Part 4: THE CRITICAL LENS

Reading and Writing for Critical Analysis

There is NO multiple-choice for this section so take your time on the

writing.

This is the last section…you are almostdone. Stay focused, dig deep.

The Critical Lens What is your task?

Write a critical essay in which you discuss two works of literature

In your essay, provide a valid interpretation of the Critical lens

Agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it

Support your opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements from the two works.

Development The ideas are elaborated using

SPECIFIC and RELEVANT evidence

Did you use specific details from the text?

Did they support your main idea? Did you avoid plot summary? Did you include at least 5 (five)

paragraphs? Do those paragraphs explain the

relevance of Literary Elements as Related to Your Thesis?

Organization Shape

Did you have an Introduction, 3-4 body paragraph(s), and Conclusion?

Did you Include Your TAGs for Each Literary Work

Remember CIA-Thesis Format for Introduction Direction

Did you state your point, then support it, then conclude?

Coherence Did you stay focused, use a wide range of

details, develop ideas clearly? Did you use transitional words and phrases?

Meaning The response shows:

Sound understanding of the task Did you know what they asked?

Interpretation Did you show you understood… AND

AVOIDED PERSONAL PRONOUNS? Analysis

Did you discuss BOTH texts, not just Summarize?

Did you use at least 7 (seven) literary elements throughout the Entire Essay?

Such as……..

TAG for Each Work You StudyMajor Literary Elements such as:

CharacterizationTheme ConflictSymbolism

STUDY Lens Review PacketsGo On Spark Notes to Review ANALYSIS Sections

Here is a chart that you could fill out for review:

title author characters & setting

summary & symbols

theme

Lord of the Flies

WilliamGolding

RalphJackPiggySimonRoger

Boys crash on an island; no adults; w/o rules of society they become increasingly savage;start to turn on each other; Ralph tries to stand up to Jack; the boys are afraid of the ‘beast’; Piggy and Simon are killed

symbols:conch = law and orderfire = unchecked powerglasses = wisdom or understanding

It is man who is capable of every evilness.

Mankind’s path of war / technology is killing wisdom and spirituality, without which mankind will be plunged into savage destruction.

So first, read the quote..

“…the strongest man upon earth is he who stands most alone.”

-Henrik Ibsen“An Enemy of the People”

From Ghosts: An Enemy of the People: The Wild Duck, 1890

Then ask yourself, what do I think this means?

Take your time. Think about it. Write down some thoughts on your scrap paper. BRAINSTORM!

“…the strongest man upon earth is he who stands most alone.” -Henrik Ibsen

“An Enemy of the People”From Ghosts: An Enemy of the People: The Wild Duck, 1890

So what do you think?

(student sample): Those who are isolated in their lives develop an inner strength that cannot be rivaled by the more engaged in society.

Now agree or disagree with what you have decided it means.

Decide what works of literature you can use to supportyour opinion.

“…the strongest man upon earth is he who stands most alone.” -Henrik Ibsen

“An Enemy of the People”From Ghosts: An Enemy of the People: The Wild Duck, 1890

Select your titles and make some notesSelect your titles and make some notes.

Lord of the Flies The Scarlet LetterWilliam Golding Nathaniel Hawthorne

Character of Ralph Character of Hester Prynne• wants to keep order * ostracized by society• isolated in sense and ᇫ Symbol of Letter

wisdom * redemption through• strength to resist sacrifice• ends up standing * required great inner alone strength

Restate the Critical Lens

Interpret the quote:State what you thinkthe quote is sayingBUT No Personal

Pronouns

Name and TAG the two books

you are going to use and their

authors

Make Thesis Statement that includes both works.

Statement must be Specific, Provable and Arguable.

How to begin….

According to Henrick Ibsen, “The strongest man upon earth is he who stands most alone.” In other words, those who are isolated in their lives develop an inner strength that cannot be rivaled by those more engaged in society. Loneliness can challenge the human spirit to triumph over adversity. This idea is clearly evident in the novels The Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In both of these works of literature, the protagonists find a tremendous degree of inner strength and power as they drift farther away from being considered accepted members of society.

Student Body Paragraph

In The Lord of Flies, William Golding depicts a character in Ralph whose strength develops as he is further ostrasized from society. On an island inhabited by a large group of young children, Ralph attempts to establish a civil form of life for the duration of their stay. Ralph is characterized as a strong leader who establishes order on the island, but as more and more children begin to follow Jack, Ralph’s nemesis and antagonist, chaos erupts. Jack and his savages wander the island, hunting pigs, setting up forts, and ultimately ensuing the lives of true barbarians. As fear of the symbolic “beastie” mounts, tensions on the island elevate, and Jack’s followers increase in numbers due to a desire for protection from what lies atop the island’s hills. Ralph, on the other hand, finds himself isolated in his wisdom and sensibility, both major themes in the novel. While all other boys lose their senses of humanity, Ralph realizes that fear, the true monster, exists within all of them.

Introduce title and author, link to Critical

Lens

Specific detailsabout Ralph’s

Characterization – Plus Theme and

Symbolism

Good language:ostrasized,nemesis,espouses a moresavage form of lifeTyranny

Link to theInterpretation tothe Critical Lens

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have just finished the REVIEW

Good Luck !!

XoXo, Ms. L <3