He Literary commentary Is one that is made around a work of literature. The object is to analyze the work beyond the words that are observed with the naked eye.
For example, you can write a commentary on how the plot of a novel reveals the social situation of an era, or how the author's life in text is evidenced.
The commentary can be based on only one element of the literary work or the general features can be analyzed. The choice will depend on the person writing the comment.
Like any other written text, the commentary must include:
- An introduction in which the thesis is specified (idea to be developed).
- A development in which the work is commented, analyzed and criticized.
- A conclusion in which you can summarize the most important elements of the commentary and affirm or refute the thesis.
How to make a literary commentary and what is its structure?
Before making a literary commentary, it is essential to understand the work to be analyzed. For this, we must read carefully more than once, to emphasize the relevant ideas and characteristics of the work that draw our attention.
Once this phase is completed, the specific topic is decided upon and a text plan is made, which is a general sketch of the commentary.
Introduction
Literary comments consist of three parts: introduction, development and conclusion. In the introduction, the general data of the work to be analyzed must be presented: title, year of publication (if known) and author. In this part, you can include a brief biography of the author, although it is not necessary.
At the end of the introduction, it should be closed with the thesis, which includes the specific topic to be analyzed. For example, if you want to comment on the language, this should be noted in the thesis.
Development
Subsequently, development begins. Transition phrases between introduction and development should be included so that the text flows naturally.
In this part, you must include quotations from the work that support the thesis of the commentary; It is worth noting that the appointment is not enough, but it is necessary to explain this. Our opinion can be included, as long as it is logically justified.
conclusion
Finally, the text is closed with the conclusion. This should not be a repetition of what has already been said in the commentary, but should be a way of reinforcing the most important points of the text that we have written.
In case the commentary has proved that the thesis is correct, it will be reaffirmed through the conclusion. If it has been proved that the thesis is wrong, then it will be refuted in the conclusion.
Example of literary comments
"When You're Old"by William Butler Yeats
When you are old and gray and sleepy
Do not stand by the fire, take this book
And read it dreaming with the soft look
Which had your eyes, and their deep shadows;
And how many of your moments of joyful grace loved,
And your beauty, with false or with sincere love,
But only one loved in you the pilgrim soul,
And loved the afflictions of your changing face;
And leaning next to lighted bars,
Whispers, something distressed, how the love went
To step above the high mountains
And his face concealed an endless array of stars.
Introduction
In the poem"When You're Old"(1895) by William Butler Yeats, the central theme is love. This is evidenced through the use of Language and literary images .
These two elements combine to create a work that represents the nostalgia and depression that generates a lost love. (Thesis: language and literary images).
Development
The poem begins by presenting the image of an old woman"old and gray and sleepy,"who sits near the fire remembering"the soft gaze"that had his eyes once.
This woman takes the book with the poem of Yeats and recalls how beautiful it was once. This scene gives strength to the poem, because it establishes the tone and the atmosphere that will reign in the rest of the work: old age, lost love and memories. (Inclusion of appointments).
Likewise, Yeats uses a series of symbols to convey the message. One of the first symbols used is the fire in the fireplace.
The fire is bright and full of life but, in the end, it will burn and end in ashes. The hidden meaning behind this is that nothing lasts forever. As with fire, women will disappear eventually. (Development of the thesis).
The fact that the woman whispers distressed how the love went away indicates that she rejected this love, so the fire can also represent the desire to relive this passion that has already ended.
Other symbols present in the poem are the high mountains and stars in the sky. These two elements reaffirm the unattainable quality of the old woman's love.
This lady can hold a book of Yeats and remember how she felt to love but her object of love is no longer within reach. (Development of the thesis).
Language plays a very important role. The poem is written in the second person singular, which gives a touch of intimacy and sadness as well, as if the narrator knew the consequences that will lead to the decisions of this woman and expected to have acted otherwise. (Development of the thesis)
The use of verbs in imperative ("take this book and read it dreaming with the soft gaze that had your eyes") establishes a link between Yeats and the old lady, which lasts through the passage of time. (Development of thesis, inclusion of quotations)
conclusion
This poem by Yeats is a sample of how to integrate images and languages to convey strong emotions in readers.
The use of suggestive figures (symbols) instead of more direct messages gives the work a cryptic quality that is pleasing. (Reaffirmation of the thesis)
References
- How to write a Literary Commentary. Retrieved on July 24, 2017, from wikihow.com
- Literary criticism. Retrieved on July 24, 2017, from theguardian.com
- How to write a literary commentary. Retrieved on July 24, 2017, from webdelprofesor.ula.ve
- Literary criticism. Retrieved on July 24, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org
- Literary Analysisn Retrieved on July 24, 2017, from roanestate.edu
- The elements of literary analysis. Retrieved on July 24, 2017, from myweb.rollins.edu
- Elements of literary analysis. Retrieved on July 24, 2017, from canisius.edu.