Essayists may find sufficient resources in literary journals, wherein other readers have already substantially analyzed and critiqued "The Grasshopper and he Bell Cricket." Previously published critiques provide essayists with a touchpoint which can be elaborated upon or contradicted as a basis for your analysis. On the other hand, previously published critiques can serve to illuminate aspects of the story you did not previously see, and can, thereby, inform your own interpretation. Search the MLA International Bibliography, Project Muse and JSTOR.org for related articles.
An analysis of Kawabata's expression of loneliness and loss in his story can be broadened to comment on society and the contemporary culture's facilitation of widespread loneliness. "Psychology Today" and the "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology" provide commentary on the persistence of loneliness in modern life. The book "Loneliness: The Experience of Emotional and Social Isolation" by R.S. Weiss may also serve as a valuable resource for analysis of this story.
Kawabata spends a significant portion of the story explaining the color of the children's lanterns, how they change nightly, as an expression of the children's hearts and minds. An essayist may explore the hearts and minds of the children by exploring the meaning of the colors of their lanterns. Design magazines and journals will yield an overview of different colors, how they create moods and what they mean culturally.
It may be helpful to the essayist to review the scientific descriptions of the grasshopper and bell cricket in Japan. The bell cricket and the grasshopper may have cultural significance that is lost in translation outside of Japan. The encyclopedia will explain the prevalence of the creatures, where they are most found, their diet and whether they are part of any diet on location.