Literary analyses are essays in which we examine literary texts closely to interpret and understand their meanings and appreciate the writer’s techniques. For this formal essay, you’ll write a two-page literary analysis on poetic devices. Remember, poetic devices are tools writers use to shape meaning in their poems. To get a good sense of how poetic devices create deep layers of meaning in poetry, write about ONE poetic device in TWO poems. In your essay, consider the ways in which the poets use poetic devices to convey a particular meaning. For instance, you may focus on Wordsworth’s use of simile in “Strange fits of passion have I known” and “She dwelt among the untrodden ways” to highlight the notion of fading beauty. Or you may examine Shelley’s and Blake’s use of symbolism in “Ozymandias” and “The Tyger” to emphasize the power of the Creator or artist. In other words, it’s not enough to simply state in your essay that the poems contain simile or symbolism. Examine the ways in which the poets use poetic devices to shape and express very specific meanings or “themes” in their work.

The thesis is the most important part of your essay. Without it, your reader will be left wondering about the point of your piece. The thesis is a claim that you’re making about the readings and is revealed in a thesis statement.
The thesis statement clearly reveals the main idea (or “argument”) of your essay without saying, “In my essay, I will explore…” or “My essay will be about…” The thesis statement is usually found in the introduction, and the formula for the introduction might look like this: a) A “hook” that grabs your reader in the first sentence or two b) An introduction to the overall topic; and c) Offer your thesis in the thesis statement (usually one sentence).
When you write a literary analysis, you show one way the text may be understood, using evidence from the text to support your particular interpretation. Use at least two direct quotations from the poems (primary sources) to support your main ideas in the body paragraphs of your essay. But keep in mind that the more you turn to the text to support your interpretations, the clearer your line of thinking will be to your reader.
Sometimes, the transition between your own writing and the textual evidence can be difficult to make. One way to organize the body paragraphs would be: a) The first sentence of the body paragraph summarizes the main idea of the paragraph b) The next sentence reveals a key point c) Introduce the textual support (direct quote) with an introductory/signal phrase, such as “In Wordsworth’s poem, the speaker says…” d) Explain how the direct quote supports your key point and, ultimately, the body paragraph’s main idea.
Try to avoid using phrases such as “I think” or “I believe.” Your reader will know that your interpretations are your thoughts and beliefs.
Also, avoid summaries of the poems. Only summarize when you want to support or illustrate an important idea or inference about the poems.