Example of short story analysis

Understanding Literary Devices: Euphemism, Epigram, and Irony

How to write a literary analysis requires deep understanding of various stylistic devices that authors employ to create meaning and effect. Let's explore some essential stylistic devices examples that frequently appear in literature and everyday communication.

Euphemism serves as a gentle substitute for potentially offensive or harsh expressions, allowing writers to address sensitive topics with grace. When conducting a short story analysis, identifying euphemisms helps reveal the author's tone and attitude toward difficult subjects. For instance, phrases like "passed away" instead of "died" or "economically disadvantaged" rather than "poor" demonstrate how language can be softened while maintaining meaning.

Definition: Euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or less offensive

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This resource is intended to teach you about how to write a short story analysis. Below you will find an example of an analysis of the short story "A Fable" by Mark Twain. By clicking on the expandable boxes, you can read comments that highlight how the text is written.

The appreciation of art

– an analysis of the short story "A Fable" by Mark Twain

"A Fable" is a short story written by Mark Twain, first published in 1909. The text explores the relationship between an artist’s intention and the audience’s reaction. This analysis will study the short story closely and explore how literary devices contribute to making the text’s theme clear.

"A Fable" starts with a description of an artist who has painted a picture he is very pleased with. To experience the work of art fully, it must be looked at in a mirror: “This doubles the distance and softens it, and it is twice as lovely as it was before.” The artist’s cat tells his friends about

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Analyzing Novels & Short Stories

Literary analysis looks critically at a work of fiction in order to understand how the parts contribute to the whole. When analyzing a novel or short story, you’ll need to consider elements such as the context, setting, characters, plot, literary devices, and themes. Remember that a literary analysis isn’t merely a summary or review, but rather an interpretation of the work and an argument about it based on the text. Depending on your assignment, you might argue about the work’s meaning or why it causes certain reader reactions. This handout will help you analyze a short story or novel—use it to form eller gestalt a thesis, or argument, for your essay.

Summary

Begin by summarizing the basic plot: “Matildaby Roald Dahl is about a gifted little girl in small town amerika who learns to make things move with her mind and saves her teacher and school from the evil principal.” This will help ground you in the story. (When you write your paper, you probably won