CHECKLISTS FOR LITERARY RESPONSE ESSAY

Analyzing Point of View:

  1. Who is telling the story?
  2. Is the voice of the narrator consistent or does it change? If it changes, how?
  3. How reliable is the narrator?
  4. Should the narrator be taken literally? Or is the piece a satire, a tall tale, legend, myth, fable, or parable?
  5. What is the effect or the narrator’s voice?
  6. Where is the narrator? Inside or outside the action? How does this perspective influence the plot, character, or theme?

Analyzing Setting:

  1. What in the setting is particularly significant? Features of the landscape? Time of year? Weather? Something else?
  2. Do any parts of the setting seem to be symbolic?
  3. How does setting contribute to the tone or mood?
  4. Does the setting change? How does this influence the plot and the characters?
  5. Is there any foreshadowing (hints of what is to come)?

Analyzing Plot:

  1. What is the major conflict, dilemma, or problem?
  2. What aspects of the plot create tension? How is it developed?
  3. Who is involved and why?
  4. Must the chief character make a difficult decision? What is it?
  5. Does the chief character lose or triumph? Why? Why not?

Analyzing Character:

  1. How and where does the character live?
  2. What is significant about his or her appearance? Attire?
  3. What does the character say that makes an impression?
  4. What motivates the main character? How are these motives revealed?
  5. How does the character achieve desires and goals? What values are revealed here?
  6. What do you notice about the characters and their relationships with each other? Do they change?
  7. What similarities and differences do you see in the characters?
  8. What do these things imply?
  9. Do the characters seem convincing and realistic? Why?
  10. What else do you notice?

Interpreting Symbols:

  1. What features, objects, or persons might be symbols?
  2. Where and how do they appear?
  3. Do any of the symbols change? How?
  4. Are there any connections between the symbols? If so, how?
  5. Are the symbols universal or individual? How are they related to the theme of the work?

Detecting Irony:

  1. Are there any inconsistencies between expectations and outcomes in the plot that create situational irony?
  2. Does the reader or a character know something that another does not?
  3. Do any of the characters say the opposite of what they mean?
  4. Does fate or cosmic irony play a role in the plot?
  5. How does irony influence the work?

Finding Clues to Theme:

  1. Does a set of related events, decisions, behavior, or symbols seem noteworthy? What might they mean?
  2. What do characters feel strongly about? What is important to them?
  3. What values are revealed by their responses?
  4. What happens that strengthens or weakens human character? Could a universal statement be made about this?
  5. What other aspects of plot and character challenge, entertain, or disgust readers? What do all these aspects seem to say about human life?

Revising an Analysis of Literature

  1. Is the thesis of my analysis clear? What elements will be discussed in the paper?
  2. Is there enough evidence to support my thesis?
  3. Are main points clearly related to the thesis?
  4. Is the discussion organized in a clear, logical order?
  5. How familiar will the audience be with the work? How much do I need to explain?
  6. How does the tone of the analysis sound? Is it serious? Is it overly critical or overly favorable?
  7. Do I include at least one significant example (preferably more) to support each inference?
  8. Are examples labeled correctly? (To check, see “Elements of Literature,” near the beginning of chapter 27.)
  9. Has each inference been identified by a qualifier such as indicates, suggests, or another tentative term?
  10. Do I explain how elements contribute to meaning?
  11. Might I have overlooked any symbols or irony?
  12. Have I identified the theme(s) of the work?