Analytic Map

Your map should be three to six single-spaced pages, typed. The format should follow this sheet and not be written as an essay. The title of your book and its page count will act as your paper title. Exploratory and provisional, these maps will be graded mainly on content; however, grammar and structure will still play a role in your final grade. Your book must be at least 200 pages and reading level appropriate. (You still need to read at least 350 pages for the quarter). Please include the name, author, and number of pages of your book as the title of the map. NOTE: Save evaluative reaction, positive and negative, for the last step. Step 1: Definitions of terms and concepts 1. On reading, underline words that you dont know or which seem used in an unusual way. Record those words and write a brief definition of each. (10-15 terms) 2. What words are central to or have a special significance in the story? (1-2 paragraphs) Step 2: Setting (1-2 paragraphs) 1. Where and when does the story take place? How do you know? How sure can you be? 2. How important is the place to understanding character, plot, or theme? Does the place and time matter? Step 3: Plot and structure (3-4 paragraphs) The king died, and then the queen died is a story. The king died, and then the queen died of grief is a plot. E.M. Forster 1. Summarize the sequence of interrelated major events linked by causality. 2. What kind of conflict seems central: man v. man, man v. society, man v. himself, man v. nature, man v. technology, good against evil, etc? 3. Is the resolution of the conflict appropriate to and consistent with the rest of the story? Is anything left unresolved? Step 4: Characters (3-4 paragraphs) 1. What are the traits of the key characters? What are they like? How do we know? (Through narration, conversation, others or the characters thoughts, the storys action) 2. Is there any character development and growth? How do they change? 3. In what ways are the characters familiar or strange to you? What do they reveal about another era, culture, way of life, or a part of the world that you dont know yet? 4. What is/are the function(s) of some the storys minor characters? Step 5: Point of View (1-2 paragraphs) 1. Who narrates or tells the story? (Is this point of view consistent throughout or does it change?) 2. What information does the point of view give you access to? What information is concealed or not available?

3. What has the author gained with this point of view? How would the story be different if told from another point of view? Step 6: Theme (2-3 paragraphs) 1. In a sentence or two, try to summarize what this story seems to be saying about human experience. 2. Does the theme emerge naturally (through dialogue and action) from the story, or does it over power (directly mentioned again and again) the story? 3. What light is thrown on the story by its title? Step 7: Style and tone (4-5 paragraphs) 1. What are the chief characteristics of the authors style? How does the style differ from that of other stories you have read? Give examples to illustrate your analysis. (Does the author use short sentences, long sentences, or both, etc?) 2. How does the author use symbols to intensify meaning? (ex: In The Pearl, Steinbecks use of the pearl symbolized the greed of the characters). 3. What is the storys tonedidactic (meant to educate), sentimental, cynical, condescending, comedic, serious, sensationalistic, tender, detached, etc? What is the relationship between tone and meaning? 4. Type out a passage that strikes you for whatever reason (for its emotional power, for its combination of long and short sentences, for its speech-like rhythms, for its imagery, for its poetic lyricism, for its thematic centrality, or for some other reason). Tell me why you chose this passage. Step 8: Interview (2 paragraphs 1 for each question) If given the chance to ask the author two questions about the book, what would they be and why? You may ask why he/she chose to make the character a certain way, whether they based characters or events off real life, or any number of things. It could be that you feel they left unanswered questions in the novel. Please use specifics from your book to help answer the why section of the question. Step 9: Evaluation (1-2 paragraphs) 1. What do you think of the book? Has it been a worthwhile reading experience for you? Does is gain or lose on a second or third reading? 2. Is there anything in this book that offends you-or which might offend others? Assuming you think this story might be beneficial for someone who might have problems with it, how would you deal with these concerns? Step 10: Create 1. Create a visual representation of the novel. This may be an alternate cover to the book, a pivotal scene in the book, or a movie poster. (Please note that if there is already a movie about this book, you may NOT use pictures of the movie stars or scenes from the movie you will receive no credit if I see this). Include a quote that represents your work and its connection to the text.