Writing Papers on Literature
Refer to the section on Expository (Critical) Writing for more information.
When writing on literature, keep in mind the following points.
1. State your thesis clearly in the opening paragraph of a short work (which most likely will be the only type of work you do in high school).
2. Prove your thesis in the body paragraphs using direct quotes or paraphrased specific detail to defend your premise.
3. Ask the question "so what does this detail have to do with my thesis?" after each piece of detail (or quote) AND answer the question. This explanation is the PROOF of your thesis. It's what makes you a critic. Be clear in your explanations.
Here's an example using Stephen Crane's Red Badge of Courage. The thesis of the paper states that Henry Fleming changes in the novel based on his encounters with death.
Let's look at his first encounter.
Henry's first encounter with death came as the regiment marched toward their first battle. The body of a confederate soldier lay dead in the road, and, as the men slowly passed by, Henry " desired to walk around and around the body and stare; the impulse of the living to try to read in dead eyes the answer to the Question" (40).
Notice how the writer incorporates the quote (in bold for example only -- don't do that in your paper) into the narrative. Also, notice how the quote is punctuated. Be careful to quote accurately. Since the selection contained no quotation marks in the book (that is it wasn't dialogue), use quotation marks around the quote. The closed quote is followed by the page number in parentheses, then a period. Notice the page number stands alone -- in MLA format abbreviations for page are not needed.
Now we need to ask "so what does this quote have to do with Henry's change?" Here's the answer:
There seemed no glory in the death of this wretched soldier. If there were no glory in death, why fight? This troubled Henry for he came to war for glory, and he had not yet dealt with his own question of running. In his second taste of battle, Henry answers this question; he runs.
So what? When Henry came to the war, he thought it glorious. After his first encounter, he questions that belief. Sounds like the beginnings of a change in Henry. Look at the last sentence in the paragraph "In his second taste of battle, Henry answers this question; he runs." This sentence provides transition to the next paragraph. Notice how it ties the idea of Henry's "question," his point of change, with the next topic of the paper -- the second battle. That's what good transition should do: go forward while looking back.
Let's look at another form of quoting material. If you use quoted text of more than four lines (in your paper, not the book), use a "block quote," which is set ten spaces from the left margin (1 inch).
Fleeing the battlefield, Henry comes upon the decaying body of a Union soldier against a tree. This startling encounter made Henry think of the cowardice of his flight.
The corpse was dressed in a uniform that once had been blue, but was now faded to a melancholy shade of green. The eyes, staring at the youth, had changed to the dull hue to be seen on the side of a dead fish. The mouth was open. Its red had changed to an appalling yellow. (80)
Again, the general statement introduces the quoted material. This time, however, the quote isn't incorporated into the narrative. That's fine. Just make sure you introduce the quote appropriately. Don't merely dump a giant quote in the middle of a paragraph. That won't help your cause. Notice the block quote DOES NOT use quotation marks. By placing the text in the block format, you're telling the reader the text is quoted. Quotations marks would be redundant. If there is any dialogue in such a quote, simply use the quotation marks as they were in the original text. Also notice that the page number FOLLOWS the period. This is just a format rule; there is no logic behind it.
Follow these examples to quote dialogue.
The text from the original work is in italics.
Harlan screamed, "I don't care what you say!" and then he stormed out.
Here's how to quote this properly in a paper.
Harlan continued his rebellion when he said, " ' I don't care what you say'" (78) to his parents.
In this example, the writer incorporated the spoken word into his text. To let the reader know the quoted material was spoken, he used single quotation marks(') inside the double quotation marks(").
Often he verbally attacked his parents: "Harlan screamed, 'I don't care what you say!' and then he stormed out" (78).
Notice here that the writer has quoted the entire passage and made the appropriate distinctions in the spoken and unspoken words by using single or double quotation marks.
Sounds difficult, but here's a simple rule to follow. Whatever passage you wish to use, put double quotation marks around the whole thing. Then, within that passage, replace the author's quotation marks with single quotation marks, and you're done!Here's an example (just assume the text uses three lines in your paper -- no block quote needed):
After supper the conversations around the Smith house turn to business. Not great business affairs, but the everyday ones that pepper their tiny lives. Harlan remarked last week, "I can't believe the price of cabbage is higher than the price of gasoline. How is that possible?" Unfortunately, there was no one around to answer him.
OK, suppose you want to use the whole passage. Put double quotes around everything first.
"After supper the conversations around the Smith house turn to business. Not great business affairs, but the everyday ones that pepper their tiny lives. Harlan remarked last week, "I can't believe the price of cabbage is higher than the price of gasoline. How is that possible?" Unfortunately, there was no one around to answer him."
Then, replace the author's quotation marks with single marks, add a page number, and you're done.
"After supper the conversations around the Smith house turn to business. Not great business affairs, but the everyday ones that pepper their tiny lives. Harlan remarked last week, 'I can't believe the price of cabbage is higher than the price of gasoline. How is that possible?'Unfortunately, there was no one around to answer him"(50).
Other questions, see Expository (Critical) Writing or
MLA for citation questions.