Chapter Two Part 1
Wait, what’s a thesis* again?
* Remember, thesis is singular, theses is plural.
If it’s been a while since you last wrote an essay, or if you’ve somehow been writing essays all this time without understanding the concept of a thesis, let me break this down for you real quick.
The thesis of your essay is your main point, your key argument, the basic idea you are trying to convey. It’s (hopefully) the first sentence or two of your essay, and it neatly sums up your argument.
The key to doing this well, of course, is to actually have a point that you’re trying to make. It’s all to easy to assume that because you’re not supposed to write about your opinion in an essay, you’re only allowed to be 100% factual. And I mean, yes, you’re supposed to be factual, but the English analytical (or literary, or critical, pick your term, they all mean the same thing) essay is fundamentally a persuasive beast dressed up in objective clothing.
The bit that divides so many people in their opinions about English is the fact that there are multiple right answers (Because theme! More on this later), so essentially what you are trying to do in an analytical essay is prove that your answer is the best possible answer to the question. It’s not your opinion of the text (no one actually cares that you hated the novel, sorry), but rather your interpretation of it that matters (Did Hamlet off everyone because madness, or because he was just a melodramatic jerk? Was Macbeth solely responsible for the immorality of his own actions, or does Lady Macbeth share some of the blame too?). So in order to craft a good thesis, you actually need to know what point about the text you’re trying to make, and then convey that succinctly in a sentence or two.
(Incidentally, a good thesis, which creates a driving sense of purpose throughout the text, is the difference between a competent essay and a really good one.)
Let’s have a look at some examples of theses.
- Through the characters of Gwen and the Campers, Gow demonstrates throughout the play Away that mistrust of those different to us is absurd, and is rooted in ignorance.
- Through the characterisation in his novel Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury suggests that the ability to think our own opinions openly with out fear of persecution, harassment or discrimination is integral to constructing our individual identities.
- The novel Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey demonstrates through Charlie’s journey that while moral duality is often demonstrated by adults in authority, it is never demonstrated by people who have truly ‘grown up’.
You’ll note that each of these thesis statements include three elements:
- What the author is talking about
- How this is seen in the text
- Why this is actually significant (or as I like to ask my students, ‘Who cares?’)
Incidentally, these are the holy trinity of English questions, the triad core around which all English literary analysis revolves. Any time you are asked to ‘analyse a text’, remember to cover what, how and who cares, and you’re on safe ground.
Let’s break some of those theses down to show you how this works:
1) Through the characters of Gwen and the Campers, Gow demonstrates throughout the play Away that mistrust of those different to us is absurd, and is rooted in ignorance.
What: We’re talking about the idea of mis-trusting people different to us, as shown in Gow’s play Away.
How: This idea is developed through the characters Gwen and ‘the Campers’.
Why: Gow is suggesting that mistrusting people different to us is absurd; it’s rooted in ignorance, and isn’t an ideal way to lead our lives. Gow is making a comment here about how we should actually live our lives, and the thesis recognises that something in this play is relevant to life outside the text.
2) Through the characterisation in his novel Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury suggests that the ability to think our own opinions openly with out fear of persecution, harassment or discrimination is integral to constructing our individual identities.
What: The ability to think freely (or, the ability to live without censorship) in Fahrenheit 451.
How: This is explored through the characterisation in the novel.
Why: Bradbury is suggesting that this freedom is actually necessary in order for us to create our own identities; again, the author is making a point that is relevant to life outside the text.
3) The novel Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey demonstrates through Charlie’s journey that while moral duality is often demonstrated by adults in authority, it is never demonstrated by people who have truly ‘grown up’.
What: Moral duality in Jasper Jones.
How: Charlie’s journey.
Why: While it’s possible for adults to be morally dualistic, actual, mature grown-ups are not; there’s a difference between ‘being an adult’ and ‘growing up’.
If you’re happy enough with this, feel free to move on to chapter three now. But if you’d like to consolidate your understanding even further, have a look at the sample introduction below to see some thesis statements in context.
(continued next time)
Introduction
Ch1 The Point Of A Text
Ch2.1 Thesis Statements
Ch2.2 Thesis Statements
Ch3 Quotes Are Usually Themes
Ch4.1 Theme In Fables
Ch4.2 Theme In Fables
Ch5.1 Finding Themes
Ch5.2 Finding Themes
Ch6 Subthemes
Ch7.1 Theme + You
Ch7.2 Theme + You
Ch8 Why Stories? Recognising Patterns
Ch9 Why Stories? Memory Aids
Ch10: Why Stories? Social Cooperation
Ch11: Why Stories? Power Structures
Ch12: Why Stories? Empathy
Conclusion