ENGL 103: Kuzmenkov, T. (Spring 2025): Start here

Literary criticism, or literary analysis, is an essay that critically examines a piece of literature (such as a short story, play, or poem) in order to create a better understanding of the piece. That examination can focus on one or more elements: writing style (plot, characterizations, use of metaphor, etc.), themes, biographical connections, and the influence of events or social/political conditions.  

You'll be asked to refer to ideas discussed in the literary criticism written by other scholars when you write your own literary criticism, or literary analysis.

You are asked to do this because, as a scholar, it's your job to interact with the ideas of other scholars.  As you read literary criticism, you'll probably notice that the writers of those essays are also refering to other scholars' opinions in their essays, just as you are asked to do!

Actually, reading about what other scholars think about an idea or a work of literature often helps you shape your own ideas. In your paper, you can agree with them, disagree with them, or partly agree with them - or you an use their ideas as a jumping off point to discuss your own ideas. This is absolutely fine -- in fact, most scholars build on the ideas of other scholars! Just remember that it's important to give those scholars credit for their ideas, just as you would want to be given credit for your ideas (that's why you do citations).

Your final research exam requires that you choose a short story, poem, or a play from the selection of works that you have read this quarter and write an essay focusing on how this piece has enlightened you. How has your perspective changed after reading this work?

Here are the specifics, per your Canvas course:

1) Your short essay needs to start with the title and author of your selection.  Remember to use MLA formatting, which means double space and indent paragraphs.

2) Write a precis of the work you have selected.  Remember that a precis is a summary of action and belongs in the introductory paragraph. 

3) Then tell me how and why your selection impacted your personal growth this quarter. You may certainly use first person point of view, since you are talking about yourself.  But, you may NOT use second person point of view ( no 'you' 'your').  

4) Your essay should be no shorter than 250 words long and needs to be written using college level correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and diction.  That means that after you have written your essay, you will need to proof read it and make any necessary corrections. But, as I am asking for an essay, I do expect an introduction, a body, and a concluding paragraph- so a formal English essay. 

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