National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Personal or Social Tragedy? Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome
This instructional activity will challenge learners to weigh the textual evidence for and against the claim that Ethan's woes lay in staying in Starkfield-and not in the details of his personal relationships. In the process, students...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: "How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay" [Pdf]
This is a nine-page PDF entitled "How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay" which explains in detail the parts of a literary analysis and how to write them.
Department of Defense
Do Dea: English 4; Utopia
A learning module asking students to analyze different types of texts, connect literature to events and experiences, use various writing skills, deconstruct media, practice grammar and vocabulary skills, and analyze point of view,...
Other
Carson Newman College: Close Reading of a Literary Passage [Pdf]
Provides a number of questions that students can ask themselves about a literary passage when doing a "Close Reading" and following this with an organized piece of writing. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.5
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Collaborative Booktalk: Sharing and Writing Development
Are dark themes in young adult novels harmful or helpful to teens? Students will explore this question and will create an argumentative writing piece based on textual evidence. Videos of the lesson in action, examples of student work,...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Writer's Model: Literary Analysis Example 2
This seven-page essay provides an example of a literary analysis essay (using "Things Fall Apart"). Clicking on the "Writer's Guide" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page enables the user to get tips, directions, and...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Writer's Model: Literary Analysis Example 3
This seven-page essay provides an example of a literary analysis essay. Clicking on the "Writer's Guide" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page enables the user to get tips, directions, and explanations on the essay.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Faulkner's as I Lay Dying: Form of a Funeral
William Faulkner's self-proclaimed masterpiece, As I Lay Dying, originally published in 1930, is a fascinating exploration of the many voices found in a Southern family and community. Students will explore the use of multiple voices in...
Library of Congress
Loc: 1900 America: Primary Sources and Epic Poetry
To better understand the United States at the end of the nineteenth century, this interdisciplinary lesson plan integrates analyzing historical primary resources with literary analysis. Students work in groups and express themselves...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement:charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wall Paper" Writing Women
A close reading of "The Yellow Wall-paper" employing the analysis of such literary concepts as setting, narrative style, symbol, and characterization. Students will write an essay discussing what the story suggests about middle-class...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass and American Non Fiction
This lesson plan serves as an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing and focuses primarily on teaching some basic approaches to recognizing rhetorical strategies adopted for persuasive effect in essays and non-fiction. The...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Jack London's the Call of the Wild: "Nature Faker"?
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Jack London's The Call of the Wild: "Nature Faker"?." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
University of Oregon
University of Oregon: Renascence Editions: Milton and the Obedient Moment [Pdf]
A very extensive analysis from the University of Oregon of John Milton's three most popular works: "Paradise Lost," "Paradise Regained," and "Samson Agonistes." Has religious and philosophical perspectives.
Luminarium
Luminarium: Passion vs. Rationalism in "Paradise Lost"
Critical essay examining Milton's views on emotion and intellect. Features short excerpts and comparisons to Pope and Voltaire.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mining Literature for Deeper Meanings
Writing a great English paper can be tough because literature doesn't always reveal its deeper meanings immediately. Amy E. Harter offers a few tips on how to read and write more critically and thoughtfully. [4:12]
Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College: How to Analyze Literature
In addition to briefly explaining the reason for analyzing a work of literature, this site provides the definition of key terms used in literary analysis. W.11-12.9a Amer Lit 18th,19th, 20th cen/Analy
Other
Dramatis Personae: The Cast of "Paradise Lost"
The New Arts Library offers a short descriptions of each of the characters in "Paradise Lost." Includes major and minor characters. Great guide to help keep the characters fresh in your mind.
Other
New Arts Library: Paradise Lost Outline
The New Arts Library offers a very extensive outline featuring all major incidents in the play. Includes references to the poem.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Using Online Technology to Explore Characterization and Style
Students use social networking sites to trace the development of characters by assuming the persona of a character on the class Ning and sending a set number of tweets, or status updates.
Other
Suny: Conventions of Writing Papers About Literature
A professor's excellent explanation of how to write a professional sounding essay. Covers all aspects of an essay, and detailed examples give information on exactly how to write the essay.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Enchanting Readers With Revisionist Fairy Tales
Contains plans for four lessons that ask students to read, compare, and contrast different versions of fairy tales in order to explore age-appropriateness and formats of texts. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Combining Persuasion and Literary Analysis
Contains plans for eight lessons that ask students to put characters from a work of literature on trial. This instructional activity uses Shakespeare's "The Tempest" as an example, but this concept can be applied to other works as well....
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Creative Outlining?from Freewriting to Formalizing
Contains plans for five 50-minute lessons that ask students to write literary analysis essays about Edgar Allen Poe's ?The Fall of the House of Usher.? In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to...
Other
Clemson University: Literary Essay
Literary essay example by a student discussing two works by Annie Dillard and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. A good example of a strong literary essay.