English 1B - Gavilan College
Formal Analysis Essay #2
1500-1800 words (5-6 pages)

Purpose: To use psychoanalytic, mythological and/or sociocultural theories to interpret a novel.

Directions:

1. Review class notes and online resources on psychoanalytic theory, mythological theory, and sociocultural theory.

2. Choose a novel to read and interpret. It could be any novel, in any genre, including graphic novels and novels for children and young adults. You could choose to read that classic novel you've always wanted to read, or you could re-read a favorite from your past. If you are stuck for a novel choice, consider browsing the lists of recommended novels here: Novel Recommendations.

3. Choose which theory you'd like to use to interpret the novel. You may choose any approach to analyzing your novel, as long as it incorporates some of the principles that we’ve discussed about the three theories in question.  Consider the following suggestions if you're stuck for ideas.

Psychoanalytic/Mythological Theory:

Heroic Ideal: Do any of the characters in your novel qualify as a heroic figure, according to Campbells's heroic ideal? Why or why not? Give examples of how the protagonist fits the hero archetype and how he/she deviates from it.

Archetypal Theory:  What archetypes do you find among the characters and situations in the book? Why do we continue to respond to these figures? Explain the theory behind archetypes, and give specific examples from the novel illustrating the role of archetypes in literature and psychology.

Storytelling: What is the role of storytelling in the book? Give examples of story-telling in the novel, including myths, legends and personal narratives, and discuss what the author might have been suggesting about the importance of story-telling in our lives. Why is it important to us; what do we gain from it?

Maturation: Trace your protagonist's maturation through the book. What evidence do you see that the character is growing as a result of his or her experiences? What is he or she learning about self and life, and how does the protagonist use the knew-found knowledge to change his/her perspective and opinions?  How does the protagonist’s behavior or outlook changes as a result of those experiences?

The Human Psyche: Describe how the world of one of the characters in your book can be seen as a metaphor for the human psyche, according to Freud’s model. How do his or her adventures and ordeals work as a metaphor for human psychological development? How might a reader use the metaphor as a tool for his or her own life, even if he or she doesn’t know anything about how humans develop psychologically?

Literary Tradition: How does this novel take part in a larger literary tradition? What elements of the novel are borrowed from or influenced by other, older stories and ideas?  What might the author have been trying achieve by using these particular elements?

Class/Race: Discuss the role of class or race in the novel. How do interactions between characters of different economic classes or races help the author develop his or her characters? What does the author seem to suggest overall about the nature of class or race relations in our culture?

Power: Discuss the concept of power and control in the novel. Who has power and control, how do those people get that control, and how do they use it? What constitutes “right” use of power and “wrong” use of power? What does the author seem to think is the “right” way to get, use and hold on to power?

Authority: How is authority portrayed in the book? How is power used and abused by the different characters? How do the protagonists react to authority figures, and does the author give clues as to how she feels about authority figures? 

Mother/Father Figures: Analyze the mother and father figures presented in the book. What does the author feel constitutes a “good” mother and father, or a “bad” mother and father? Do any of the examples of mother and father figures go against what we would consider to be a cultural ideal? How does the author both uphold and subvert cultural ideas about parenthood?

Gender/Sex Roles: Analyze gender and sex figures presented in the book. What does the author present as typically feminine behavior?What does she present as typically masculine behavior? Do any of the examples of gender or sex roles go against what we would consider to be a cultural ideal? How does the author both uphold and subvert cultural ideas about sex and gender?