The Literary Criticism

There are several different formats for writing the literary criticism. This particular composition requires interpretive thinking.

 

When preparing to write your literary criticism, formulate a question about the literary selection for which you would genuinely like to have an answer. Through a close reading of the piece, investigate the evidence which could answer this question. Draw conclusions from this evidence and formulate an answer.

Before you begin, develop questions that you may have about the reading. These questions should be interpretive in nature. To do this you must reflect on the meaning of what you have read, read certain passages again, and think about certain interpretive problems that you will want to explore. You can test whether your questions are interpretive by trying to come up with two different answers. An interpretive question calls for higher-order thinking. It cannot be answered with a simple yes or no or even a recall-like answer.

You should create a title for your essay and follow the format required for literary criticism.

 

Literary Criticism: Format

A. Introduction: The introduction will announce your topic by posing a question and indicating its significance.

1. You should attempt to make the reader receptive by showing the topic to be interesting and important.

2. You should show that the question being posed concerns a point worth arguing: one that is significant, controversial, or not easily resolved.

3. You should state the procedure by which the question is to be investigated. (Caution: Do NOT use the first person I or we.)

4. Write in the active voice. (Use present tense and avoid helping and linking verbs.)

B. Background Information

1. This paragraph helps the reader understand and appreciate the significance of the argument that is to follow.

2. You may present information about the author and/or times if it is relevant to your topic.

3. Rarely will you need to summarize the entire plot.

4. You may present other arguments which you plan to refute.

C. The Investigation

1. This portion of your paper will perform the investigation of the question which you posed in the introduction.

2. At this time you will attempt to offer a "reading" of your work, that is, to explain the meaning of the text by examining its parts.

3. The point of a "reading" is to work through the literary text and to show its lines of development in light of your question. FOCUS on only those facts or ideas which relate to your topic.

4. The investigation should be two or more paragraphs in length.

D. The Answer to the Question

1. In this section of your paper you will formally answer the question which posed in the introduction of your paper.

2. In other words, you will draw a conclusion from the various points made in your investigation.

3. This answer, in essence, is your thesis statement.

4. You may refute other arguments here or in the conclusion.

E. The Conclusion

1. This paragraph is usually a "graceful" addition with some sort of recapitulation of your ideas.

2. Here you may want to reassert the essay's thesis and perhaps refocus the reader's attention on especially compelling evidence.

3. To be effective, this part of your essay should be a brief and vigorous effort to win your reader over to your point of view.

Click here to view the List of Works Consulted.

Literary Criticism Grading Rubric

A

  • The essay begins with a title which inspires the reader to read on.
  • This paper clearly states the question and method of investigation in an interesting introductory paragraph.
  • The essay includes a paragraph which gives general, yet highly relevant, background information about the topic.
  • The body contains at least three paragraphs which perform the investigation in an accurate, thorough, and scholarly manner.
  • These paragraphs contain several specific and pertinent quotes from the novel.
  • The quotes are thoroughly and accurately explained and focused on the topic.
  • The answer is clearly given in the form of a thesis statement in a separate, logical, and persuasive paragraph.
  • The conclusion is a vigorous and concise effort to convince the reader of the writer's point of view.
  • Errors in mechanics, if any, are few and do not interfere with meaning.

    • B

  • This paper includes an interesting title.
  • The author clearly states the question and method of investigation.
  • The essay includes a paragraph which gives general, but relevant, background information about the topic.
  • The paper contains at least two paragraphs which perform the investigation in an accurate, thorough, and scholarly manner.
  • These paragraphs contain specific quotes from the novel.
  • These quotes are connected with the topic and are thoroughly and accurately explained.
  • The answer is clearly given in the form of a thesis statement in a separate, logical paragraph.
  • The conclusion is a vigorous and concise effort to convince the reader of the writer's point of view.
  • Errors in mechanics are few and do not interfere with meaning.

    • C

  • This paper includes an appropriate title.
  • The writer clearly states the question and method of investigation.
  • The essay includes a paragraph which gives general background information about the topic.
  • The body contains at least two paragraphs which attempt to perform an investigation in a thorough and scholarly manner.
  • These paragraphs contain some specific quotes from the novel.
  • There is an attempt to explain the quotes and refer to the topic.
  • The thesis statement is clearly stated in a separate paragraph.
  • The conclusion makes an effort to convince the reader of the writer's point of view.
  • Errors in mechanics, though present, rarely interfere with meaning.

    • D

  • There is a title.
  • The question is stated.
  • The essay includes some background material.
  • The body contains two paragraphs which attempt to perform an investigation; however, inaccuracies in analysis are present and/or the investigation is not thorough.
  • The paragraphs contain quotes from the novel which may or may not be appropriate.
  • There is no attempt to explain the quotes and refer to the topic.
  • The thesis statement or answer is stated in a separate paragraph.
  • There is a brief, perhaps unconvincing, conclusion.
  • Errors in mechanics are present and may interfere with meaning.

    • E

  • These responses are not presented in the required literary criticism format.
  • The information that is presented is inaccurate and/or inadequate.
  • There is little or no use of quotes.
  • Those quotes that are used are not appropriate and/or not explained.
  • Quotes, if used at all, are not connected to the topic.
  • Errors in mechanics are frequent and often interfere with meaning.

    • Return to our Advanced Composition page to find more information on writing.

    Visit our List of Works Consulted.

    If you have comments or suggestions, email me at mrsbeachy@hotmail.com.