Literary Analysis

LITERATURE ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

Please answer the following questions about the book you selected.  Make sure to provide appropriate examples to support your ideas.

Title

1. What connection do you make with the title of the book and its content

Author

1. Biographical information about the author and how does it pertain to the book
2. Genre 
3. Historical information about the period of publication

Setting

1. Where/when does the story take place?
2. Does the author use one setting or more?  Why?
3. Over how long a period of time is the story told?
4. Could the story have been told in a different setting (such as the old west, a different planet, 200 years in the future, a tropical island)?  How would this change the story? 

Plot

1. What is the inciting incident?
2. Did the author use foreshadowing or introduce a plot twist that surprised you?
3. Could you imagine the story happening to someone you know?  Was it realistic?  Why/why not?

Characters

1. Describe the main characters and explain whether the author uses direct or indirect characterization.
2. Are these people you would like to know?  Why or why not?
3. Are the characters realistic?  Do they resemble people in real life?  How?  Why do you think the author wrote them in this particular way?

Style

1. Describe the author’s syntax and diction.
2. Does the author use lengthy descriptions of settings and characters, or does s/he focus on action?
3. What is the tone of the book?  Did it make you feel happy, curious, sad or another emotion?  Describe.
4. Is there a lot of dialogue?  Do the characters have to talk for you to know what they are thinking?
5. Was there irony? Symbolism?

Theme

1. Does the book have a central message?  Do you think there is a universal theme or moral of the story?  What is it?
2. Why do you think the author wrote the book?  What was his/her purpose?

Memorable Quotes and their significance:

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