Fiction Analysis Essay
What is fiction analysis?
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Probably you jitter when you hear the word “analysis”. Don’t be afraid. The word is common among the college students especially when learning fiction or literature in general. Just stay focused, I’m here to guide you on how to go about fiction analysis. However, before delving into fiction analysis, it is better to understand the word “fiction”. Fiction is a form of literature that put together the different imaginary events that are not factual. Such work can be a book, play or a film. Therefore, fiction analysis is a process of identifying concepts within the fiction item and break down their meanings in a subjective way for easier interpretation. Besides, fiction analysis entails appreciation of the type of literature and the literary techniques within the work. Thus, fiction analysis focuses on such fiction elements as theme, metaphor, similes, imagery, settings, plot, conflict, and characters among others.
What to consider before writing a fiction analysis
Before analyzing a fiction, ensure that you understand the following aspects;
Life after the Fiction Reports: Students should note that fiction analysis is not about the summary. Probably you are good at providing brief information about fiction or a book. However, in fiction analysis, it is required that you make a particular claim and thesis about the fiction and take time providing evidence supporting the central idea.
Gather information: Students should choose the relevant fiction that they need to analyze. Furthermore, students should have their initial idea and the information they have to say concerning the fiction as well as the ways they plan to support their position regarding the fiction. Besides, take notes by reviewing the content of the fiction, thoughts as well as answering series of questions about the topic.
Consider the plot of the fiction: identify the main event in the fiction whether they are episodic, polyphonic.
Consider the setting: ensure that you state when the fiction happens and the effects of setting to the characters.
Identify the point of view of the narrator: specify whether it is subjective or objective, whether the narrator uses first-person narration or an observer.
Note the characters in the fiction: write a list of the characters especially the protagonist and antagonist. Besides, identify their interests and beliefs.
Establish the theme in the fiction: ensure that you mention the main idea concerning human experience, the world, and human values. Besides mention the idea that the author tries to put across.
Delve into the major words: identify the imagery in such words and mention areas where the author evokes senses, taste, smell, hearing, touch, and sight among others.
Note symbolism in the fiction: identify the symbolism in the fiction and note the subjective concepts such as wisdom, greed or motherhood.
Identify the tone and style: mention whether the style is formal or informal as well as the tone that the narrator uses.
Note the figurative language: identify all the personification aspects, similes, imageries and metaphors within the fiction.
How to start a fiction analysis
Tips on how to start
Construct a momentum: ensure that your fiction analysis has a distinctive voice or a point of view and a brief plot regarding the fiction.
Use a hook: As a writer, who engages in fiction analysis, use the smallest hook to engage the reader. However, do not use a too long hook that disappoints the reader for a start.
Do not start ahead of the reader: ensure that you don’t confuse the reader. Instead, make a good sense immediately the reader subjectively gets a new idea for the reader to reward your analysis from the beginning.
Give personal reaction from the beginning: ensure that you accurately identify ideas and elements that the author uses in your reaction.
Use a simple and short thesis: the thesis statement should give more information on the main idea basically on the outcome or the overall idea that the author conveyed in the complete fiction.
How to write an outline
The outline of a fiction analysis should have the following structure.
Introduction: give a brief personal reaction, a hook, author, title, main character, summary, and thesis. Besides, inform the reader of your intention for fiction analysis.
Thesis Statement: it should be one sentence that gives a summary of the particular interpretation of the fiction. For example, Desiree’s Baby by Kate Chopin shows that good relationship requires moderate dependence that causes no harm.
Topic Sentence: provides a summary of the main idea regarding the fiction to support the interpretation. For example, even though Desiree’s dependence helps her form a healthy relationship with the Valmondes who is her adopted family, she becomes vulnerable to evils such as mistreatment and rejections.
Support
- Provide evidence from the fiction that is relevant
- Explain proof about the topic sentence
Support
- Give evidence from the fiction
- Explain proof about the topic sentence
Support
- Give evidence from the fiction that is relevant
- Explain the evidence about the topic sentence
Topic Sentence: Give a summary of the main point regarding the fiction that supports your interpretation.
Support
- Provide evidence from the fiction
- Explain the evidence about the topic sentence
Support
- Give evidence from the fiction
- Explain the evidence about the topic sentence
Support
- Provide detailed evidence from the fiction
- Explain your evidence about the topic sentence
How to write a thesis
The Thesis Statement of a literary analysis essay – tells your reader what to expect. The statement should be restricted, a precisely worded declarative sentence that states the purpose of your essay. When given the assignment to analyze a work of fiction, poetry, or drama, you must first determine the requirements of the assignment. A good thesis is specific, limited in scope and offers a perspective or interpretation on a subject.
How to write introduction
The introduction appears at the beginning of the fiction analysis. In a fiction analysis, the introduction should be one paragraph with a thesis statement at the end or after the hook. Therefore, ensure that you include about at least five important sentences with meaning and a summary of the fiction. Lastly, ensure that the introduction has a signpost for the rest of the analysis.
How to write body paragraphs
Setting: ensure that you indicate the time, place, history and social context of the fiction.
Plot: ensure that you elaborate on the main event in the fiction besides providing analysis on the flashbacks, conflict and the turning point of the fiction.
Characters: provide clarity on the protagonist, villain, and other characters. Mention the characters’ beliefs, motives, interests and values and the conflict they experience.
Point of view: give clarity from the narrator such as the first-person perspective or as an observer. Besides, mention the impacts of the point of view to the fiction and whether it is used to conceal or reveal information.
Imagery: mention the type of imagery in the fiction and how they make the fiction believable. Also, mention some of the areas where there are imageries and the reason. Lastly, note their effects on the mood.
Symbolism: mention the symbols in the fiction and whether the characters act as symbols. Also, give the reason for the use of such symbols and the way they change the fiction.
Style and tone: mention the choice of language and the type of sentences in the fiction. Besides, elaborate on the attitude of the writer to the readers and the subject. Give more information on diction and the impact of tone on the fiction.
Figurative language: mention metaphors, similes, and personification in the fiction and the reason for their usage.
Tips on body writing
- Identify each literary element in the fiction
- Provide evidence from the fiction regarding the literary elements
- Explain the various reasons for using such literary elements either personal or writer’s point of view.
- Elaborate the impacts of such literary elements in the fiction and their benefits on enriching the fiction.
- Use sentence starters or transitions when elaborating the reasons in the analysis. For example; this is evidenced by…, the author uses the element to illustrate, and we identify the element in paragraphs (2, 3 and 5) where the narrator.
How to finish a fiction analysis essay
- Give a summary of the fiction analysis
- Rephrase the thesis statement
- Give the importance of the analysis
- Use a strong statement when concluding.
Tips on revision
When revising fiction analysis essay, ensure that:
- You use the correct spell-check, space check and grammar check for the first draft.
- Keep a simple format and follow the instructions of the tutor.
- Read the draft aloud twice and identify areas where mistakes exist.
- Give the essay to a friend or family member to read it and correct simple mistakes.
- Ensure that you use the correct punctuation before turning in the work.
Fiction Analysis of The Centaur by John Updike
The Centaur by John Updike is a fiction novel regarding a protagonist; George Caldwell who faces different problems about his wealth and health. He is short in the leg with an arrow. He then proceeds to Hummel’s garage for assistance due to the prolonged pain as they struggle to pull the arrow out. The author through the struggles that George undergoes reveals the steadfast faith and hope in life when a person faces problems. George gives up his dream of becoming a professional footballer and struggles through social issues coupled with depression and suicidal thoughts with his son Peter who helps him.
Setting and point of view
The drama takes place in Olinger and Anton in Pennsylvania immediately after the World War II. The author centers on George who is a teacher with depression and thoughts of committing suicide. The fiction entails a social drama within a family overwhelmed with both personal and social issues with a mythological context that reveals the intentions of each character.
The narrator is omniscient with a third person voice perspective in most cases. However, there are some episodes especially in different chapters where the first-person point of view features primarily from the second character who is Peter. We tend to realize that the protagonist is easy and has no confidence with a depressive tone amidst troubling mood Zimmerman who is the villain. However, the major conflict arises within George Caldwell who gives up and finds difficulty in living a normal life.
Imagery and Symbolism
Updike uses imagery to show the characters and their behaviors especially George Caldwell who gets public humiliation and excitement of students as well as Zimmerman besides revealing a feeling of pity in George Caldwell. For example, George Caldwell has pain physically as well as emotionally and sees it as a living being. Such pain depicts physical suffering which is enhanced by the humiliation of the children.
Secondly, Zimmerman has a lustful behavior that is represented through his arousal. He is more interested in female students, unlike George who spends time in teaching. Zeus loves the smutty faces of the students. However, such behavior reveals the uneasiness in George Caldwell whenever he is in school. On a separate note, George becomes a laughing stock when he does not care about his health and welfare. Peter is dismayed by his behavior especially his attires. For example, the narrator can describe his coat that is tattered, castoff with buttons that are mismatching. Such imagery makes the reader feel pity towards George.
Separately, the author uses Olympus as an allegory in the fiction. The introduction of Olinger high school is an allegory to Olympus Mountain which is a home to the Greek gods. Besides, there is an abyss which is a symbol of despair in George that reaches its peak and them he masters the courage to walk when he did not expect. For he says, that is it a significant step for the entire walk in life he was not prepared to do.
In conclusion, Updike uses the literary elements in the fiction novel to illustrate the extent of poor life and humiliation that George Caldwell passes. The author can evoke readers to empathize with the protagonist through his life as he struggles to make both ends meet.
