If a friend tells you that he was abducted by aliens last night, would you believe his story, or would you want to see some proof first? Often when we make an assertion about something in conversation, especially something that is unusual or doubtful, people want us to provide some kind of evidence. The same is true in analytical essays—your audience needs to see how you arrived at your claims about a work of literature, if they are to be persuaded.
In a literary analysis essay, proof takes the form of descriptions of events, characters, or scenes, as well as direct quotes and explanations that show how all these elements work together to develop a theme. Open the file you created at the beginning of this lesson and add some evidence that you might use in your analytical essay about Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. As you search, refer to your notes and journal entries once again.
Once you have some evidence on paper, study the examples below from the essay that analyzes The Outsiders. The information on each tab will help you understand the criteria you can use to decide if all of the elements or passages you identified will actually support your claim.
The first thing to consider is whether the passage you want to use as support is relevant, or related, to your claim statement. Read this excerpt from “Choose Wisely,” the analytical essay about The Outsiders.
When Ponyboy runs away from home, Johnny decides to go with him. And after Johnny kills the Soc, he immediately turns to Dally, expecting him to tell them where to hide and what to do. While some may see this as Johnny not making a choice, he is, in fact, making a decision—he’s choosing to follow the crowd and do what others tell him.
Question
What kind of evidence does this excerpt provide? How is it related to the essay’s claim statement?
Whether you quote a passage from the novel or summarize plot events, make sure that your quotes and summaries are accurate. Double check to make sure you have not left out any words or important details. Notice how the author of “Choose Wisely” uses a direct quote in this excerpt.
Dally is also one of the characters who changes the least throughout the novel. Ponyboy, as the narrator, presents a grim picture of Dally. His parents are dead or gone, he became bitter at an early age, and he is firmly entrenched in his beliefs that having a hardened heart is the only way to live. Ponyboy says of Dally, “It would be a miracle if Dally loved anything.”
Question
Why did the writer of the essay use a direct quote at the end of the paragraph—instead of writing Ponyboy’s description in his or her own words?
Each summary or quote that you include in your analytical essay should help you explain or justify your claim. As you read this excerpt from “Choose Wisely,” ask yourself how it supports the essay’s main point: The novel suggests that within the violent, poverty-stricken world of the greasers, being able to make wise, careful decisions is key to survival.
At the beginning of the novel, Dally is rude to Cherry Valence, shows little sympathy for anyone other than his pet, Johnny, and is portrayed as a hot-headed person. Later in the novel, he makes no effort to save the children from the fire. Instead, he tries to stop Ponyboy and Johnny from entering the inflamed church. Although an argument can be made that Dally tries to stop the rescue because he cares for his friends, this action only shows that his choices are based on selfish reasoning—he doesn’t want to lose friends because it might affect him. This selfishness also influences Dally’s decisions after Johnny dies. Rather than deal with the grief of losing a friend, he decides instead to force the police to shoot him.
Question
How does this excerpt support the writer’s claim about the novel?
