Literary analysis with research on Euripides play Medea.

Essay # 1: Literary Analysis with Research — LIT 2110

There are several established approaches in examining and writing about literary texts to interpret their

meanings and messages, analyze their techniques and methods, or understand their social and historical

contexts:

• Analysis—breaking down a work to examine its parts or elements as they contribute to its

meaning (for example, theme, symbolism, conflict, characterization, etc.). How does an element

work in isolation? In relation to other elements?

• Explication—detailed analysis, a line by line interpretation of what a short work means and how

it conveys meaning. Poetry presents a good opportunity for examination of sounds, words,

images, and structure and how these all work together to deliver meaning.

• Contextual—considers the work within the framework of historical/cultural factors, and discusses

the influence the context has on the work or elements within the work. It is especially necessary

with this approach to do additional research.

• Comparative—shows not only similarities/differences within works, but reveals some

significance about what is being compared (often thematic, such as two Shakespearean Sonnets

within one unit).

Your task:

Choose any major text (or shorter comparative texts) assigned in the syllabus this semester (up to and

including Hamlet). Using one of the above approaches, write a Researched Essay that employs an

arguable thesis and a clear interpretation. Support your thesis with specific details, direct quotes,

and/or paraphrases from the text as evidence (“Quote Sandwich”!) You MUST use the text as your

primary source. Still, literary analysis often relies on literary criticism to inform and support ideas, so

there is a required research component:

 Secondary Source requirement: Minimum of 3 secondary sources (at least 1 must be Library

Database source)

 Please evaluate sources (no schmoop, e-notes, spark notes, Wikipedia, etc.) Your Audience: me

or others like me Grading Criteria:

 Thoughtfully and thoroughly explore your chosen text in a manner that demonstrates critical

reading and thinking and displays sufficiently complex ideas

 Provide specific, detailed, convincing support through the use of meaningful textual evidence

(direct quotes and paraphrases) with a clear explanation of how it supports the thesis (Quote

Sandwich!)

 Synthesize ideas and information through the effective integration of well-chosen research

(secondary sources)

 Adhere to the conventions of the genre—organization / coherence / clear, concise, and graceful

style and language / edited for mechanics, grammar, and formatting

Minimum length: 4 pages (excluding Works Cited page—doesn’t count toward length) / Format: MLA