Literary Analysis Sample - Finals

Denise M.
Resurreccion
2BSA
Analysis Activity
Read carefully the following literary analysis and identify the literary perspectives
adopted by the author in the analysis.
 Literary Analysis of “By the shores of silver lake”

 Example of an Insightful Literary Analysis Essay
Process question: What are the literary perspectives adopted by the author in the
literary analysis?
Right off the bat, it can be observed that the main character of the story
and the author are of the same name. And themes centered on coming of age
and sisterly bond can be attributed as a reflection of the author’s childhood and
adolescence in American as a member of a settler and pioneer family,
suggesting that the literary source is autobiographical to an extent. However, the
primary literary criticism adopted was an archetypal perspective with undertones
of a character perspective (psychological perspective) as it focuses on the
psyche of Laura. From the literary analysis example, it is expounded that the
journey of Laura, as a protagonist, from innocence to experience is an archetype
and with this ensues an exploration of Laura’s struggle and methods with coping
with her sister’s blindness. As characters Laura and Mary embodied archetypes
as child and elderly sister respectively. Typically, it was Mary that encapsulates a
figure of nurture and authority however; her blindness warranted a shift in family
roles. Thus Laura experiences a period of adjustment and acceptance, and
minimal loss of identity. Increased domestic and social responsibilities and
pressures to a thirteen year old created an inner conflict and a troubled state of
mind for Laura as she had to deal with the fact she was responsible for Mary’s
safety, practical needs, and vision of the world. But by the end of the book, Laura
learned to embrace her new role and broadened her vocabulary and
understanding to animate and describe things to her blind sister in a way that
allows Mary to experience the world too.
PROJECT:
Create your own literary analysis on your chosen literary piece (local or foreign)
The literary analysis should not be less than 500 words and should reflect at least 1
literary perspective.
Denise M. Resurreccion
2BSA
“Cut off your toe. When you are queen you will no longer have to go on foot," is
an utterance by Lady Tremaine towards her daughters in the story ‘Cinderella’. A stark
contrast from memories of sewing mice, pumpkin carriages and fairy godmothers that
was ingrained in youth. This is because Disney’s Cinderella, though the most notable
and a beloved children’s classic is actually an adaptation of ‘The Brothers Grimm’s
Aschenputtel or Cinderella in English translations. Aside from that, the story of
Cinderella has been reiterated and referenced so much throughout history and in
modern pop culture that it has been trademarked as a storyline of rags-to-riches, which
presents the contrasts between social classes through a transitional period of social
class elevation. In spite of this, prevailing public belief and propaganda focuses on the
romantic aspects of story and downplays the socio-economic constructs of the text.
When in actuality, Cinderella, particularly in context of the Brothers Grimm’s version, is
a narrative of class warfare told through a love story between a prince and a commoner.
The story starts with the heroine introduced as upper-middle class with good
prospects that emanates from her station but after the death of her mother and
subsequent remarriage of her father, her position within the family shifts. The change in
family dynamics resulted in her marriage to be no longer a priority, devastating her
future since women of the time had only one means of livelihood, that of marriage.
Restricted by law and custom from engaging in trade and possession of property, she
was forced to earn her keep as a scullery maid to the household. This is the first
indication of social conflict as it illustrates the value of material wealth, and how the
abundance thereof functions as a repressive force capable of imposing conditions on
masses against their will.
In addition to that, there are reoccurring themes of class struggle throughout the
text. Cinderella’s clothing of an old grey smock and wooden shoes in comparison to
apparel of the other members of the household, as well as Cinderella’s bed as a hearth
among the ashes in contrast to the individual chambers of the household, portrays a
clear division of class dynamic within the household. As it happens, even the golden
slippers, the quintessential icon of Cinderella is a symbol of opulence. As the slipper is
made of gold, a hard and rigid substance that does not stretch, walking would be
excessively painful so only the ostentatiously wealthy would indulge in this pursuit as an
undeniable symbol of wealth as it meant that people of their status do not partake in
manual labour.
For the sake of a happy ever after, the story proceeded as a love at first sight
and ended in marriage. However, it was only through false pretence as an individual
with higher status that Cinderella was considered a suitable partner for someone born of
royalty. Which begets the question, what was the primary motivator of affection? A love
ignited by sight is therefore unaware of character. And with the sole element evident
upon entrance is display of wealth, whether the story is a fantasy of romantic love or a
Denise M. Resurreccion
2BSA
fantasy of economic security depends on the audience. As consequent, the prince is

suggested to have embodied a hero archetype, reinforcing the archetype of a damsel-
in-distress unto Cinderella and shedding light to the idea of power being a gendered
concept. Cinderella, reduced to a state of degradation and squalor, and forced to
sustain a servile position, it was only through marital union did she become liberated
from a life of servitude, implying that women, as a gender, need to be saved and only a
man has the capacity to be the hero. Additionally, extreme polarization of gender at that
time meant that after a woman is married, her rights, her property, and even her identity
would almost ceased to exist. For a wife is subjected to the supervision and regulation
of her spouse inducing her opinions not her own. Which raises the question, would a
cage still be a cage even if the bars are gold?

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Denise M.

 Literary Analysis of “By the shores of silver lake”

fantasy of economic security depends on the audience. As consequent, the prince is

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