Analyze epic poem Beowulf by following instructions
The essay must exhibit the following rhetorical strategies:
1) Purpose: Establishing a clear, direct, focused thesis that is reflective of the authorial
voice. The purpose should be kept clear throughout the essay.
2) Voice: Setting an appropriate presence for the essay. Are you in control of your
discussion? Self-assess your voice for the essay. Ask yourself “Why do I think the way I
do about this topic”? and “How might my perspective differ from that of others?”
3) Development: Analyze the rhetorical situation and use such information to clearly
explore and explain your reasoning. You should provide sufficient and credible evidence
for your essay to be effective.
4) Credibility & Rhetorical appeal: What is your ethos, or credibility, in writing this essay?
What sort of rhetorical appeal are you making? How are you making this appeal?
Always write in the present tense-never in the past tense. It does not matter if the text is
from the 16th or 21st century-always use present tense. Ex. Incorrect: “In Swift’s A
Modest Proposal, the poor were starving” Correct: “In Swift’s A Modest Proposal, the
poor are starving.”
2) Avoid using 1st or 2nd person. While there are small exceptions for 1st person, clear these
with your instructor first. Always use 3rd person when writing a literary analysis.
3) Avoid summarizing the plot. While you will need to use elements from the plot when
writing, assume your reader is familiar with the text(s) you are using. You should use
information from the text to support your point but avoid summarizing the plot as a
whole.
4) Use and draw upon literary terms throughout your writing. These may include terms such
as: character, theme, setting, narrative, protagonist, point of view, symbols, imagery, etc.
Please ask your instructor for a more detailed list if you are unfamiliar with such
terminology.
5) Remember analysis is not: a summary (retelling the plot), evaluation (This book was
good because….), opinion (I find/think/etc…), speculation about textual events that
cannot be supported through the text (He is greedy because his father was a miser,
generalizations (The text is too suggestive for children), moral judgment (The protagonist
should have cried more due to..) or judgment of appropriateness (This work indicates
authority figures are uncaring, therefore it should not be read by children), authorial
intention (The author meant…)
6) Avoid addressing what children “will learn” from a text or if a text is “appropriate” for
children. This is not our primary concern in regards to this essay. Rather, we are
investigating children’s literature as literature, as we are as a class, to more clearly
understand the primary and ongoing conversations in the field and children’s literature as
a discipline.
7) Follow MLA documentation guidelines.
Begin your essay by outlining the primary elements of the work: plot, setting, themes, characters,
etc. Start formulating questions about the text itself. Some of these questions may explore why a
character chose to make a certain decision, what may be the overall message of the story, or what
is the purpose of a particular setting. Once you have compiled a list of questions, you may begin
to narrow down a topic that is of particular interest to you.
After you have narrowed down your question, you should develop this into a thesis statement.
(This will be the answer to your question.) Avoid worrying about this being “correct.” The
primary concern must be if you can support your thesis through the text. If you cannot do so,
either rework or abandon your line of query. You must support your claims with direct evidence
through the text.
Primary support will come from the text itself. You will need to consult outside (secondary)
sources in conjunction with the text(s) you are using.
All writing will be evaluated according to the following five measures: understanding of the concept,
application through examples, overall sense and integration of course materials, choice of
assignment, quality of writing.