How to Critically Analyze Literature (2018)

Summary

This video lesson provides an in-depth guide on how to critically analyze literature, aimed at high school or college students. It covers essential components of literary analysis, including structure, archetypes, figurative language, tone, symbolism, and author influences. The instructor breaks down these elements and provides examples to help viewers better understand how to dissect and interpret fiction, poetry, or drama. Additionally, the video encourages viewers to go beyond surface-level critiques, offering tips on how to conduct research to enhance literary analysis. The lesson is designed to foster deeper understanding and appreciation of literary works.

Takeaways

• 📝 Critical analysis involves breaking down a work of literature into its components to understand it better.
• 🔍 Literary analysis is not about finding faults, but exploring various aspects like structure, tone, symbolism, and influences.
• 📖 Structure includes point of view, plot organization, and the way the story is told, whether linear, non-linear, or with parallel plots.
• 🏅 Archetypes are recurring character types or patterns found in literature, often drawing from the hero’s journey or ancient storytelling methods.
• 🖋️ Figurative language, like metaphors, similes, and personification, adds depth to writing and helps convey meaning beyond literal interpretation.
• 🎭 Tone is determined by the author's word choices, imagery, and diction, revealing the overall attitude or mood in the piece.
• ⚡ Symbolism in literature gives objects, characters, or events a deeper meaning, often representing ideas beyond their literal sense.
• 📚 Analyzing influences on the author, including historical context, other writers, or personal experiences, adds depth to the literary analysis.
• 🔑 Each symbol in a text must have both a literal and a figurative meaning to qualify as a true symbol in literary analysis.
• 💡 Understanding the author's time period, literary movements, and external influences provides a more nuanced and detailed critical analysis.

Q & A

What is critical analysis in literature?

Critical analysis in literature involves closely examining different aspects of a work, such as its structure, archetypes, figurative language, tone, symbolism, and the influences on the author. It aims to deepen the reader's understanding of the work by considering these components both individually and together.

What are the key components to consider when critically analyzing a piece of literature?

The key components to consider are the structure of the work, archetypes, figurative language, tone, symbolism, and external influences on the author.

What does the term 'structure' refer to in a literary analysis?

Structure refers to the point of view, the organization of the text, and the plot elements. It includes analyzing how the story is narrated (first, second, or third person), the organization of the plot (linear, non-linear, circular, or parallel), and the sequence of events like exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

What are some examples of different plot structures?

Plot structures can be linear, where events happen chronologically; non-linear, where flashbacks or jumps in time occur; circular, where the story ends where it began; and parallel plots, where two or more storylines occur simultaneously, like in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

What is an archetype, and how is it used in literature?

An archetype is an original pattern or model from which similar characters, themes, or concepts are derived. In literature, characters like the hero or mentor often fit specific archetypal roles that carry universal meanings.

How does figurative language enhance the critical analysis of literature?

Figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, and personification, adds depth to the text by conveying meanings beyond the literal. Analyzing figurative language helps uncover hidden insights and emotional connections in the work.

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?

A simile makes a direct comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as,' while a metaphor makes an implied comparison without using those words. For example, 'He sings like a bird' is a simile, and 'He drowned in a sea of grief' is a metaphor.

How does tone influence the reader’s perception of a literary work?

Tone reflects the author's attitude toward the subject or characters, influencing how the reader interprets the text. The choice of words, imagery, and sentence structure all contribute to establishing the tone, which can range from nostalgic to dark or tense.

What is symbolism, and how is it identified in literature?

Symbolism involves using objects, characters, or events to represent deeper meanings beyond their literal presence in the story. A symbol must have both a literal and figurative meaning. For example, in 'The Black Cat' by Edgar Allan Poe, the penknife symbolizes the narrator's power over the cat.

How can an author's influences shape their literary work?

An author's influences may include historical events, personal experiences, contemporary literary movements, or other authors’ works. For instance, Edgar Allan Poe was influenced by American Romanticism and spiritualism, which is reflected in his use of dark themes and supernatural elements in his stories.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Literary Analysis

This paragraph introduces the topic of literary analysis and explains its purpose. The speaker addresses high school and college students who may be tasked with writing a literary analysis or performing close readings. The goal is to help students understand how to critically analyze literature by breaking down its components, including structure, archetypes, figurative language, tone, and symbolism. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding literature through deep analysis rather than simply evaluating it for faults.

05:03

👥 Points of View and Plot Structures

This section focuses on different narrative points of view (first-person, second-person, third-person omniscient, and third-person limited) and their significance in storytelling. The paragraph also discusses various plot structures, including linear, non-linear, circular, and parallel plots. It explains how stories can follow different paths and the impact of these structures on narrative flow. Examples are provided, such as the hero's journey and Shakespeare's *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, to illustrate how different plots and perspectives can interact or remain separate.

10:07

🌀 Plot Development and Climax

This paragraph delves deeper into the structure of plots, explaining concepts like exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It highlights how the length of a story (short story versus novel) affects the pacing and structure, with shorter stories often condensing the plot elements. The paragraph uses examples such as the novel *Holes* and the hero’s journey to demonstrate how plot elements can be manipulated to create a satisfying narrative arc.

15:14

🧠 Archetypes and Figurative Language

The focus here is on archetypes and figurative language in literature. Archetypes are defined as universal patterns in characters, themes, and symbols found across stories. The etymology of the word is explained, and examples of common character archetypes are provided. The paragraph also covers figurative language, including metaphors, similes, and personification, explaining how these devices enhance the meaning of texts by providing deeper insights into characters and themes beyond literal interpretations.

20:17

🎭 Tone and Word Choice

This paragraph explores the concept of tone in literature, which is created by the author's choice of words (diction), sentence structure, imagery, and other stylistic elements. It emphasizes that tone reflects the author’s attitude towards the subject or the characters. Examples from Edgar Allan Poe’s *The Black Cat* are used to illustrate how tone can shift within a story, highlighting words that convey nostalgic, moody, or ominous tones.

25:20

🔑 Symbolism in Literature

This section explains symbolism in literature, distinguishing it from other literary devices like metaphors and similes. Symbols are objects, characters, or settings that have both literal and figurative meanings, adding depth to the story. Examples from *The Black Cat* demonstrate how symbols (like the penknife and false chimney) represent more than their literal function, allowing for deeper interpretation. Readers are encouraged to explore symbols based on their own understanding and experience.

🖋 Influences on Authors

The final paragraph addresses the influences on authors, both personal and historical. It highlights how understanding an author's background, the literary movements they are part of, and their historical context can provide additional layers of meaning when analyzing their works. Examples of influences on Edgar Allan Poe, including his fascination with the supernatural, Romanticism, and personal life experiences, are discussed. The speaker notes that uncovering these influences may require outside research beyond the text itself.

Keywords

💡Critical Analysis

Critical analysis involves breaking down a literary work to understand its components, such as structure, tone, symbolism, and more. It is not about finding flaws but rather about deeply evaluating the merits and aspects of the literature. The video explains that the goal is to broaden and deepen one's understanding of the text by examining its details, rather than just pointing out weaknesses.

💡Structure

Structure refers to how a story is organized, including its point of view, plot elements, and overall organization. This concept is key in analyzing how a piece of literature is presented to the reader, whether through linear or non-linear plotlines, or through different narrative perspectives like first-person or third-person. The video emphasizes understanding the structure as foundational to interpreting literature.

💡Archetypes

Archetypes are original patterns or models from which all similar characters or themes are derived. In literature, archetypes help readers connect familiar themes or character roles, such as the 'hero' or 'villain.' The video discusses how recognizing archetypes, like the hero's journey, can offer deeper insights into a story’s meaning and universal appeal.

💡Figurative Language

Figurative language includes literary devices like metaphors, similes, and personification, which go beyond literal meanings to create more powerful imagery or deeper emotional responses. The video explains how analyzing figurative language helps reveal underlying themes and emotions in a story, using examples such as metaphors and similes to show indirect comparisons.

💡Tone

Tone refers to the attitude or emotional atmosphere conveyed by the author through word choice, sentence structure, and imagery. In the video, tone is highlighted as a critical element in interpreting a text, with examples from Edgar Allan Poe’s 'The Black Cat' showing how tone shifts from nostalgic to dark and moody, influencing the reader’s emotional experience.

💡Symbolism

Symbolism occurs when a tangible object in a story represents a larger idea or concept. The video explains how symbols have both literal and figurative meanings, using examples like the penknife in 'The Black Cat,' which symbolizes power, and the false chimney, representing a false sense of security. Understanding symbolism helps uncover deeper meanings within a text.

💡Point of View

Point of view refers to the perspective from which the story is told, such as first-person, second-person, or third-person narration. The video outlines how point of view shapes the reader's understanding of the narrative, with different types (e.g., omniscient or limited third-person) affecting how much information about the characters and plot is revealed.

💡Linear Plot

A linear plot follows a chronological sequence, moving from the beginning to the end without interruptions like flashbacks. The video contrasts this with non-linear plots and explains how a linear plot structure helps maintain a straightforward narrative arc, such as in stories that follow the traditional pattern of exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution.

💡Non-linear Plot

Non-linear plots deviate from a chronological order by incorporating flashbacks, future glimpses, or jumping between different time periods. The video gives examples of how non-linear plots, like in the novel 'Holes,' enhance the complexity of a story by revealing backstory and context through out-of-sequence events.

💡Influences

Influences refer to the factors that shape an author's writing, including their personal life, historical context, literary movements, and other authors. The video emphasizes that understanding these influences, such as Edgar Allan Poe's interest in spiritualism, can deepen a reader's critical analysis of the work by connecting external factors to the themes and choices within the story.

Highlights

The lesson focuses on how to critically analyze literature, with an emphasis on high school and college students.

Critical analysis involves taking apart a piece of literature to understand its components and how they work together.

Critical analysis is not about finding faults but about interpreting the merits and components of the literary work.

The structure of literature includes point of view, plot organization (linear, nonlinear, circular, and parallel), and plot elements like exposition, climax, and resolution.

Point of view can vary from first-person, second-person, and third-person omniscient or limited narration.

Linear plots follow a chronological order, while nonlinear plots may use flashbacks or glimpses into the future.

Archetypes are original patterns or models from which similar characters, concepts, or objects are derived.

Figurative language, including metaphors, similes, and personification, plays a significant role in deepening the meaning of literature.

Tone is conveyed through diction, imagery, and the author's word choices, affecting the mood of the story.

Symbols in literature have both literal and figurative meanings and can provide deeper insights into a work.

A symbol must be a literal object in the story and carry a figurative meaning beyond its literal interpretation.

Analyzing the influences on the author, such as historical context or literary movements, can provide a more nuanced critical analysis.

Researching outside the text may be necessary to fully understand the author's influences and motivations.

Edgar Allan Poe’s work, like 'The Black Cat,' is an example where the supernatural and Romantic Gothic elements are key influences.

The lesson encourages continued learning and critical thinking by offering resources for further study and analysis.

Transcripts

So you've been given an assignment to write a literary analysis paper or maybe

You've been given a close reading assignment where you need to analyze a piece of literature

Well today's lesson is just for you because we're going to look at how to critically analyze literature

This lesson is a little bit longer than the lessons I usually present on my channel

But it's a much more in-depth topic

It's a topic for high schoolers or even college students taking their first

Literature classes as you view this lesson you may very well want to take notes

And if there's anything that comes to mind that you wonder about further

Please make a comment in the section below the video, and I'll respond back to you now

I know some of these topics are kind of glossed over because it's florid of an introductory lesson when I taught this lesson

To my 8th grade advanced accelerated students who are really studying 9th and 10th grade content

We had already learned about each one of these components that go into critically analyzing literature

Before we put it all together to do a complete analysis

But whatever your need is I hope you'll stick around to the end of the PowerPoint will kind of bring it all back together

Because I want you to never stop learning

So today, we're looking at how to critically analyze literature dig deeper through close reading of text

So it is critical analysis well

Analysis is basically taking something apart in order to understand it better by considering its

Component parts separately as well as together

Looking all the different parts of something and considering those parts all individually

Now the definition of critical is as being used in critically analyzing literature as

Expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature music or art

synonyms for this word include evaluative

analytical

interpretive

expository

explanatory

Notice it's not

Critical as in I'm very critical of you like I'm trying to find out what's wrong with you

Critical analysis of literature is not looking for what's wrong with the piece of literature

It's just looking closely at each different aspect of it

So considering those definitions a

critical analysis

explains the work of fiction poetry or drama

That's the meaning of the kind of literature. We're looking at when we're critically analyzing literature

by means of

Interpretations the goal of a literary analysis which is a paper you might have to write or a talk you might have to give

Is to broaden and deepen your understanding of that work of literature?

Not just to find out what's wrong with it, or what's right with it

But what are all the different aspects that can be considered about any piece of literature and how does that apply to the?

particular piece of literature that you're looking at

So we're going to consider each of these components separately

But basically when you're critically analyzing a piece of literature

you are examining its structure the archetypes in a

figurative language that occurs and reoccurs throughout the piece the tone the diction of

the author in a symbolism that there might be and

Influences on the author in his or her writing of the piece to begin with

Now structure includes these three elements point of view

Organization of the text as a whole and the elements of plot a

Story can be told from multiple points of view and we see this quite often in

One chapter is told by one character the next chapter is told that another character

That's multiple points of view a story can also be totaled in first-person

That's where the narrator goes ahead and include himself in this story might even be a character in this story

he uses words like I or we or us or

me when he is narrating the story a

Story could also be told in second person point of view and that's where the author is speaking directly to the reader saying

You must understand this or a story could be told in

Third person narration, this is where the narrator is

Probably not a character in the story

but is just like an overarching narrator an

omniscient narrator knows all the thoughts of all the characters a

Limited narrator either doesn't know any of the thoughts of any of the characters

This limited narrator is just reporting on what is said. What is done, or it could be a

Limited narrator who knows the thoughts maybe of the main character, but not of any of the other characters

There are different ways that plots are organized some plots are linear their chronological

They start at one place

And they end at another place in the future

From where it started there are also non linear plot structures where you might have flashbacks?

or you might have

Glimpses into the future. It's told in a nonlinear way not chronological

You also have circular plots

that's basically where the story ends up at the same place that it started and

You can also read stories with parallel plots

That's where there's two main plots basically happening at the same time sometimes those plots interact with each other

Sometimes they're just parallel plots two stories happening at the same time

And there's really not a lot of interaction between the two plots

So a linear plot

Would start with the exposition go onto rising action have a climax falling action and a resolution?

The series of events that happen are in chronological order

on

the other hand a non-linear story even though it has characters and events just like a linear plot would have a

Nonlinear story jumps around maybe it doesn't start at the beginning

maybe it starts somewhere in the begin in the middle or it near the end of the story and

Flashbacks are used to fill the reader in on the rest of the story I think

particularly of the story holes by Luis Acker

the Stanley Yelnats story is in the present, but it's

constantly going back in the past and

Telling the the history of how the holes got there in the first place

Now the hero's journey is an example of a circular plot

And you can just look around the circle here the hero starts with this call to adventure

There's supernatural aid and so on

transformation atonement then the return and

Then we're back to the hero at square one

He's probably changed, but he's ready perhaps for another call to adventure

My favorite example of parallel plots comes from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

there's one plot line that runs for the

royalty

Theseus Lysander Hermia Demetrius, Helena Hippolyta and

EGS and then there's another plot line this running with the fairies and

With the players who actually put on the acting troupe, so these plots are all happening happening simultaneously

But the characters don't always interact with each other sometimes they do

But each of these groups of people has their own

Plot line. They're all rising action their own climax, and they're a resolution

But it's all happening in one story

And those elements apply the exposition of a story is where the reader learns about the characters and

finds out about the setting for the story the

rising action begins with the inciting force that very first

glimpse of the conflict and the conflict

develops

until some sort of crisis occurs

There may even be more than one crisis that that occurs before the climax of the story

Then there's the falling action and the resolution

realize that the shorter the story such as a short story or novella the shorter the falling action a

Short story may have the crisis falling action and resolution occurring

Even in the same paragraph the last paragraph of the story, but in a novel a longer piece

the climax may occur

two-thirds of the way through the story leaving the last third of the story or so for the falling action and the resolution

You'll often see a plot depicted on this type of a graphic organizer

Okay, so we've looked at structure. Let's take a look at archetypes

It is often helpful to look at the etymology of a word in order to help understand it and

Archetypes is not a word we see every day the term archetype has its origins in ancient

Greek the root words are cane which means original or old and typos which means pattern modeler type

combined meaning is

Original pattern of which all similar persons objects concepts are derived copied modeled or emulated

archetypes

Most main characters and stories can be associated with

Particular character archetypes there are many more than what you see here

But let's just say thinking back to our slide about the hero's journey

That our character is a hero in archetype

He would have

characteristics that other heroes have

So in critical analysis

two things that we've already talked about that can be analyzed and a piece of literature are its structure and

Archetypes included in that story now. Let's take a look at figurative language, and how we can use that to help us

critically analyze literature

Use of figurative language is something that definitely needs to be analyzed in a piece of literature

figurative language uses the figures of speech

to be more effective or persuasive and more impactful to

Touch the reader in ways that just literal language

Cannot do

figures of speech include metaphors similes and

allusions, they go beyond the literal meanings of the words, and they give the readers new insights a

Simile makes a direct comparison showing similarities between two different things

It uses the words like or as

Here's an example. He sings like a bird his singing sounds like a bird singing

Her hands were cold as ice

Her hands are cold ice is cold direct comparison

Metaphors and similes are often mixed up

but once you learn the trick of telling the difference you'll be able to figure it out a

metaphor makes an implicit implied or hidden comparison between two things that are

unrelated but which share some common

characteristic in other words sort of a resemblance between

two very different objects based on just one single common characteristics

He drowned in a sea of grief

This is our example here

He's drowning in this grief that seems to surround him like the sea

Here's another example the flashlight cut through the curtain of darkness

Well, there's now really a curtain of darkness out there, but the darkness is so dark

It's like there's a curtain up in front of this person with the flashlight who has to use

The flashlight is some sort of saber to slash his way through the curtain

Personification is another often used type of figurative language in

personification an idea or an animal is given human attributes the nonhuman objects are

Shown in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like humans for example

We might say the sky weeps when it rains

Instead of tears falling from the sky though of course. It's actually raindrops, so we say that the sky has been personified

Okay, so we've looked at structure archetypes and figurative language. Let's move on to tone

The means of creating or conveying an attitude by means of the author's diction that is the author's word choices and

Telling the story is referred to as tone by looking carefully at the choices and author makes in

Characters incident setting the work's stylistic choices in diction etcetera and imagery formal or informal language use of dialogue

Sentence structure careful readers often can isolate the tone of a work in infer from at the underlying attitudes

That control and color the story or poem as a whole

imagery is often used to set the tone in a piece of literature I

Think it's easiest to understand tone by looking at examples

here's an example from the short story the black cat by Edgar Allan Poe the

Quote is this from my infancy

I was noted for all the de Sciglio and humanity of my disposition my tenderness of heart was even so

Conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions

I was especially fond of animals and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets

with the size most of my time and never was so happy as when feeding and

Caressing them now if you take a look at the words. I've highlighted you can see that all of these words together

Sets a gentle

Nostalgic tone for the beginning of the story and of course if you've read the story, you know the tone changes quite often

Throughout the rest of the narrative

Yep so that tone does change here's another quote from the very same story

I grew day by day more moody more irritable more regardless of the feelings of others

I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife at length I even offered her personal violence

Now the tone is changing here. It's becoming more negative

Concerned even worried on the part of the author, and you can tell because these words moody irritable

Regardless of the feelings of others suffering intemperate those are all words with a negative connotation

Both word choice and imagery can affect tone in a piece

Here's another quote from the very same short story the black cat by Edgar Allan Poe

Beneath the pressure of torment such as these the female remnant of the good within me succumbed

Evil thoughts became my sole intimates the darkest and most evil of thoughts

The moodiness of my usual temper increased to hatred of all things and of all mankind while from the sudden

frequent and uncover noble outbursts of a fury

So here Poe is

appealing to the readers senses and

Conveying a tone of struggle in this particular quote from the story in

addition to analyzing

Structure archetypes figurative language in tone the analysis of symbolism can create lis aid you and trying to?

critically analyze a piece of literature

So what makes symbolism distinct from say simile or metaphor

Well a symbol typically encompasses both a literal and a figurative meaning

unlike a metaphor a symbol is not necessarily a statement a

Single word can evoke meaning and become a symbol

Being aware of common symbols and novels any short stories any fiction will increase your ability to read the work

critically

Here are some examples of symbols from this short story a black cat by Edgar Allan Poe

first off this penknife that the narrator carries around with him is

Symbolic of his imagined power over the cat. It is a knife that

Performs like a knife you can cut with it, but it also symbolizes

This power that the narrator thinks he has over the cat

There's also a white region on the breast of the cat and

Though this is a patch in the cat's fur literally it

symbolizes the purity in the cat's heart and

Then finally I'm skipping over a few of them, but you can look those over

There's a false chimney built into the basement where the narrator lives

And it's symbolic of the narrator's false sense of security

while it serves the purpose of being a false chimney apparently to

Trick someone into thinking there's a chimney built there it

Also is a symbol that represents this narrator's false sense of security

every symbol must have both a literal and

a symbolic meaning in the story to qualify to be a symbol so

The key to realizing that something is a symbol is that it must be present literally in the text

Something that a character could touch or move

Or see and that literal something in the text must represent something other than its original

literal meaning the deeper and

Longer the reader Ponder's the text the more symbols

You are going to be able to uncover. They might even be symbols that the author never thought of

So the key to recognizing

symbolism in fiction is realizing that cymbal must be present literally in the text something a character could see or

Feel or pick up and that literal something in the text must represent something other than its literal meaning

The deeper and the longer reader Ponder's in the text the more symbols

You are going to be able to uncover it

They may even be symbols that the author had not considered because they're symbols that's based on

Your own background knowledge as a reader

So we've looked at structure archetypes figurative language tone and

symbolism as

Components of a piece of literature that would help you critically

Analyze the piece as a whole let's now look at influences

There are many things that can influence an author in his or her writing of a piece of fiction for every writer

Some others authors work appeals to him or her on some level whether it's in the lessons learned the style used are the conclusions

Reached in the story try to discover who has influenced the author of the work. You are trying to critically analyze

Consider the author's time in history so looking at current events in that time other authors. Whether they have been

Contemporary to that particular author or have come before them and

Literary movements as well as influences from the author's personal life sometimes

We are stuck just looking at the author's personal life as an influence

But there's really so much more to influences upon the author than just their own

experiences if you can trace an influence your critical approach is going to be

Much more nuanced that is it will have more facets to it more details more different points of view

brought to that critical analysis

Okay, and a quick note here

Taking a look at influences on an author is

Going to require

Investigation outside the text itself it will require you to do a little bit of research

Beyond just the text now sometimes short stories in textbooks

Have a short little to three paragraph introduction about an author

But it's usually pretty limited and often just limited to discussing the author's personal

influences

Sometimes in a novel that's published

you can look at the back cover of the book or the inside flap of the

Jacket cover or maybe even in an introduction or a dedication to get some idea of influences on the author

but if you're truly going to

Delve into this aspect of the critical analysis of a piece of literature. You will have to actually do some outside research

Here's an example of one influence on Edgar Allan Poe that I am sure

influenced his writing of the black cat Pole often wrote about the supernatural his girlfriend Sarah Whitman was interested in

Spiritualism which was a huge movement during the mid 19th century and other metaphysical?

sciences that were popular in that time period so

Here's an example from the story the cat. Especially the second cat that appears in the story

Seems to have supernatural powers and also

The narrator does mention in the story that his wife was superstitious, so this is probably

an outcome of the influence of the supernatural

Interest that Poe had during this time in history and

Though it's not from the black cat when I was researching

Influences on Poe I found out that he got the idea for the shrinking chamber in his short story the pit in the pendulum

from William Mugford story the iron shrouds often

Authors are influenced by reading other authors work

Here's another influence on Poe the American Romanticism literary movement, which includes romantic Gothic literature

Began in about 1820 and most of pols works can be considered romantic

Gothic now, if you want to find out more about romantic gothic or American Romanticism

You may research that on your own. We don't have time for it in this video on critical analysis

Sometimes you can infer about

Influences on the author just by looking at details from the author's own personal life

Edgar Allen Poe was a proponent of slavery

maybe I'm thinking that influenced his apparent disregard for human lives as

as shown in the story the black cat and many of the other short stories that Paul wrote

Also the color red and blood appear in many of his stories perhaps

This is because he saw so many of his loved ones coughing up blood

before their own deaths

Many of them had the disease that was called consumption back during that time and Poe was heavily influenced by that

Because so many people in his family his loved ones and other people that he knew had died of that

So we've seen how structure archetypes figurative language tone in symbolism as well as

influences on a particular author

Can become part of a critical analysis of a piece of literature I?

Will link to these many resources I've used in preparation of

This lesson in the description of the video down below so that you can check out these resources as well

I hope you found this lesson helpful. I know it's a little longer than the content

I usually put up but it's a more sophisticated topic so it deserved a little bit more time

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