Which elements of of a work of literature are significant?

[FoghornBellows]

I still do not know how to analyze literature. I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to help me understand how to do so. Which elements of the literature should I look for? Is the analysis unique to each novel? If so, what are the universal elements of a work of literature that I should attempt to analyze, and how do I do so? Thanks a bunch!
- Matt

[PeterL]

If you read and comprehend literature, then you analyze literature. Different works of fiction have different things, events, characters, etc. in them, and it is the role of the reader to determine what significance those thing have.

[The Comedian]

Matt -- what are you analyzing the literature for? Specifically, are you looking for cultural information? insight into the author? personal connection to the novel? allusions to other texts? structural elements in the writing itself? philosophical ideas? sexual innuendo? something else?

I think if you can refine your question a bit, we could help a little more. And you could probably help yourself a little more too.

[Modest Proposal]

I had a professor once who broke it down very simply. He said, really, a great work should preform on a superficial plot/character level, on a social/cultural level, a psychological level and a philosophical level. I personally would add aesthetic level, but I think the point is that you can dig past the prose and the actual happenings to find social or political relevence--pitfalls of social classes, illusory victorys in government--, psychological revelation--really this is just insight into human motivation--, and philosophic speculation--ultimately this is to me the big one, what does a person do with their life, how should they live, why are we here--.

To me the issue is trying to see what is being revealed, not trying to second guess the author, but just finding what is going on subterrainianly(word?). What does it mean that Ahab chases Moby Dick? What psychologically could have driven man to monomania or at least opened a space for monomania to fester? How do we view Starbuck's resistance? Is it valient? Enough?

[kiki1982]

I agree with Modest Proposal.

Something that is helpful is allusions: whenever there is a tilte of another work, a verse/sentence quoted (usually in quotation marks of course) look it up. It usually is related to the theme of the two works. Ironic allusions are also possible, but then you'll see it directly.

Implicit allusions also exist but they require a more thorough knowledge than mere consulting criticism...

[FoghornBellows]

Thank you, ModestProposal. That will be of great help.

[Sarai]

I usually follow these guidelines but they are perhaps in a most advances level:

- Analyze the characters - individually try to draw a psychologically portrait of characters to help understanding better themes/ symbols

- Space/ events - events during a book deserve special attentions. You should ask yourself sometimes why. When I must write final essays I always enjoy analyzing why the plot or the character didn't do this and that and what would be the consequences.

- Themes (usually they are easy to find - it can be love/ human kindness/ human condition/ domestic violence for instance)

- Symbols (some are hard to find and sometimes I need a dictionary of symbols, also sometimes you can see it from the context - the best symbols in literatura are dreams, when characters dream their fears always become real)

I always try to understand some of these guidelines above while I am reading even if it's not for faculty

[Paulclem]

Start simple. It's a good idea to visualise a text like a film. Get the big picture - where the story goes - so a simple summary will give you the shape of the story. Then you can focus in on perhaps the main characters - you will see their progress from the summary, and think about their role and significance. The themes, as mentioned above may become apparent from a summary too. Focus in on what interests or jumps out at you. If the text is difficult, read arond with some notes to give you some ideas. Like everything, it just takes a bit of practice. It'll come.

[blazeofglory]

To me the part of characters is very significant and characters in the novel hook me

[shortstoryfan]

Obviously, everyone has their own methodology that focuses on different aspects in the text. For me, what The Comedian has said about analysis helps you to view analysis in a broad scope--which means it allows you to have more analytical tools. There are so many different schools of criticism that have different focuses. Why limit yourself to one? It is helpful in the beginning to have a narrow framework to which you dedicate yourself, but you must realize that the more viewpoints from which you view a work, the more chance you have of making a convincing argument about the works. You can certainly analyze literature without ever delving into [I]how[I] and focusing only on what is being said. In fact, from my very limited experience of literature courses, this seems to be the main emphasis.

Honestly, I believe that certain people have a talent for analysis. It's not that it can't be learned, but I think some people are naturally disposed to analysis. The same for writing. I have been told several times (by several people) that I would catch on to analysis, but I doubt this will be the case. Haha. I sound so bleak.

[blazeofglory]

In my recent reading the characters in Dostoevsky's novel the Brothers Karamazov I like the character of Ivan and I agree with his ideas and opinions on Christianity and the world.

[Pryderi Agni]

To get some direction to your quest, I suggest you read R.A. Scott-James' The Making of Literature. It's a fantastic book that'll give you some insights into literary analysis and criticism.

[mal4mac]

There are many different ways to analyse literature. Are you feeling stumped about where to start? If you are taking a course, then it's easy! Analyse the book in the way the course text demands. When you have your 'first class degree' you then have the big questions to answer--which analyst(s) do I *really* admire? Should I be analysing or reading?

I found "Literary Theory: The Basics by Hans Bertens Routledge. London. 2001" interesting, but I left it feeling I didn't want to get into, or read more about, heavyweight structural analysis, and other "French techniques".

Harold Bloom ("The Western Canon") is my favourite analyst (or anti-analyst?)--he calls himself a critic, and never uses the term analyst--maybe it's too French for him He reads literature to encounter aesthetic value (beauty and pleasure.) I find reading him to be an aesthetic encounter -- a great pleasure (if sometimes a "difficult" pleasure, close to pain...) So the touchstone for reading, and doing, analysis is the same as for reading and doing anything -- does it give you pleasure? If not, why bother.

Analysing, say, Bleak House by Dickens to bring out its "universal mythical elements" (the sort of things structuralists do) would be an exercise in tedium. In the time taken to do that you could read several great books and get a great deal more pleasure! So my recommendation - don't analyse, just read!

If you are a paid professional structuralist, or student, then you may have to do heavyweight structuralist analysis, just as some people have to work in a call centre. If so, suck it up, and just read in the evenings as an act of rebellion

You may get "attitudinal" pleasure from thinking "look at me I'm a really clever bod. to be doing this structuralist analysis". Then it's a case of comparing pleaures-- I get this kind of "look at me, aren't I clever" feeling from reading Shakespeare & an actual pleasure from the actual reading (and he shows me how to be ironic about self-stuffed atttudinal pleasure...) So that's the touchstone--whatever you read, or do, should provide maximal all round pleasure.

If you don't get pleasure from reading find something else that gives you pleasure (sailing, sex, whatever...)

[Scheherazade]

I consider myself a rather casual reader who lacks the intellectual capacity or detailed literary learning of most members in the Forum but I find that asking "why" is one of the best ways to analyse books I read. I try to find out why anything that has been emphasised in a book the way they are or if anything is particularly overlooked, why it could be so. Eg:

Why does an author choose a particular character or why does s/he prefer writing style over others?
Why do the characters live in that particular environment?
Why do they say/do the things they do?
Why don't they say/do other things?