Tips for Literature Students!
Here are a few tips for those of you who are analysing novels (sorry it’s a bit messy) :
Techniques:
Highlight the utter hell out of your novel. Colour code it according to setting, character development, themes etc. Then underline it with a dark coloured pen and add some notes as to why you classified it as that specific colour.
Use those skinny post-it notes and colour code them too. Stick them on pages with significant events, character development.
At the beginning of each chapter, attach a flash card to the page with a paper clip. This will unfortunately make your book look like it has monstrous braces, but it will help a lot. Write a short summary on one side of it.
Add some little notes about similarities it may have to other novels, or even movies, fanfictions or video games. Even little, silly, trivial things that make you giggle.Try to focus on the serious things too, like similar tropes, character structures, archetypes etc.
Make a playlist for the book. Add a song for each chapter. Listen to it while you read the book.
Make mood boards for the book. Designing them according to major themes e.g childhood, morality etc is even better.
Make shipping charts after reading the first few chapters. Make a more detailed character relationships chart after finishing the book.
Things to Analyse
Character Development
Character Personality
Minor Themes
Major Themes
Protagonist’s Goal
Antagonist’s Goal
How the Antagonist’s Goal comes in conflict with the Protagonist’s
External Conflict of Characters
Internal Conflict of Characters
Setting/Background
Archetypes/Tropes
Genre’s Influence Over Characters
Significant Events
Writing Style
Literary Devices
The Novel’s Government
Characters’ Moral Alignment
Character Relationships
Time
Chronology/Organisation
The Author’s Thoughts Influencing the Novel
Symbolism
