Essay 3 Literary Analysis

Essay 3 Literary Analysis

In this essay, you should combine your practice responding and analyzing short stories with support derived from research. You will write a literary analysis that incorporates the ideas of others, accurately presenting gathered ideas and interpretations while adding your own analysis. The essay requires research to provide context for your interpretation of a chosen story and should demonstrate skill in citing sources properly. You are to select one of the approaches explained in the "Approaches to Literary Analysis" section and support your analysis with at least five sources. The essay should be approximately 1500 words (about five pages), with a focus on critical analysis of the primary text, supported by research. Use MLA format for documentation.

Paper For Above instruction

Literary analysis is a nuanced process that involves engaging with the text on multiple levels, bringing in external sources to deepen and contextualize understanding of the story. The focus of this essay is to critically analyze a short story, incorporating scholarly perspectives and supporting your thesis with research. The stories available for analysis include "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber," "The Wall," "The Swimmer," "The Lesson," "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," "The Birthmark," and "For Esmé... with Love and Squalor."

To craft a comprehensive literary analysis, you should select a specific approach based on your interests and the strategies outlined in the "Approaches to Literary Analysis" section. These include formal analysis, historical analysis, biographical analysis, sociological analysis, philosophical analysis, and psychological analysis. Each approach offers a unique lens through which to examine the story, requiring appropriate research and contextual understanding.

For instance, a formal analysis would focus solely on the elements within the story—language, symbolism, character development, setting—analyzing how these parts work together to generate meaning. Conversely, a historical analysis would place the story within its socio-historical context, exploring how events or societal norms of the period influence the narrative. A biographical approach would delve into the author's life, seeking connections between their experiences and the themes or characters in their work. Sociological perspectives might analyze issues of race, gender, class, or culture, while philosophical approaches could examine the story's underlying moral or existential questions.

Research is integral to this assignment. You are expected to gather credible scholarly sources that support your interpretation, quote, paraphrase, and summarize ideas appropriately, giving credit where due to avoid plagiarism. Your thesis should be relevant to the story; for example, if choosing a philosophical approach, you might explore existential themes in "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," connecting the story's characters and plot to key concepts from Sartre or Camus. If opting for a socio-cultural approach, you might analyze gender roles in "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber," tying your analysis to broader societal norms and critiques.

Throughout your essay, ensure that you maintain clarity, coherence, and critical engagement with the text and sources. Your goal is to contribute meaningfully to ongoing conversations about the story, offering your insights supported by research. Proper MLA citations should be used for all sources, and the essay should be well-organized with clear introduction, body, and conclusion sections, demonstrating thorough understanding and critical thinking.

References

• Bloom, Harold. "Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations: Hemingway's The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." Chelsea House Publishing, 1988.
• Guba, Egon G., and Yvonna S. Lincoln. "Fourth Generation Evaluation." Sage Publications, 1989.
• Johnson, Barbara. "The Literary Agenda." Yale University Press, 1993.
• Lentricchia, Frank. "Critical Modernism." The University of Chicago Press, 1983.
• Mucci, David L. "Modernist Literary Criticism." Routledge, 2021.
• Perelman, Michael. "Introduction to Literary Analysis." Routledge, 2017.
• Sartre, Jean-Paul. "Being and Nothingness." Routledge, 2001.
• Scholes, Robert, and Richard Kellogg. "Approaches to Literary Criticism." Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1970.
• Showalter, Elaine. "Women Texts and Contexts." W. W. Norton & Company, 1991.
• Wellek, René, and Austin Warren. "Theory of Literature." Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1949.