Thesis statements for literary analysis

1. T H E S I S
S T A T E M E N T S
F O R L I T E R A R Y
A N A L Y S I S

2. • What fairy tale is this image
from?
• A thesis statement can also
be too big, too small, or just
right

3. T O O B I G
• Three-prong thesis:
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” contains symbols that represent
Connie’s fears of the adult world, the negligence of her family, and the Satanic
influence of Arnold Friend.
• Vague thesis (word salad):
“The Story of an Hour” contains symbols representing the protagonist’s inner thoughts
and feelings, demonstrating that symbolism is an important element in literature.
• Beyond the scope of the assignment:
“Hills Like White Elephants” demonstrates the importance of a woman’s right to
choose, a right that is being threatened by state legislatures across the country.

4. T O O S M A L L
• Topic statement (not thesis statement):
In this essay, I will discuss the symbolism in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You
Been?” and how it contributes to the story’s themes.
• Plot summary thesis:
“Hills like White Elephants” presents a couple who have a conflict over whether to keep
an unwanted pregnancy.
• Factual thesis:
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was written by Joyce Carol Oates in
the 1960’s.

5. T O B E “ J U S T
R I G H T, ” A T H E S I S
S H O U L D
• Make a debatable claim
(express your opinion!)
• Say something interesting
about the story
• Use specific language
• Answer the prompt
• Be one sentence long (at the
very most, two sentences)
• Appear early in the paper
(usually the last sentence of
the introduction)

6. “ J U S T R I G H T ” S T U D E N T E X A M P L E S
• In “Hills like White Elephants,” the girl’s uncertainty whether to proceed with
the abortion reveals that her desire to satisfy her partner is greater than her
desire to keep the pregnancy.
• In “Hills Like White Elephants,” the girl initially disregards her own feelings so
the man can be happy, but as the story progresses, she begins to change her
mind and take ownership of her own body.
• Connie’s conflict with Arnold reveals her ignorance of what it means to be an
adult and cuts deeply into the façade created by her romantic fantasies.
• The religious symbols in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
show how the loss of sacred familial and community ties leaves individuals like
Connie alone and vulnerable.