When my kids were in 9th and 11th grades studying Ancient History, the history curriculum we were using (but rewriting weekly) assigned a literary analysis paper on either The Iliad or The Odyssey.
Thinking this was a terrific idea, since they are some of the first epics in history, I perused the curriculum writing guide which I sadly found lacking in information.
Despite previously writing literary analysis with ease, we fell into a perfect storm of confusion, similar to the journey of Odysseus.
Searching academic websites for clear definitions and tips for literary analysis, I didn’t find any helpful information.
Meanwhile my kids’ papers were haphazard.
LITERARY FRIEND TO THE RESCUE
When I mentioned this to my wonderful phD literature major friend offered advice.
Oh yes, please!
She explained that they need to write an argumentative thesis.
(Our history-literature curriculum directive for this assignment never mentioned that.)
Offering to look at my kids’ papers, she asked the right questions and suggested valuable ideas to develop their flow and cohesiveness.
IEW TEACHES LITERARY ANALYSIS
While my literature major friend helped us, I also found clear direction from my IEW yahoo group.
Really, the only website I found that was helpful was IEW.
And they had a new product that teaches how to write an argumentative thesis!
WINDOWS TO THE WORLD: AN INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY ANALYSIS
So I purchased Windows to the World: An Introduction to Literary Analysis to finish out our school year.
Although my kids were hit with scary huge terminology, like argumentative thesis, Happily, this was a fun book.
Within the book are fun short stories from the 19th century through which my kids learned the basics of literary analysis…perfect for their rhetoric studies.
The argumentative essay, and other skills taught in this book, are great skills expected of college students, so it’s great preparation.
ANNOTATION
First, we learned about annotation!
Since my kids were hesitant to marking in books, despite seeing me do it all the time, I found some evidence of books of notable authors who annotated their books!
Once my kids found out that Thomas Jefferson, Sir Isaac Newton, and Mark Twain wrote in their books, my kids felt they had permission to do the same.
One of Jefferson’s books was even annotated in Greek!
After a few tips from the author on the types of things to annotate, we looked at her examples with The Gift of the Magi.
Then the kids and I annotated our own copies of The Most Dangerous Game, a short story from 1923 that had us on the edge of our seats!
Afterwards we compared notes, then peeked at what the author of WTW annotated.
When the kids especially liked something they didn’t include, they quickly annotated that in their copy.
ALLUSIONS
Then we studied a few literary devices like allusions, a great review for my kids with a deeper application.
Together we analyzed allusions with one of William Blake’s easier poems.
PLOT
Next, we studied plot and suspense with Androcles and the Lion.
After lots of lessons and tips, we returned to The Most Dangerous Game, this time while annotating plot and suspense.
COLORED GEL PENS
This time I had them choose a new colored gel pen, so they could easily pick out plot and suspense in discussion.
{{{That totally warmed the heart of my colored gel pen loving daughter. 😉}}}
Each time we annotated this story with new literary devices, we used new colors of gel pens, to aid in discussion of each literary technique.
That was great, because as the author said, each rereading made us more familiar with the story and brought new insights.
LITERARY ANALYSIS PAPER
Then my kids wrote a literary analysis paper (essay) on The Most Dangerous Game.
We had read it so much and annotated it so much, that we certainly had lots of ideas to choose from.
The explanation of how to set up the argumentative thesis is crystal clear!
There are many step-by-step details so my kids knew exactly what to do.
Lots of ideas and a clear path meant instant success! The kids wrote great papers!
What a difference from their Odysseus journey with the other curriculum.
MORE LITERARY DEVICES
Then we learned some more literary analysis devices while annotating The Necklace, a short story written by Guy de Maupassant in 1884.
We enjoyed this story a lot!
My kids wrote their second literary analysis on this story. (check the Epilogue!)
More techniques, more stories, all great!
We also enjoyed A Fight with a Cannon, by Victor Hugo.
This story, as did the others, brought a lot of discussion to the table.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT
I cannot say enough good things about Windows to the World: A Literary Analysis.
It will help prepare your students for college!
EPILOGUE 2012
To enter the English Honors program at her college, my daughter submitted her literary analysis of The Necklace from her studies the summer before (see above)
The dean loved seeing her argumentative thesis and sounded like they had a great time talking more about Guy de Maupassant’s story.
