Writing about Literature

We do not claim that literature makes a reader wiser or better, but we do claim that it opens a readers eyes to points of view, to states of feeling, that we might not have been aware of.Barnet & Cain

Why write about literature?

To clarify and to account for our responses to works that interest or excite or frustrate usto deepen understanding of literary works by reading in greater depth than normal to communicate your views and interpretation of the literature to othersto provide additional practice in writing clearly and persuasively

Who should I write for?Consider your audience age/maturity/educational level cultural background will your audience have read the work you are writing about

What approach shall I use?

1. Focus on a single literary work. explication analysis

2. Comparison and contrast - discuss the similarities and differences between two works. plot theme literary value subject matter

3. Discuss a number of works by a single author: focus on unique characteristics in the author's writing, examine the author's growth as a writer through a study of the works, examine how the author's life experience affected his/her work.

4. Discuss a number of works with something in common other than the author.

5. React to the message in the literature. Write a paper either challenging or supporting the theme of the literary piece(s) you are referencing.

Writing the Paper

Read and study the assigned literature (take notes) Think about the information gained from the reading; let it incubate a few days Brainstorm - Jot down a list Follow the rest of the steps in the process approach to writing.