<p>Hi, I'm self-studying English Literature and I don't really understand how to write and organize a literary analysis essay for the poems (I know, I only have a week to get this right...). </p>
<p>The prompt usually says something to the tone of "analyze the poet's ________, considering tone, figures of speech, and other poetic devices". </p>
<p>Which is a better way of organizing it, by writing a paragraph per poetic device, or writing a paragraph per stanza? Or are there other better ways to organize the essay?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help. :)</p>
<p>first, figure out what is the author’s purpose and tone and formulate a thesis sentence around it.</p>
<p>write a paragraph per rhetorical strategy that the writer uses to convey the purpose/thesis/tone. (i.e. diction, syntax, organization, figurative language, structure (meter, rhyme scheme, etc), etc etc)
don’t just refer to line numbers, but actually quote (don’t overdo the quote though).
you’re job is to show how the writer reveals his purpose/tone.
don’t just analyze anything and everything. all your analysis should tie back into the purpose/tone.</p>
<p>even if you’re run out of time, jot down a variation of your thesis statement so that you at least have a conclusion that sums your analysis up. this way, at least you won’t look incomplete or like you have bad time management skills haha.</p>
<p>i was taught that 2 or 3 solid body paragraphs are safe with 2 or 3 strong examples per paragraph. </p>
<p>i think these essays are similar to the literary analysis essay in ap english language and i employed these tactics and used 2 examples in 2 body paragraphs and scored a 5 overall. </p>
<p>this basically applies to the prose essay as well.</p>
<p>That’s really helpful advice. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>peaceofcake is correct in his/her advice.
As for the organization, I focus on one device per paragraph. Pick the most prominent ones. When it comes to quotes, my AP lit teacher says to never quote a full line of poetry. You have to refer to small parts.
Ex: Cummings’ use of alliteration, “the best gesture of my brain is less,” adds stress and emphasis to his assertion that his mind is secondary to “your eyelids flutter.”</p>