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Poem Literary Analysis of Lost Sister

Poem Literary Analysis of Lost Sister

Cathy Song “Lost Sister”

Writing a literary analysis involves clearly communicating to your reader what you consider to be the most interesting and important aspect of a given work a particular topic. Develop your interpretation out of details selected from the work itself to support your thesis. Each reader may notice different elements; he may focus on different incidents, characters, images or motifs. Therefore, there are many different possibilities for interesting essay, different because seen from different perspectives, but in some ways, the same because they deal with the same work. The author of a literary work, then, directs the reader to consider certain judgments about human life—suggesting how we ought to live, defining problems relating to the human psyche, social systems or human history—or sometimes showing the consequences of human choice and behavior (some universal truths). Major literary works will inspire some consensus in terms of interpretation; therefore, a work cannot mean anything a reader wants it to mean. Nor does it always mean what the author intended it to mean. By remaining close to the text, explaining particular elements there, writers are more likely to develop an interesting, convincing essay, which makes sense to other readers of a particular time and place and which probably relates, in some degree, to similar works of a particular genre. An analysis must do more than simply retell the story. Plot summary is useful to support a point, but paragraphs starting with pot summary often confuse the reader.

Each paragraph, then, should be centered on a particular point; it should develop a topic sentence at the start of the paragraph. Make the point, describe the particular textual elements that relate to the point, support the point with quotation, paraphrase the quote in your own words, summarize the point or reference it to some other important element in the text.

Analyze the significance of the textual details and their interrelationships. What inferences should the reader draw in the sentence? What does this paragraph really mean? How does a chapter relate to what happens next? To the end of the story? To the beginning?

In summation, I’m looking for:

• A thoughtful analysis of particular textual details demonstrated by an
interesting and focused thesis, well-supported throughout the essay by
clear topic sentences, thesis reminders, and fully developed paragraphs.

• A well-organized essay that presents a logical sequence of points.

• A sound introduction which attracts the reader’s interest and end with
a thesis appropriate to the size of the essay; a sound conclusion that
rather centers on your most crucial, most interesting, last major point.
Somehow, again, refer to the thesis, but do not necessarily repeat it
mechanically following word by word your introduction.

• Page references cited parenthetically in the text.

• Full documentation of all sources on a works cited or bibliography
page.

A good reference book on writing analytical papers is John Trimble’s, Writing with Style. Study chapters on “Openers,” “Closers,” and “Writing a Literary Analysis.” Also, refer to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by Joseph Gilbaldi and Walter S. Achtert for quoting, citations, works cited, bibliographies, mechanics, etc. Both of these books are also recommended for this for this course. Additionally, the essays should be written in MLA format for parenthetical documentation and formatting. This means essays should be double spaced, not single-spaced paragraphs then double-spaced between them. Here are some suggested topics:

1. Compare how an author or two who, in your view, shares, to some degree, a common point of view about life in America. State how far they agree or disagree and analyze the individual techniques that each uses to convey that point of view.

2. Analyze a story/poem or two as a literary work. This essay can focus on style, plot and structure, characterization, development of theme, tone, setting, use or misuse of myth, identity, etc. Determine what the artistic purpose of the work is and how well the author uses the literary elements to enhance or achieve that purpose.

3. Discuss the portrayal of women in at least TWO authors.

4. Write an analysis of a certain theme in the work of TWO authors. Compare and contrast them to make some kind of evaluation and to come to some conclusion the author(s) argue.

5. Choose one or two authors that develop the persona/personality of its narrator. In an essay, describe the persona/personality of the narrator and discuss how the author conveys that persona/personality to the reader. Support and illustrate.

6. A sense of home/place is a prominent theme in several short stories. Explore and examine how the places we grow up shape us as people. How is identity created by where we live? How does this sense of place shape a definition of home? Explore values and beliefs.

7. One can argue that many authors are on a journey in search of something. Identify and describe a journey with all of its ups and downs. In the end, come to some conclusion about the journey and the search: What is gained? What is lost? Is it worth it?

9. Reexamine one of the stories and write an essay indicating what actions and objects seem symbolic in their suggestions. How do these actions point toward any central theme in the story?

10. Compare and contrast various topics in two or more poems/short stories. Ascertain such topics as the American Dream, immigration, assimilation/acculturation, family, individualism, stereotypes, etc.

11. Discuss the parent/child relationship or the sense/definition of family in two or more poems/short stories. Come to some conclusion the authors make about it, and show how they characterize it. Also, how do the writers depict the family? A supportive structure or an oppressive cage? Nurtures or smothers the individual? Do you agree with their views? Why or why not? Discuss how they convey their points of views.

12. A topic of your own made in consultation with me. In this case, a title or brief statement of the topic should be submitted.

Note: Students do not need to complete a comparison of two poems or two short stories. Any combination will work or if they feel they have enough information to support and develop a 4-6 page analysis, they can concentrate on just one poem or short story.

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