Literature Analysis Thesis Statements

The most important part of your essay is the thesis statement. Your thesis statement lays the framework for the rest of your paper.

When writing a thesis statement, consider the three P’s:

Prompt: is your thesis actually addressing the prompt you have chosen to write on? Your thesis must relate to the key concept in the prompt. For instance, if the prompt asks about power and authority, then you need to reference power and authority in your thesis.

Provable: You need to be able to prove your thesis through textual support (examples and quotes). Be sure they are worthy of being proven; for instance, it is not necessary to prove that Lady Catherine is snobby since no one would disagree with you.

Purpose: You should state why the author creates a situation or why he/she does what he/she does. What is the purpose of the author’s writing? This is called thematic purpose and should also reflect a major theme in the work. Purpose is the most important part of your thesis. This should show how the message of the novel is universal and goes beyond the author’s text.

All thesis statements must take some type of bold leap forward in making a claim about the book or author. This is how you add purpose in your thesis statement; it takes critical thinking on your part and the willingness to be bold (like Indiana Jones). I can’t tell you what the purpose of your thesis statement is! Only you can do that!

Example:

Fact: In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, many characters attempt to avenge the death of their loved ones to limiting degrees of success.

Elaborate Fact: In his play Hamlet, Shakespeare shows how both Hamlet, an overly-philosophical prince, and Laertes, a man of rash action with little thought, both implement flawed plans for avenging their fathers’ deaths.

Thesis Statement: In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare contrasts Hamlet’s philosophical obsession with existence with Laertes’ temper and rash behavior to demonstrate that regardless of its justification or execution, vengeance is truly futile.

Remember, a good thesis statement goes beyond the

text and becomes universal!

Pride and Prejudice Essay Topics

Complete a literature analysis essay on one of the following Pride and Prejudice prompts.

   1)      Pride and Prejudice: Discuss how the title of the novel ties in with the vices of one or two characters. What is Austen’s ultimate message about these characteristics?

   2)     Satire and Social Status: Social class is an important marker of the characters’ conditions and the quality of their relationships in Pride and Prejudice. Austen seems to reserve her satire and wit for her critical treatment of wealthier characters. Choose one or more of these characters and compare how Austen treats the characters from other social statuses. Explain whether the outcomes of the novel support an overall statement with respect to Austen’s opinion about the wealthy.

   3)     Wedding Bells: Examine the various female characters and the marriages they become a part of (Charlotte, Elizabeth, Jane, or Lydia). Analyze how these characters approach their role in society and their expectation to wed. (For example, you can discuss the ways in which they challenge, or don’t challenge, the strict social roles that have been assigned to them as women expected to wed). What are Austen’s motives in presenting these female characters in these particular ways? (For example, through these characters, what is Austen trying to say about marriage?)

   4)     Best Friends Forever: In a literary work, more minor characters will often possesses traits that emphasize the distinctive characteristics and qualities of a main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. In Pride and Prejudice, Bingley serves as a foil to Darcy and Jane serves a foil to Elizabeth (especially when it comes to the two main characters’ of pride and their prejudice against others). Pick one of these pairs and  write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between the minor character and the major character brings to light a message of the novel (such as the importance of overcoming one’s own prejudice or pride, or becoming more independent in 19^th century British society). For what purpose is Austen using this particular pair/ foil?

   5)     So Typical: Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique in literary characterizations, many authors have employed the stereotyped character successfully. In a well-written essay, show how the conventional or stereotyped character or characters in Pride and Prejudice (ex: Mrs. Bennet or Mr. Collins) function to achieve the author’s purpose.

   6)     Man vs. Society: Choose a character from Pride and Prejudice and write an essay in which you a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists, and b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. Do not merely summarize the plot and make sure to incorporate thematic purpose in the essay.

   7)     Awkward Times: Compare two or three of the proposal scenes that Elizabeth experiences (for example, the successful one with Darcy and the unsuccessful one with Darcy). You can choose to focus on Elizabeth and Darcy’s personalities and demeanors in the first proposal and how they have transformed by the last one. Decide on what purpose you want to incorporate into the essay (For example, what message might Austen be sending about human relations, reciprocity of love, or marital expectations?)

   8)    Free-Choice Prompt: If you think of a prompt for the novel that isn’t listed here, tell me about it and I might approve it!

Requirements:

·         At least 3 complete pages.

·         MLA Format and Citations.

·         Use formal voice (no “I,” “me,” or “us;” do not refer to the reader either).

·         Final Draft Due Friday 12/18 at 3:00pm to Turnitin.com 

Reading Quiz Friday 12/4

Just a reminder that there will be a reading quiz tomorrow on the events leading up to Volume III (Chapter 43). Be caught up with all the adventures of the Bennet sisters; such as Jane and Elizabeth and...um... who are the other ones again?