1. Literary Criticism
Getting Started…

2. What is Literary Criticism?
• An interpretation of a literary work or body
of work that is debatable
• A conversation with the written text
• An analysis and explication of literary
work(s) using literary concepts
• A thesis that presents an arguable
perspective of a literary work.
Dollar, Mark. “Writing about Literature.” The Owl at Purdue. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University, 1995-2007. 2
May 2007. <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/575/01/>
Yothers, Brian. “Writing the Literary Analysis” The Owl at Purdue. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University, 1995-
2007. 2 May 2007. <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/pp/index.html>

3. Criticism deals with Literary Elements
• Theme • Point of View
• Tone • Characterization
• Style • Setting
• Plot • Genre
Yothers, Brian. “Writing the Literary Analysis” The Owl at Purdue.
West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University, 1995-2007. 2 May
2007.<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/pp/index.html>

4. A Great Topic is…Researchable
Time
Task Relevant
requirements Sources

5. Contemplate the
text.
Brainstorm ideas.
Generate lots of
ideas that fit the
task.
Choose the idea
that most appeals
to you.

6. Read … to
answer these
questions:
• What sources are available to add
to my understanding?
• What sources help me to develop
my argument and support my
assertions?

7. Explore … to
answer these
questions:
• What do I already know?
• What do I need to know to fully
understand this topic?
• What do experts say about this topic?

8. How do I write a Literary Analysis?
• Focus on specific aspects of the text
• Create a clear and arguable point about this
feature of the text
• Defend this position with reasons and evidence
drawn from the text
• Use:
– Quotes, summaries and paraphrase from the text
– Other critics’ opinions and literary theories
– Historical, political and social context as well as
knowledge of the authors’ own life
Yothers, Brian. “Writing the Literary Analysis” The Owl at Purdue. West
Lafayette, IN: Purdue University, 1995-2007. 2 May
2007.<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/pp/index.html>

9. Which and where are the
sources for Literary Criticism?

10. R is for Relevance

11. A is for Accuracy
Check your facts.
Separate opinions from facts.
Credit sources of ideas and opinions.

12. D is for Details
Be sure to include Develop each main
all the key idea by providing
components of the details to
topic. explain, illustrate and
explore the concepts
thoroughly.
Piece the ideas together logically, to create a
powerful argument.

13. C is for Currency
Define the time that is
RELEVANT to your topic.
Use that information to
limit or broaden your
search. Be sure to
include information and
sources that represent the
full range of time
RELEVANT to your topic.

14. A is for Authority
Having or marked by an advanced degree Having or showing skill; expert.
of competence, as in an Requiring specialized ability or
art, vocation, profession, or branch of training: a skilled trade.
learning.

15. B is for Bias
Pro Neutra Co
l
n
An opinion that deviates from the neutral has
bias.

16. Which and where are the
sources for Literary Criticism?
Search terms to consider:
– “literary criticism”
– criticism,
– text title,
– author’s name,
– idea [literary movement, genre, literary
element, literary device, concept],
– “critical essay”

17. Plot
Texts
↙
→
Interest
Authors
Themes
Context
Reviews
Areas of
Historical
summary
Databases
Academic One File
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World Literature and its Times
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Novels for Students
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Drama for Students
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Short Stories for Students
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Poetry for Students
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Twayne's United States
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Authors Series
Twayne's English Authors
Gale/Cengage
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Twayne's Masterwork Studies
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Twayne's World Authors
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Series
Gale Contextual Encyclopedia
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of American Literature
Books, magazines, academic journals, critical essays, newspaper articles, video, audio, images
Gale Contextual Encyclopedia
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of World Literature
Literary Reference Center
EBSCO
Literary Reference Center
Which and where are the
Plus
Literary Reference Center
UMI / PROQUEST
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ProQuest Learning: Literature
Proquest
sources for Literary Criticism?
Encyclopedia of Literary
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Romanticism
Books
Ebooks
Encyclopedia of Themes in
InfoBase
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Literature,