What does the teacher want from the student, demanding a comprehensive analysis of the text? The plan of such a task includes several points that we will consider in this article. The work should take into account the historical realities in which the work was created, the characters and roles of the heroes (both main and secondary), the features of the language and the construction of the text structure.
Context
The author of the work you are researching is an ordinary person who exists in some historical period of time. Problems in public life, political tension, personal experiences leave an indelible imprint on the works he publishes. Learn what factors contributed to the writing of the book, and if you can, find parallels between the storylines and the events that really happened in the world. All this will make up the first paragraph of the plan of analysis of the text on literature.
Often, the relationships of heroes unfold against the backdrop of major domestic and foreign policy events: civil and international wars, revolutions, riots and uprisings, the adoption of resonant legislative acts. Natural phenomena are reflected in the text: drought and subsequent famine, eclipses to which symbolic significance is attributed, flooding of territories.
main idea
Highlight the main idea of the work. What is the message that the author wants to convey to the reader? What topic is the story about? Indicate how the writer paves the way for the content.
When compiling a text analysis plan, pay attention to the keywords often appearing in the work. Based on them, you can easily highlight storylines, sharp and debatable issues. In addition, it will simplify your task. “Matching words” is often the most difficult when you understand the meaning, but cannot convey it by language. Such a skill comes only with experience.
Speech Types
What stylistic means does the author use to express his thoughts? Perhaps he uses a narrative type of speech: you follow the actions of the characters, the process of their communication in different environments. At times, the focus of attention switches to “decorations” and forms — the writer refines details, uses the description of objects to create a more realistic picture, literally “draws” in the imagination of the person holding the book in his hands.
The most difficult type for analysis is the argument in which the arguments are presented, a certain point of view of the author is upheld, which may be different from yours. Writing work on a work of this kind can be a real test if you fundamentally disagree with the arguments presented. And picking up your arguments is sometimes very difficult.
Style
The conversational style is usually used to describe the communication of the characters. If the characters belong to the uneducated population, to the peasantry, etc., then the author can use even reduced and crude vocabulary; if aristocrats or representatives of other "higher circles" communicate, then often overly exalted words belong to them in the text. This is worth noting with a comprehensive analysis of the text (the plan provides an analysis of the styles used).
The text may also include an artistic or journalistic style - the language of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals. There is also a type of speech used in paperwork and other business papers. This style is called formal business.
Heroes behavior
Watch what the characters do and say. What is their function? Why were they introduced by the writer in the course of the narrative, included in the author’s plan? Analysis of a literary text cannot do without an assessment of their activities. "What is good and what is bad?" - This, of course, is a very controversial issue. However, you as a researcher must at least try to answer it using arguments and examples from the book.
Copyright features
Note which turns of speech, artistic and stylistic structures distinguish the creations of the selected writer from many others? What lexical units does he use more often than others? What can you say about author morphology, syntax, phonetics? Such details make up a complete portrait of a literary classic.
Art tools
What constructions can you see in the text? Which of them are used more often than others? This point should never be omitted in terms of analysis of a prosaic text. The teacher told you this topic and will be happy to see the application of your knowledge.
Perhaps the author is often ironic or differs in sarcastic attacks on the characters? This is typical of many writers. Particularly distinguished by the abundance of such elements are the works of Bernard Shaw or Mark Twain. Russian writers also liked to joke: both Pushkin, and Gogol, and even Mayakovsky - after reading their creations, you will certainly see what is at stake.
On the other hand, the text can be replete with epithets, metaphors, hyperbolas and litots - all these terms you should know from the lessons of literature. All these tools are often used, for example, when describing nature or when evaluating by some characters the actions and characters of others.
A text analysis plan should also include a careful analysis of the phonotactic component and rhythm, if you are working with a work written in poetic form. Poems, epigrams, ballads, songs - each of these genres has features that must be clearly identified. Otherwise, the teacher will lower your grade.
Achievements
Turning to the conclusion of the work, in the last paragraph of the text analysis plan, plan to study what trace the work of your choice has left in history. Perhaps it is worth talking not only about a specific work, but also about the writer: what of his works can be mentioned along with the analyzed?
What is the importance of his work then, in the past, and now? Not a single work is included in the course of literature lessons by chance. Try to cover this topic.
Conclusion
So, the text analysis plan discussed in this article consists of almost ten points, each of which should be highlighted in your work.
If you do everything in accordance with the recommendation presented, the teacher will be satisfied and give you an excellent mark. Of course, much depends on the depth and quality of your reasoning and argumentation, however, the very presence of a structure that affects all questions of interest to the teacher will add an additional score to your mark.