Literary Analysis Techniques
Imagery
- Imagery: Use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences.
- Visual Imagery: Descriptions that create pictures in the mind's eye.
- Auditory Imagery: Evokes sounds through language.
- Olfactory Imagery: Appeals to the sense of smell.
- Gustatory Imagery: Related to taste.
- Tactile Imagery: Concerning touch and physical textures.
Symbolism
- Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal sense.
- Common Symbols: Examples include the dove for peace, the snake for evil, and water for life.
- Contextual Symbolism: Symbols that gain significance within the specific context of the work.
Structure and Form
- Form: The overall structure and style of a work.
- Prose: Ordinary written or spoken language without metrical structure.
- Poetry: Writing that uses distinctive style and rhythm.
- Free Verse: Poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme or metrical pattern.
- Sonnet: A 14-line poem typically written in iambic pentameter.
- Narrative Structure: The ordered sequence of events that make up the story.
- Linear Narrative: Chronological order of events.
- Non-linear Narrative: Events are portrayed out of chronological order.
Characterisation
- Characterisation: Techniques used to develop characters and their personalities.
- Direct Characterisation: Explicit descriptions of a character’s traits.
- Indirect Characterisation: Revealing character traits through actions, dialogue, and interactions.
- Dynamic Character: Characters who undergo significant change.
- Static Character: Characters who remain the same throughout the work.
- Protagonist: The main character.
- Antagonist: The character who opposes the protagonist.
Themes and Motifs
- Theme: The central topic or underlying message.
- Motif: A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.
- Universal Themes: Themes that transcend culture and time, like love, conflict, and growth.
- Major vs. Minor Themes: Major themes are central to the plot, while minor themes complement or support the major themes.
Tone and Mood
- Tone: The author’s attitude towards the subject or audience.
- Mood: The feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing evokes.
- Creating Tone: Through word choice, dialogue, and punctuation.
- Establishing Mood: Use of setting, imagery, and diction.
Literary Devices
- Simile and Metaphor: Comparing two things ('like' or 'as' for similes; direct comparison for metaphors).
- Alliteration and Assonance: Repetition of consonant sounds and vowel sounds, respectively.
- Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
- Irony: The expression of meaning through language that signifies the opposite.
- Foreshadowing: Hinting at events to come.
- Personification: Giving human characteristics to non-human entities.
- Allusion: An indirect reference to another literary work or historical event.
Context and Interpretation
- Historical Context: The time period and historical events surrounding the text’s creation.
- Cultural Context: The social conditions, norms, and values of the time and place in which the text was written.
- Author’s Background: Understanding the author’s life can provide insight into the text.
- Intertextuality: The relationship between texts and how they refer to each other.
Critical Perspectives
- Marxist Criticism: Examines class conflict and societal structures.
- Feminist Criticism: Explores gender dynamics and representation.
- Psychoanalytic Criticism: Analyses characters and narrative through psychological theories, particularly those of Freud.
- Postcolonial Criticism: Investigates the impact of colonialism and cultural identity.