What is the best approach to a Craft Analysis paper on Characterization in a sho

Jump to Last Post 1-2 of 2 discussions (4 posts)
  1. Rafini profile image82
    Rafiniposted 10 years ago

    What is the best approach to a Craft Analysis paper on Characterization in a short story?

    Does writing a Craft Analysis paper on characterization in a short story actually help you to be a better creative writer??   I'm finding it extremely difficult to get started!! And, the professor really isn't much help....  (first time teaching as a professor, first time teaching at this university)

    Analysis is a strength of mine, BUT, I usually read for pleasure and I'm supposed to be learning how to read like a writer - No more internalizing what I observe - and I'm totally lost.

    I already have my evidence and definition but have no idea how to proceed.  Please Help!! 

    Thanks!!

  2. Billie Kelpin profile image85
    Billie Kelpinposted 10 years ago

    just looked up "craft analysis".  We used to call it something else, but it sounds like you need to pick an element of the piece and analyze how the writer uses technique to craft the story.  The important part is to find the element you want to discuss and then carry through with examples in each paragraph.  I read a definition of the craft paper here and the writer was using Tim O'Brien's novel as an example it seems.  Actually, Bill Meisner is a friend of Tim O'Brien's and writing teacher and novelist.  I reviewed on of his stories on amazon, but discussed several elements.  If I were doing your paper, I would take the following paragraph regarding Meisner's use of metaphor and use it as an introduction.  Then I would cite examples of separate metaphors to support my thesis that Meisner uses these to create visual impressionistic portraits of his characters. Here's a paragraph of what I wrote:
    "As surely as Monet creates masterpieces of images on canvas, William Meissner in "The Road to Cosmos" creates individual portraits of characters whose truths stay with you long after you've walked away from the viewing. Meissner dabs the page with stunning metaphorical phrases that create impressions of light to reveal his characters' nobility and impressions of shadows to reveal their flaws. And you recognize the portraits as you gaze at each picture in the gallery."

    Then I would go back within the novel and for each character, find the metaphors that support my thesis. 

    But all this might be WRONG.  Be sure to read other hub comments, especially those from English teachers.  Be sure to read YOUR syllabus again and again, the answers will be there. Whatever your instructor has emphasized in class and in the syllabus should be your guide.  Did your teacher give you  examples of craft analysis papers?  It's sort of formulaic.  As to will this help you be a better creative writer?  Surely!  Anytime you analyze another writers work and see the tools he or she used it makes you a little more aware of the tools that are in your tool chest.  Again, I'm not an English prof and I've interpreted for deaf students years and years ago in Literature Analysis classes, so your instructor is your best guide.  Don't be afraid to use office hours, even if it's the day before it's due.

    1. Rafini profile image82
      Rafiniposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Billie!

      That paragraph really helps, much better than the profs examples.  I found my approach - Literature is an Art Form that uses Craft Elements. 

      Sounds like your saying to analyze Character in terms of POV, Setting or Voice.  Right?

    2. Billie Kelpin profile image85
      Billie Kelpinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Rf,  I might not be understanding the assign. R you analyzing a particular short story? If so, then tell how the AUTHOR uses characterization or (?) to make the characters come alive. I'm a little confused.Ur prof can help. U can email me w/ syllabus

 
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)