Literary Analysis: Paragraph Topic Sentence Context/Quote Set up Integrated Quote(s) {textual evidence) Analysis (commentary) Context/Quote Set up Integrated Quote(s) {te} Analysis (commentary) Concluding sentence Note: Context, Integrated Quote(s), Analysis is repeated as needed
The Prompt In a well developed paragraph response, using specific textual evidence, explain and analyze why Robert Walton reveals his Promethean ambitions to Victor Frankenstein.
Topic Sentence After pursuing his promethean quest for years, Robert Walton desperately desires a friend who will understand and appreciate his passion; he believes he has found that friend in Victor Frankenstein.
FINDING EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE PROMPT Textual evidence must be used to support your claim/argument, but you must be careful not to let the evidence make the argument for you. The evidence helps you to prove that your claim/argument is true. Evidence gives credibility to your claim/argument.
FINDING EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE PROMPT First, you must carefully select evidence which will support your response to the prompt. Review your text and notes to locate the best passages to use. Highlight, bookmark, or record the passages you like best. For this practice, I chose the passages given on your handout.
Abridging Chosen Evidence After you have selected your passages, you need to abridge them to only the most necessary portions of the quote. The portions you choose should be the best evidence to respond to the prompt and support your argument.
Passage #1 Abridged But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy; and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection. I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling. I desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me; whose eyes would reply to mine (19).
Passage #2 Abridged My affection for my guest increases every day. He excites at once my admiration and my pity to an astonishing degree. How can I see so noble a creature destroyed by misery, without feeling the most poignant grief? He is so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated, and when he speaks, although his words are culled with the choicest art, yet they flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence (28 29).
What is Plot Context? Plot context is used to locate the reader in the story to the evidence that you will use to support your topic sentence Plot Context is NOT BOOK SUMMARY. Plot Context should be brief and relevant to the topic sentence and the argument you are making. Plot Context should let your reader know what is happening in the story, and it should lead into the evidence you will be using.
Writing the Plot Context First, you need to select the evidence you will use. Then, you need to give brief background information to help locate the reader in the story. For this example, I will begin with evidence from Passage #1. As such, I need to set up the evidence with the plot context.
Example of Plot Context While on a journey of discovery to the North Pole, Walton confesses in a letter written to his sister that... This plot context helps to set up the evidence. It simply lets the reader know where we are in the story and what is happening. It gives a foundation for the evidence.
How do you integrate evidence? There are two basic techniques to use when integrating your evidence. They are: Direct Quote Integration Natural Quote Integration
Direct Quote Integration Although there is nothing wrong with using direct quote integration, when you are writing a literary analysis, you should use this type of quote integration sparingly. When you use direct quote integration, you will introduce who is speaking and then state what he or she said. While on a journey of discovery to the North Pole, Walton writes a letter to his sister stating, I have no friend, Margaret (Shelley 19).
Rules for Natural Quote Integration Because literary analysis is written in the third person and in present tense, you may need to make changes to the evidence so that it fits these criteria and works grammatically with your writing. You will use [brackets] to indicate any changes you make.
Example of Natural Quote Integration Textual Evidence: I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me; whose eyes would reply to mine. Natural Quote Integration: Walton is a promethean who desire[s] the company of a man who could sympathize with [him] (19).
Natural Quote Integration Natural quote integration is the best choice for a literary analysis because it truly integrates the evidence into your own writing. It becomes a part of your argument. When you do this correctly, if you did not have quotation marks surrounding the evidence, you should not be able to tell the difference between your own words and those from the text. While on a journey of discovery to the North Pole, Walton confesses in a letter written to his sister that his one want is to have [a] friend (Shelley 19).
Continued Integrated Evidence He is searching for someone who will participate [in his] joy, and sustain [him] in dejection (19). Above all, he desire[s] the company of a man who [will] sympathise with [him] (19).
What is Analysis (commentary)? Analysis is the most important part of your paragraph! This is where you show your thinking. This is where you analyze, discuss, and explain HOW and WHY the chosen evidence proves your topic sentence (or thesis statement) is true! Analysis should be the bulk of your paragraph.
How do you write analysis? Look at your topic sentence. Look at your evidence. Now, ask yourself how and why questions. How does x relate to y? Why does a prove b? Continue asking and answering how and why questions to form the analysis.
Forming the Analysis While on a journey of discovery to the North Pole, Walton confesses in a letter written to his sister that his one want is to have [a] friend (Shelley 19). He is searching for someone who will participate [in his] joy, and sustain [him] in dejection (19). Above all, he desire[s] the company of a man who [will] sympathise with [him] (19). Why does Walton want a friend? Walton wants a friend because he is a solitary man on a lonely journey. How does wanting a friend relate to being a promethean? Only someone like himself can truly understand what he is doing. He can not be friends with just anybody. He is an elitist, and he needs a friend who will appreciate his quest and praise him for it.
Writing the Analysis Now that we have asked and answered how and why questions about the chosen evidence, we need to take those answers and turn them into a well written analysis. DO NOT begin analysis with phrases like: This quote shows... or something similar. I know it is a quote, and I know it is showing something. Stating the obvious is just filler and is not needed! Also, DO NOT simply repeat what the quote says.
Analysis As a Promethean, Walton believes that the only friend who can ever fully understand his heart is one who shares his passions and thirst for knowledge of the secrets of the world. The journey he is on is a solitary one, and he is desperate to be understood by a friend who can see into his heart and share the journey, the joys, and the sorrows with him.
Extension / Plot Context After the crew picks up a mysterious new passenger and Walton learns more about him, he believes he has found such a friend.
Forming Analysis Why does Walton think Frankenstein will understand him? He recognizes himself in Frankenstein. What does this recognition allow him to do? It allows him to reveal his heart and soul to him. Why, as a promethean, does he feel the need to do this? As a Promethean, it is not enough to simply continue on a solitary journey of discovery; he needs to have another recognize the greatness of his quest. How does he believe Frankenstein will respond? He believes Frankenstein will understand, appreciate, affirm, and applaud Robert Walton s quest for secret knowledge.
Topic Sentence (BLACK INK) Context/Quote Set up (GREEN INK) Integrated Quote(s) {textual evidence} (RED INK) Analysis (commentary) (2+sentences) (BLUE INK) Context/Quote Set up (GREEN INK INK) Integrated Quote(s) {te} (RED INK) Analysis (commentary) (BLUE INK) Concluding sentence (BLACK INK)