The word "essay" in Russian came from French. It goes back historically to one Latin concept, which means "weighing" in translation. The French term is translated by the words "essay", "sketch", "attempt", "trial", "experience". In this article, we will tell you how to write an essay on literature. You will find out what are the characteristic features of this genre, what is its structure and composition. Also, our article will give useful tips, reading which you will understand how to write essays on literature beautifully and interestingly. Let's start by defining the term itself.
What is an essay?
An essay is a prose composition with a free composition of a small volume, which expresses individual thoughts and impressions on a specific issue or occasion and does not pretend to be an exhaustive or defining interpretation of the subject.
In the explanatory dictionary compiled by L. P. Krysin, it is defined as follows: this is an essay that treats some problems in a free form, and not in a scientific systematic form.
Turning to the Great Encyclopedic Dictionary, we learn that the essay is a genre of literary-critical, philosophical, journalistic, historical-biographical prose, which combines the individual author's position, emphasized in the text, with a laid-back, often paradoxical presentation, close to colloquial speech.
The Brief Literary Encyclopedia states that an essay is a small-sized, free-of-charge prose composition that treats a certain topic and is an attempt to convey individual author’s ideas or impressions related to it.
Signs of an essay
- The presence of a specific question or topic. A work devoted to the analysis of a wide range of problems cannot, by definition, be executed in a genre such as an essay.
- It necessarily expresses individual thoughts and impressions on a certain issue or occasion, does not claim to be an exhaustive and defining interpretation of a certain subject. For more information on how to write essays on literature, see below.
- An essay, as a rule, suggests the presence of a new, subjectively colored word about something. A work may have a historical, biographical, philosophical, literary, critical, journalistic, popular scientific, or fiction character.
- First of all, the personality of the author, his feelings and thoughts, his worldview are evaluated in the content of the text.
Essay Creator
This genre has become very popular in recent years. Michel de Montaigne (author of the book "Experiments", released in 1580) is considered its creator. It is in it that we first find examples of how to write essays on literature. Although it should be clarified that this author wrote philosophical essays. The book contains chapters such as, for example, "On conceit," "On conscience." However, the structure of the texts, the author’s idea will help you in creating works of this genre both in literature and in other subjects.
The skill of writing an essay is now very relevant. Currently, this type of work as a job is offered quite often. For example, includes an essay on the exam text. Upon admission to various educational institutions or, for example, during employment, this genre is given great importance. The competition of works allows you to choose the best of the best.
Why are we writing an essay?
The goal that essay writing sets for itself is to develop the creative thinking of the individual, as well as the ability to express thoughts in writing. This experience is very useful, as it helps the author learn to correctly and clearly formulate his thoughts, use the most important concepts, structure information, highlight the relationship between cause and effect, illustrate theses with examples, and substantiate the conclusions drawn.
Lack of plot
The first feature of writing an essay on literature is the lack of a classic plot in this genre. Of course, various examples from life can be given, but this will only be an illustration of the main idea of ​​the text.
Shape uncertainty
Another feature is shape uncertainty. In other words, you can, as they say, spread out thought on the tree, and for this no one will tell you a bad word. Everything that comes to mind can be stated on paper, analyzed, and then summarized above.
Essay Volume
Keep in mind that the volume of the essay is quite small, but it does not have clear boundaries. It is approximately three to seven pages written in computer text. At Harvard Business School, for example, essays are often written on just two sheets. At domestic universities, up to ten pages of typewritten text are allowed.
Specific problem or question
Another feature is that a specific problem (some insoluble question) must necessarily be at the center of the author’s thoughts. The topic should be clearly defined. An essay cannot simultaneously consider many topics, embody a large number of ideas (thoughts). It only reflects one thought, one option, and develops them. That is, this is just the answer to some question.
Own opinion
In this case, you need to express your own opinion only. The essay does not pretend to be the only true point of view, even if there is a lot of arguments and evidence. This, most likely, is only one of the facets of this issue. Writing an essay on literature is not a scientific work.
Imitation of conversation with the reader
The next thing I would like to mention is that when creating an essay, it’s like an imitation of a lively conversation with the reader, which should be followed up, encouraged by various questions, and thus raise burning topics, as if you are in front of him here and now. The author’s monologue should be outside of space and time, filled with lively speech turns. Writing an essay on literature includes a significant creative element. A trustful, friendly communication style should be established with the reader. For this, the author must intentionally avoid obscure, complex, overly rigorous constructions. At the same time, phrases, slang, abbreviated words should be excluded from use, and an overly frivolous tone should be avoided. According to the researchers, a good essay can be created only by one who knows the topic freely, is able to see it from various angles, and is also ready to present the reader with a multi-faceted, but not exhaustive view of this phenomenon.
Free composition
An important feature of this genre is free composition. The outline of the essay on literature is not strict. Various researchers note that by nature this genre is structured in such a way that it does not tolerate a formal framework. Often it is built contrary to the basic laws of logic, on the principle of arbitrary associations. A literature essay plan so you can develop yourself. Some basic compositional features will be given below.
Paradox tendency
There is a tendency to paradoxes. This genre is designed to surprise, confuse the reader - this is his quality is a must. The starting point for reflections embodied in an essay is often a bright aphoristic statement or a paradoxical definition that clashes at first glance indisputable, but mutually exclusive theses, characteristics, statements.
Semantic unity
One of the paradoxes of this genre is internal semantic unity. Focused primarily on subjectivity, but compositionally free, the essay has at the same time a semantic unity within the text, that is, a coherence of the main statements and theses, as well as an internal harmony of associations and arguments, consistent judgments, which reflect the personal position of its creator.
Essay outline and outline
1. Introduction. "How to start an essay on literature?" - you ask. As you know, the hardest thing is to write the first lines. There is no need to immediately start proving something to someone by creating sample essays on literature. First you need to prepare the ground, that is, create the right atmosphere and immerse the reader of the text in a state of thought that will help him to penetrate as much as possible into the author’s ideas.
2. The main part, which consists of abstracts. Remember that the main idea should be formulated briefly and clearly. She should be simple and clear. No one likes unfounded statements. The task of the author, who creates samples of essays in literature, is not only to state it, but also to prove it. For example, you declare that fate is determined by the name of a person. Then prove it by giving concrete examples from life or based on some well-known theories. An essay on literature should be written on this basis. Lermontov, Pushkin, Gogol, Nekrasov, Saltykov-Shchedrin ... Use knowledge of Russian classics, but be sure to imagine a fresh look.
The thesis thus answers the question: "What?" After this, you should definitely answer the question: “Why?”, That is, prove it.
3. The plan for writing an essay on literature also includes a conclusion, a concluding part, a debriefing. You can talk for a long time about the subject matter of an essay, go into the jungle of thoughts, but in the end you must definitely gather all the mental wealth into a bunch. This is the only way to qualitatively complete the statement, and also show the value of the written text. If its volume is too small, you can do without this part. The main thing is that the main idea should sound in conclusion.
This is the plan for writing an essay on literature, which you can change somewhat, since it is a fairly free form.
Something that will help you write an essay better
1. Reflect on the topic, its meaning. Analyze how well you understand what you want to write about. Can you offer something fresh and new on this topic? The essay is famous, first of all, for originality. It is necessary to present a necessarily unbanal look even at the most banal things, if they are the subject of its content. Do not forget about the freshness of the tongue.
2. Materials. Choose what you will use when writing your work. Will only reader and life experience be enough? Do not forget that a collage of formulations, a variety of thoughts always captivate. Get to know the different points of view on this issue and join the discussion with some authors. The work should create the impression of persistent and lengthy work, surprise readers with erudition and confound them with fresh thinking.
3. Use of ideas. You should not try to tell about everything at once. You can please readers with unexpected facts and sparkling expressions. Make it interesting, enjoyable and informative to read.
4. Three whales. Write down on paper the main thoughts and directions. Of these, select the three most successful theses. Take them as a basis. If you get more branches, you run the risk that the text will seem incomprehensible and superficial, and if less - conservative and fixated. Since ancient times, the number "3" is recognized as magic. Therefore, you should not ignore it.
5. First, the skeleton. And only then - the skin. The point here is that at first it is necessary to state only briefly the train of thought. They can be written down in one or two sentences in each paragraph, after which you can re-read them slowly and then sculpt a snowball consisting of your own thoughts. You can add the necessary details and examples, as well as wind up information using various artistic means.
Now you know how to write an essay on literature. The information presented in our article can be used to create an essay on other subjects. The main points are no different in the various forms of this genre. The structure of the literature essay presented by us can be used, for example, when writing a work on philosophy, when applying for a job, etc.