matter?

Open Ended

What is main idea?

Multiple Choice

What is theme?

• The theme is the title of a book or artwork.
• The theme refers to the author's biography.
• The theme is the physical setting of the story.
• The theme is the central message or author's message.

Multiple Choice

What is author's purpose?

• To analyze historical events
• To summarize existing research
• To inform, entertain, or persuade.

• To provide a detailed report

Word Cloud

Give me an example of a positive tone. (1-2 words)

Literary Devices are special tools that writers use to make their stories more interesting and meaningful, like using vivid descriptions, comparing things, or making words sound fun.

Analyze Literary Devices:

2. Key Elements of a Literary
Analysis Essay:

Open Ended

What are some different types of story elements?

For 4th graders, story elements are the key parts that make up a story, including characters (who the story is about), setting (where and when the story takes place), plot (the events that happen), conflict (the problem or challenge), and theme (the main idea or message).

Analyze Story Elements:

2. Key Elements of a Literary
Analysis Essay:

Open Ended

What are some different types of literary devices?

How do you know when the prompt is asking you to write a literary analysis essay?

You can recognize a literary analysis prompt because it will ask you to analyze a literary work (passage, text, poem, etc.), focusing on its elements, themes, and author's techniques, rather than simply summarizing the plot.

Keywords to look for!

Look for words like "analyze," "interpret," "examine," "discuss the significance of," "explore the author's purpose," or "argue".

Focus on Literary Elements:

The prompt will likely ask you to consider elements like theme, characterization, symbolism, imagery, setting, point of view, or style.

Specific Questions:

The prompt might pose specific questions about the text, such as "How does the author use imagery to create a certain mood?" or "What is the significance of the character's journey?".

NO Summary:

A literary analysis essay is NOT a plot summary or a book review. It requires deeper analysis and interpretation, going beyond simply stating what happened in the story.

Textual Evidence:

Literary analysis essays require strong textual evidence, including direct quotes, paraphrasing, and specific details from the text to support your claims.

Author's Techniques:

The prompt may ask you to discuss how the author uses specific literary devices or techniques to achieve a particular effect.

Let's go over some example prompts!

Example #1:

You have read two stories that take place in classrooms. Both stories are about a student who has a problem in his or her classroom.
Write an essay in which you compare Chelsea’s problem to Anne’s. What is similar about their problems? What is different? Be sure to use details from the stories to support your answer

Example #2:

You have read an excerpt from the drama, “Langston Hughes: Poet of the People” and one poem titled “Autumn Orchards.” Think about the characters’ actions and feelings and how this helped to develop the events in the texts.
Write an essay in which you identify how the characters’ feelings and actions contributed to the events in the texts. Be sure to include specific details from both selections.

Example #3:

You have read two stories about characters interacting with a family member.
Write an essay that identifies a theme that both stories share and explain how that theme is supported in each story. Be sure to use details from both stories in your response.

Multiple Choice

What is a literary analysis?

• A literary analysis is a summary of the plot.
• A literary analysis is a personal opinion about a book.
• A literary analysis is a review of the author's biography.
• A literary analysis is an examination and interpretation of a literary work.

Multiple Choice

Do you summarize the text in a literary analysis?

• Only quotes are needed, not summaries.
• No, summarizing is not necessary.
• Yes, summarizing the text is part of a literary analysis.
• Summarizing is only for non-literary texts.

Multiple Choice

How do you know if a prompt is a literary analysis?

• A prompt is a literary analysis if it focuses on the author's biography.
• A prompt is a literary analysis if it summarizes the plot of a story.
• A prompt is a literary analysis if it asks for personal opinions about the text.
• A prompt is a literary analysis if it requires examining themes, characters, or literary techniques.

Multiple Select

Which is an example of a story element?

• Theme
• Character
• Setting
• Plot

Poll

How do you feel now about a Literary Analysis Essay?

• I know it now for sure!

• I kinda got it!

• I don't really get it... but ok.

• I'm still lost...