Handbook for Literary Analysis

Literary analysis is literary criticism. They are the same.

What is literary criticism? Literary criticism is talking and writing

about literature. Any literature, at any age. In that sense, literary

analysis is a critical discussion of literature. To be “critical” is not

necessarily to be “negative.” It is to be intentional in one’s evaluation

of literature. Indeed, “evaluation” is the highest form of

thoughtful analysis.

When children read Margaret’s Wise Brown’s Runaway Bunny

and ask, “Do I like this book?” and “Why?” they are, in effect, analyzing

the literary piece. They are doing literary criticism. As they

get more adept, students ask, “Who are the central characters? What

conflict do they face? Where is the climax? Is there a theme?” But

further sophistication and advanced metacognition in no way diminishes

the intentional, informed opinions of the most unsophisticated,

readers.

Literary critics, no matter what their age, use a special “language”

to talk about literature. This book is a reference book about

that language.

For example, in The Runaway Bunny the protagonist (the main

character), a little runaway bunny, is pursued by his loving mother,

a mother bunny, an important foil (a character who develops the

main character). The protagonist experiences several layers of internal

conflict as he tries to escape his mother. Along the way, the author,

Margaret Wise Brown, uses several setting changes to develop

her characters. And so forth. Now readers have a way to discuss this

literary work.

Fundamentally, literary criticism, then, will help readers reclaim

the metaphor in their psyche, language, and writing. This will presage

laudable outcomes in the kingdom of God. My goodness, it will

presage laudable outcomes in the kingdom of man!

Therefore, amid so many competing media options, readers

must learn to analyze, to evaluate, to appreciate great literature. The

propagation of the gospel will not be enhanced by how quickly we

can appreciate and text messages to one another; however, it will be

enhanced by how well we grasp the critical nuances of Bible stories.

We cannot suppose that our unsaved world will grasp concepts like

“love” and “faith” unless we have words, rhetoric, to tell them what

these things are. If we learn how to do literary analysis well, we will

be better able to create and to share vital truths to future generations.

The Handbook for Literary Analysis: How to Evaluate Prose Fiction,

Drama, and Poetry reclaims the metaphor, reclaims rhetoric, reclaims

literary analysis. It has a high view of the reader, the critic, and the

student. All three are invited to think critically, to discuss thoroughly,

the great literary works of all civilizations. Systematically, this

Handbook defines, explains, and illustrates a wide range of significant

literary terms in fiction, drama, and poetry. Along the way,

readers explore copious, inspired examples, including biblical examples.

Finally, readers read real literary analytical essays by American

high school students. Caution: these are real, slightly edited

versions of my students’ essays. They are not perfectly written essays.

But they perfect vehicles for learn how to write literary analysis,

which, after all, is the laudable purpose of this book. Enjoy!