Young Goodman Brown Literary Analysis

Literary Analysis:Close Reading

Purpose:  This close reading essay provides the opportunity for you to process the language used in a short storyand to draw out a particular theme found in the language. 

Assessment:  You will be graded on how well you understand the short storydevelop your analysis through the lens of literary elements as appropriate.  The General Evaluations Standards Rubric will be used to assess your writing.

Instructions: 

1. Choose from one of the following short stories:

“Young Goodman Brown”
“A Good Man is Hard to Find”
“A Rose for Emily”

‘Sonny’s Blues”

• Write a close reading essay.  Your thesis statement should be your claim that a particular theme can be found within the story.  You will provide evidence to support your thesis by quoting directly from the story.  No outside research should be consulted or cited within this story. 

Formatting Guidelines

1. This essay should be no more than three pages in length.
2. This essay must conform to Modern Language Association (MLA) standards for format and citation.  You may consult the DBU Writing Center for help with formatting standards.

1. 1-inch margins-top, bottom, left, right
   1. Double-spaced (no extra spacing before/after title or between paragraphs)
   1. Four-line heading, upper left, first page (See Handbook for specifics)
   1. Center title after four-line heading (NO separate title page)
   1. Header of last name and page number, upper right, every page.
   1. In-text parenthetical citations (for quotes from stories)
   1. Works cited page