Literary criticism is a rich tradition and one of the oldest literary traditions - dating back to Aristotle. Fundamentally, it's a form of philosophy, because through analysis of literature we gain an understanding of the potential of language to express meanings. Literature, due to its complexity, expresses subtle ideas that can't be gotten across in any other way.
Remember these things before you write:
1. You are not writing for the teacher or class. Never address your writing to members of the class or assume that your readers know things said in class. You are writing for an educated audience that has read the book you're discussing.
2. You are writing to shed new light on the book. That's why you should look for a creative approach.
3. Before you write you should know two things beyond the "topic" of your paper. What is the question you are asking? Write it down. It should be a real question: i.e. a question to which neither you, nor anyone else, knows the answer. For instance, let's say I'm writing about the theme of air travel in Crash. My question is: We know Crash explores the relationship between technology and an evolving sexuality. How does the emphasis on air travel help define Ballard's presentation of this theme?
4. Lastly: you should know why it's important to ask this question. And you should incorporate this argument about the importance of your essay into the beginning of the essay. For instance: "Ballard's Crash is an epochal and influential statement about the effect of technology on human life. However, most readers focus on the extreme or explicit passages, neglecting the clues to be found in the background details and setting of the novel. One of these details is the persistent presence of airports and air travel in a book about cars. In this essay, I will explore this motif as a key to Ballard's view of the dangers - or benefits - of the new machine era."
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