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A literary analysis essay is a very specific type of analytical essay that focuses on a work or works of literature. An analysis breaks a work down into its component parts, and then examines how those component parts help contribute to the whole. However, an analysis might focus on a specific idea or theme, not on the entire work. For example, you could have a literary analysis that focuses on misogyny in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, or you could use the same details to help describe a larger theme. Whatever your focus, you want to ensure that your entire analysis supports your thesis statement.
In the introduction to your literary analysis essay, you will introduce your thesis statement and provide an outline of the material you will use to support your statement. The thesis statement should refer to the work that you are analyzing, as well as to the focus of your analysis. If you are analyzing multiple works, you should make that clear in your thesis statement.
The body of your literary analysis essay is where you fully develop the arguments that you want to make in support of your statement. It is easy to go off-topic in a literary analysis essay. Therefore, you want to ensure that all of the details in the body of your essay work together to support your thesis statement. If the connection between the evidence you are using and your thesis statement is not clear, you either need to engage in a more in-depth analysis or consider eliminating that evidence.
The conclusion of your literary analysis will reiterate your thesis statement and remind your reader of the evidence you used to support your statement.
To see how a well-written literary analysis examines the smaller components of a work of literature, check out one of our sample literary analysis essays.