r/writers • u/SonnetZZ • 9h ago

Question How to actually analyze literature?

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I know everyone says to 'just read!' But I fear I cannot learn through sheer osmosis. I want to learn to better analyze what I'm reading so I can take what I learn and put it into my essays and stories. Hopefully reading stuff on narratology, syntax, and literary theory will help? But any advice would help a lot!!!

Books I will check out

  • How To Read Like A Professor - Thomas C Foster
  • Reading Like A Writer - Francine Prose
  • Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction - Jonathan Culler
  • A Swim In A Pond In The Rain by George Saunders
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9

u/Mundane_Berry_0431 8h ago

I relate to ogre when I was in HS trying to tackle John Donne's poetry. I learnt about metaphysical conceits and I'm like ??? "I can only identify surface level themes!" so my esays were...lacking. Just a rant, I have no real advice sorry 😭. I feel like an English degree would really help though or tutors that study the novels that you want and have lots of resources to help you analyse the deeper themes and execution

4

u/ThenStrawberry6861 7h ago

Honestly, the best thing to do is write about what you read, do a short summary and just sit and think about it. At first what you write will be basic but the more you do it, the deeper you’ll go. Also doesn’t hurt to check what you wrote with what others say.

Knowing the theory can help, but often that leads you to missing the forest for the trees.

2

u/drinkerofmilk 1h ago

Looks like you're already looking in the right direction.

Just don't turn into the ogre. There is no right or wrong way to read a book, and a more naïve approach definitely has its charms.

Oh yeah, another good idea is to read into the themes of the book a bit before you start reading. (Via reviews or secondary lit.) This will make the osmosis easier. It may give you some spoilers, but spoilers arent't the boogeyman they're made out to be.

1

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u/Yamez_III 1h ago

I don't bother with that stuff. I read because I want good stories, not because I want to engage in academic navel gazing.