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Due to time limitations, we will not have the time to write a literary analysis essay this semester. However, in case you ever take a literature course, you will want to have some familiarity with how a literary analysis is written. Thus, instead of writing a whole essay, this exercise asks that you create an outline for a possible literature analysis essay.
Sample literary essay prompt: Write an essay (remember you are just doing an outline) in which you explain the central conflict in either O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” or Hughes’s “Theme for English B.” Then make an argument stating how we should feel about this conflict.
Possible conflicts/themes for “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”
- Family
- Religion
- What is “a good man”?
- Sins and forgiveness
- Any others you can think of
Possible conflicts/themes in “Theme for English B”
- Education
- Race
- American identity
- Freedom
- Any others you can think of
Parameters for Your Outline:
- As suggested in our reading, set up the larger debate in your introduction. What might others say about your chosen conflict? Where do you weigh in with this debate?
- Write a strong thesis statement for your analysis in which you explain your conflict and argue how readers should interpret this conflict.
- Find evidence to support your analysis. If you are arguing that family is the central conflict in O’Connor’s story and that the story tells us to not trust family members blindly, you will want to find lots of examples in which the story talks about family and the many reasons we should not always put our faith in family members.
- Organize your evidence into coherent sections within your outline.
- Make sure to note any quotes from the story that would help your argument. Don’t forget the parenthetical citations for these quotes.
- Write some key points for your conclusion.
Your outline should be at least 250 words. You will be graded on your ability to follow the prompt, the content of your response, and your adherence to the rules of Standard Academic English.