The Importance of Being Ernest Literature Research

Type a 2-3 page literary analysis paper on The Importance of Being Ernest, which you argue what the theme of the play is and prove your argument by giving examples from the play that support this theme.

Literary Analysis of Drama

Instructions: Type a 2-3 page literary analysis paper on one of the two plays that we read/watched this semester in which you argue what the theme of the play is and prove your argument by giving examples from the play that support this theme. Remember that the theme is the central message or insight into life that a story reveals, and it does not always have to be a lesson or moral, although it can be. Also, remember that the theme should be stated as a sentence and a generalization that can be applied to the general public. Thus, you should not mention character names when stating the theme. For example, in the story “The Flowers” by Alice Walker, we would not say the theme is loss of innocence, or even that Myop loses her innocence after becoming acquainted with the death and the evils of the world, but rather we would say that once one becomes acquainted with death and the evils of the world, one loses their innocence.

Make sure to follow the conventions of MLA format and include a Works Cited page for the play you choose to write about. Remember that in a literary analysis, you are not writing a plot summary, but rather you are arguing for your interpretation of a work in response to a particular question, with this one being on theme. This literary analysis requires you to do a close reading and use numerous quotes as evidence for your claims. Remember that your thesis should answer the question posed in the prompt and your topic sentences should provide reasons supporting that thesis (they should not be questions, facts, or quotes). Remember to give some background information (such as the play, author, and a brief summary as well as any other contextual info) in the introduction before moving on to the thesis (which should be the last sentence of the first paragraph). For the body paragraphs, explain the quotes you use as evidence, use in-text citations, and remember to have concluding statements at the end. Finally, remember to restate your thesis in different words in the conclusion, summarize your main points, and offer a “so what” (what broader implications this work could have on the world or why it matters to consider the work in the way you have).