Literary Analysis Essay Structure

For example, another omen within the novel is when Santiago is working with the merchant and the merchant realizes that “[t]he boy’s very presence in the shop was an omen, and, as time passed and money was pouring into the cash drawer, he had no regrets about having hired the boy (Coelho 52-53).

If it’s only dialogue, it will be written the same way (with only 2 quotation marks at the start and end of the evidence):

For instance, while Santiago is working with the merchant, the merchant questions Santiago’s idea regarding a display case and Santiago explains, “I want to get back to my sheep faster. We have to take advantage when luck is on our side, and do as much to help it as it’s doing to help us. It’s called the principle of favorability. Or beginner’s luck” (Coelho 54).

If dialogue appears within a larger quote, use single quotes to set off the dialogue.

While departing from the merchant’s Santiago says his farewell: ‘”I’m leaving today,’ said the boy. ‘I have the money I need to buy my sheep. And you have the money you need to go to Mecca’” (Coelho 61).

Use your resources for assistance!!

Introduction

  1. Literary attention-getting opener + MLA citation
  2. Explanation of opener with connection to topic/thesis
  3. Brief summary of novel, connecting to thesis (3 sentences)
  4. Thesis statement

Body

  1. Transition + Topic Sentence
  2. T + Context + DTE + MLA
  3. Significance of 2 (how does it relate to your “so what” in your thesis?)
  4. T + Context + DTE + MLA
  5. Significance of 4 (how does it relate to your “so what” in your thesis?)
  6. Transition, Concluding Sentence
  1. Transition + Topic Sentence
  2. T + Context + DTE + MLA
  3. Significance of 2 (how does it relate to your “so what” in your thesis?)
  4. T + Context + DTE + MLA
  5. Significance of 4 (how does it relate to your “so what” in your thesis?)
  6. Transition, Concluding Sentence
  1. Transition + Topic Sentence
  2. T + Context + DTE + MLA
  3. Significance of 2 (how does it relate to your “so what” in your thesis?)
  4. T + Context + DTE + MLA
  5. Significance of 4 (how does it relate to your “so what” in your thesis?)
  6. Transition, Concluding Sentence

Conclusion

  1. Restate thesis statement (not verbatim)
  2. Summarize body paragraph 1
  3. Transition, Summarize body paragraph 2
  4. Transition, Summarize body paragraph 3
  5. Transition, Concluding thought regarding topic of paper/”so what” of thesis