Preliminary presentation on literary analysis

1. Literary Analysis
How to

3. Literary elements
Theme
Character
Imagery
Symbolism
Tone/Mood

4. Theme
The most common contemporary understanding of theme is an idea or point that
is central to a story. It can often be summed in a single word (e.g. love, death,
betrayal, poverty, injustice etc.).
Important note: The theme may differ from the thesis—the text's or author's
implied or stated worldview.

5. Theme
Typical examples of themes:
conflict between the individual and society
coming of age
humans in conflict with technology
bondage/freedom
the dangers of unchecked ambition
Sacrifice
Man Vs. ________________

6. What’s the theme of this epitaph?
Stranger, stop and cast an eye.
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so shall you be,
Prepare for death and follow me.
(epitaph in a European monastery)

7. Thematic Goldmine!!!!!!

8. Protagonist - The protagonist is the central person in a story, and is often referred
to as the story's main character. The protagonist is faced with a conflict that must
be resolved. The protagonist may not always be admirable (e.g. an anti-hero);
nevertheless they must command involvement on the part of the reader, or better
yet, empathy.
Antagonist - The antagonist is the character(s) (or situation) that represents the
opposition against which the protagonist must contend. In other words, the
antagonist is an obstacle that the protagonist must overcome.
Character

9. Hero/Anti-Hero
Nowadays, an antihero is usually thought of as a badass, bitter, misanthropic,
violent, sociopathic angry person, but this is a recent enough development to
be known as a Nineties Anti-Hero. (For much of history, the term antihero
referred to a character type that is in many ways the opposite of this).
In classical and earlier mythology, the hero tended to be a dashing, confident,
stoic, intelligent, highly capable fighter and commander with few, if any, flaws
and even fewer real weaknesses.
The classical anti-hero is the inversion of this.

10. Classical Anti-heros

11. Anti-Hero - A major character, usually the protagonist, who lacks conventional nobility of mind, and who
struggles for values not deemed universally admirable. Often, the anti-hero is simply an outsider; a
character that operates outside of accepted convention.
Foil - A foil is any character (usually the antagonist or an important supporting character) whose
personal qualities contrast with another character (usually the protagonist). By providing this
contrast, we get to know more about the other character.
Symbolic - A symbolic character is any major or minor character whose very existence represents some
major idea or aspect of society. For example, in Lord of the Flies, Piggy is a symbol of both the
rationality and physical weakness of modern civilization; Jack, on the other hand, symbolizes the
violent tendencies (the Id) that William Golding believes is within human nature.
Character (types)

12. Imagery
Imagery is defined as the use of figurative language to represent objects, actions and ideas in such a
way that it appeals to our physical senses. The usual definition is that imagery makes use of
particular words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds, but it’s more complicated
than that.
Composers also choose words (diction) to provoke memories in their audience of physical sensations
they’ve experienced, which connects the audience physically to the events of the story.

13. What sensations are evoked by this passage?
“When the others went swimming my son said he was going in, too. He pulled his
dripping trunks from the line where they had hung all through the shower and
wrung them out. Languidly, and with no thought of going in, I watched him, his
hard little body, skinny and bare, saw him wince slightly as he pulled up around
his vitals the small, soggy, icy garment. As he buckled the swollen belt, suddenly
my groin felt the chill of death.”
Theme?
What language is designed to elicit a physical response?

14. Symbolism
Defined as the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are
different from their literal sense.
Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an entirely
different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action, an
event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance, “smile” is a symbol of
friendship.
Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. “A chain”, for example, may
stand for “connection” as well as “imprisonment”. The symbolic meaning of an object or an action
is understood by when, where and how it is used, and by who is perceiving it.

16. Okay?
In many European countries, the symbol is offensive because it indicates that the person it’s directed at
is a “zero.”
In several Mediterranean and South American countries, the sign is a symbol for the anus.
The gesture does have another positive connotation and a very old one at that. It is a mudra—a ritual
gesture in Buddhism and Hinduism. The sign symbolizes teaching and reason. Many Buddhist
artifacts, old and new, depict the Lord Buddha making this sign.

17. Again with the “Game of Thrones”?

18. Tone/Mood
Every piece comprises a central theme or subject matter.
The manner in which a writer approaches this theme and subject is the tone. Tone is the attitude of a
composer toward a subject or audience. The composer’s tone establishes the mood of the piece. In
writing, tone is generally conveyed through diction (word choice) and style (text/sentence fluency and
structure).
Visual texts also rely on tone to establish mood. Composers may use spoken language, music or other
sound to establish tone.

19. Tone/Mood
Equally important in visual texts is the “look” of the piece:
Is it focused/blurry?
Long/close/wide shots?
What’s prevalent in the image?
Do we see the front or back of the character? What does that imply?
Color?
Etc.?

20. Group work
We’re going to watch a 3 minute clip from a classic movie.
You need to identify a theme and describe how the
composer establishes the mood (please reference both
aural and visual components).
You might also include information about imagery and
symbols used in the clip.
We’re going to watch the clip -- work for 10 minutes --watch it again--work for 5
minutes. See if you can add information after the second viewing.