This is a slideshow on literary analysis research that I presented at a University of South Dakota Writing Center Workshop.

1. LITERARY ANALYSIS
RESEARCH
Carol Leibiger, Ph.D., MSLIS
Associate Professor, University Libraries

2. WHY DO WE READ?
It is a truth universally
acknowledged, that a single
man in possession of a good
fortune must be in want of a
wife.
“Literature is part of our cultural heritage which is freely available to everyone, and which can enrich our lives in all
kinds of ways…These works say something worth saying. Their beauty captures people’s attention and satisfies their
souls. This beauty does not lie only in WHAT is said, but HOW it is said.” The Literature Network Forums blog

3. W H Y D O L I T E R A RY A N A LY S I S ?
It lets us formulate and
communicate ideas about
literature.
Write on,
It gives us an sister!
opportunity Literary
to read and analysis is
enjoy great critical
literature. thinking and
writing.

4. H O W C A N W E A P P R OA C H L I T E R A T U R E ?
 Structural/formalist
It was a approach: use the
dark and elements of literature
stormy
night…  Content approach:
use a critical lens

5. H OW D O W E D O S T RU C T U R A L A N A LY S I S ?
Formalists consider how
A good
structural elements of the text
protagonist
communicate or contribute to is hard to
find.
the author’s message.
Checklist of elements of
literature

6. H OW T O D O W E D O C O N T E N T
ANALYSIS?
 Postmodern criticism recognizes
that literature is social and can be
What’s the
understood from multiple points female
of view. It seeks inclusiveness, hobbit
perspective
opening the discussion to dominant ?
and minority voices.
VirtualLit Critical Perspectives

7. H O W T O A P P R OA C H A L I T E R A RY
ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT
Find expert Argue the
Make a claim claim using
support for
about a text. evidence.
your claim.

8. TWO TYPES OF EVIDENCE
Louisa,
Well,
expert
Ralph,
evidence
textual
is found
evidence
in
is in the
scholarly
text
books and
itself.
articles.

9. FINDING EXPERT SUPPORT
Tradition
But, mon
demands
ami,
that articles are
research also
be done important
with sources.
books.

10. FINDING CRITICAL SOURCES IN BOOKS
Use WorldCat to
WorldCat ist
international find:
! • Books at USD
• Books
elsewhere
(almost
anywhere!)
WorldCat

11. FINDING ARTICLES
Subject-specific databases:
Get with the
 MLA International Bibliography
times! Use
 Humanities International databases to
find cutting-
Complete edge
research.
Multi-subject databases:
 JSTOR
 Project MUSE

12. QUESTIONS?
 Use the ENGL 210 LibGuide
Take it from a
to find scholarly books and articles Nobel Prize
on literary topics. winner: Use
these research
 Contact Dr. Carol Leibiger,
methods, and
Language and Literature subject enjoy learning
specialist and writing
about
C.Leibiger@usd.edu literature.
677-6089

13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank the following authors for allowing me to put words into their mouths:
 Jane Austen (Slide 2)
 The Brontë Sisters (Slide 3)
 Edgar Alan Poe (Slide 4)
 Flannery O’Connor (Slide 5)
 J.R.R. Tolkien (Slide 6)
 Charlotte Perkins Gilman, William Faulkner, Kate Chopin (Slide 7)
 Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott (Slide 8)
 Charles Dickens, Émile Zola (Slide 9)
 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Slide 10)
 Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Slide 11)
 Sigrid Undset (Slide 12)