How to Paraphrase in Literary Analysis

Explaining the content of the work you're discussing is very important when engaging in literary analysis. Unless the reader is familiar with the passage or work you're analyzing, all your commentary will be worthless. To avoid lengthy quotation you'll need to paraphrase the work, identifying the most significant passages and ideas and putting them in your own words. Effective paraphrasing is a skill that must be developed, but requires little more than regular practice.

Instructions

    • 1

      Read the original passage through several times. Repeat until you can recall all the information necessary for your paper's argument, but stop before you begin to inadvertently memorize the text.

    • 2

      Set the text aside and write the passage out from memory, using your own words but including all the information the reader needs to fully understand your analysis.

    • 3

      Take a break to allow your memory to fade somewhat and then return to your notes. Read your first paraphrase, set it aside, and write out another based on your first attempt.

    • 4

      Compare your second paraphrase to the original text. Both paragraphs should be roughly the same length, but some variation is fine. If the necessary information is still conveyed but the wording is sufficiently different, include this paraphrase in your final paper.

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