“Dead Doe” by Brigit Peegan Kelly.

Your Literary Analysis paper must be no less than 500+ words.

Students must write a minimum of 500+ words in which they complete at an analysis. This portion of the required work must be at least
You will need to write on the assigned poem “Dead Doe” by Brigit Peegan Kelly. The most important skill that a literary analysis demonstrates is a “close reading” of a text. A close reading is where you directly tie analysis or interpretation to specific quotes from the text. You should select your topic based on its literary value rather than for historical, social, or political values. In other words, this assignment involves an in-depth analysis of the poem based on its literary merits. I would warn you against summary and biography. Rather, you should focus on things like theme, symbolism, metaphor, etc.. Try to pick one or two aspects of the poem to write about. Try to put these things under the metaphoric microscope and really analyze the details concerning your topic. Here are a few general aspects you might want to consider (terms in bold are a recommended).

Speaker Theme Audience Line Delineation
Tone Irony Diction Form/Pattern
Connotative Denotative Imagery Situation
Symbolism Metaphor Simile Allusion
Humor Personification Figures of speech Social Commentary
Persona Structure Enjambment Satire

When you analyze the poem make sure you are very clear about you analysis. For example, state what you analyzed, why it’s important, cite examples from the poem, and make sure you connect everything together. In other words, don’t assume your reader knows exactly what you mean.

Tips on documentation. For the purpose of this assignment you need not worry about a works cited page, but you should place all quotes from the poem in quotation marks. Also, if you quote something and it carries into the next line you should put a / forward slash at the end of the line and continue the quote.

I think that I shall never see,

A poem as lovely as a tree.

If you quoted both of these lines in a paragraph you would do so like this “I think that I shall never see / A poem as lovely as a tree.” If you use several lines, although I don’t recommend this, you would use the method shown above this paragraph.

You must bring some original ideas into your paper. You should also use the text as evidence. My focus in evaluating your paper will be to assess your general understanding of literature as illustrated by your reading and citation of appropriate passages from the text. Your citation should support, but not comprise, your literary analysis.

Put some thought into how you will “frame” your analysis and try to use some creativity in your approach. I will evaluate you on the following criteria:
·Rigor, logic, and originality of your readings
·Understanding of the formal literary issue(s) you examine
·Clear identification of your main idea in your introduction
·Appropriate and consistent organization
·Well substantiated analysis and synthesis with proper use of quotations and paraphrases from your texts and sources
·Creative, precise, and appropriate vocabulary and prose style
·Ability to deal with the texts in a literary situation in an ethical manner
·Level of engagement with the text as literature.
·Sophistication of style.
·You do not need a works cited page, as I do not want you to use outside sources. You should simply focus on the poem itself.

Remember that you need to focus on the poem based on its literary characteristics. You should have one main idea/concept you examine throughout the paper. You must stay focused on that topic. Considerable brainstorming and careful examination of the text(s) may suggest a thesis or theme for your paper.