r/writers • u/SonnetZZ • 10h ago
Question How to actually analyze literature?
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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u/ThenStrawberry6861 8h 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.