Week 5 Assignment Literary Analysis: Link To Video Transcrip

Week 5 Assignment Literary Analysislink To Video Transcriptclick Each

Literary Criticism is a tool that helps you find meaning in stories, poems, and plays. There are many different ways to interpret a novel, poem, or short story. When we read literature, we do so to learn more about:

• The human condition
• The experience of loss and death
• The structure of power in society and how it is implemented (including race and gender)
• The psychology of individuals
• The sociology of cultures

So, what IS literary theory? Check out this video series by Tim Nance; it covers all of the theories quickly and entertainingly. Strategies for this week's assignments include participating in two Discussion forums: one analyzing critical approaches in literature, and another forming questions based on critical reading. Your final written assignment is a literary analysis paper, adhering to specified minimum and maximum word counts.

Paper For Above instruction

The purpose of this analytical paper is to demonstrate your understanding of literary criticism by applying different critical approaches to a selected text. You will choose a literary work, such as a story, poem, or play, and analyze it through at least two distinct critical lenses detailed in your course material. This exercise will showcase your ability to interpret literature using theoretical frameworks and to articulate how these perspectives deepen understanding of the text.

Begin by selecting one literary work that resonates with you, which could be a novel, poem, or play, such as William Shakespeare’s Macbeth or Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried. Conduct a thorough reading, taking notes on key elements such as title, narration, subject, mood, characters, character interactions, and plot. Highlight passages and write margin notes to identify significant themes, symbols, and language use.

Next, brainstorm possible angles for critical analysis. For example, in Macbeth, you might explore themes like law of hubris, gender roles, or the corrupting influence of power. Formulate open-ended questions, such as “Does Macbeth’s transformation suggest that power inherently corrupts?” or “How does Lady Macbeth’s character challenge traditional gender expectations?” These questions will guide your analysis.

Apply different literary theories to interpret the text. For instance:

• Biographical criticism: Research the author’s life and consider how their experiences influence the work.
• New Criticism/Formalism: Focus on language, symbols, metaphors, and structure within the text without external context.
• Archetypal theory: Identify universal symbols or character types, such as the hero’s journey or the archetype of fate.
• Marxist criticism: Analyze power structures, class conflicts, and economic themes within the work.
• Psychoanalytical criticism: Explore characters’ motivations, subconscious drives, and psychological states.
• Reader’s Response theory: Reflect on your personal reactions, experiences, and how your perspective influences interpretation.
• Historical criticism: Place the work within its historical context, considering societal and political factors of the period.
• Post-Colonial criticism: Examine issues related to colonization, racism, and cultural identity.
• Structuralism: Identify overarching narrative patterns and structures that shape the meaning.
• Denotative and Connotative analysis: Analyze both the literal and emotional/cultural meanings of words and symbols.

Construct your paper by integrating insights from at least two of these theoretical approaches, supporting your analysis with textual evidence. The paper should include an introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs developing your analysis with quotes from the text, and a conclusion summarizing your insights. Ensure your writing meets the assignment’s word limits and adheres to academic standards.

Refer to scholarly sources to support your interpretations, properly citing all references in APA or your designated style. Your submission will be evaluated based on depth of analysis, clarity, supported argumentation, and integration of critical theories as outlined in the grading rubric.

References

• Cummings, M. (2011). Literary Terms Including Figures of Speech. Retrieved from https://literaryterms.net
• Nance, T. (2015). Literary Criticism. Retrieved from https://timnanceliterarycriticism.com
• Bloom, H. (2010). Bloom’s Literary Criticism. New York: Chelsea House.
• Barry, P. (2009). Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester University Press.
• Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality. Vintage Books.
• Freud, S. (1913). Totem and Taboo. Hogarth Press.
• Eagleton, T. (1996). Literary Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishing.
• Hartman, G. (2004). Reading Literature: Critical and Theoretical Approaches. Routledge.
• Reed-DeWitt, P. (2012). The Literary Criticism Companion. Greenwood Press.
• Barthes, R. (1977). Image-Music-Text. Hill and Wang.