Organizing a Paper about Literature

Introductory Paragraph

1. Begin generally about poem and/or poet (one or two sentences).
2. Lead in to the thesis (2-3 sentences).
3. Thesis (one sentence, example: "John Keats uses symbols to show that we can only find happiness in this world if we accept our own mortality"--thesis=technique + theme)

Body Paragraphs
Divide the thesis into 2-4 body paragraphs. Normally, this division follows naturally from a division of technique (e.g. a different symbol or group of symbols per paragraph) or from a division of the theme (2-4 subthemes). The basic formula for a body paragraph is
(1) thesis sentence
(2) evidence
(3) explanation of how evidence relates to topic sentence
(4) conclusion

Sample Body paragraph 1

1. thesis sentence (example: "John Keats uses symbols of inanimate objects to show that in seeking to live in a world without death, we cannot be happy because that world is sterile and barren, with no opportunity for any emotion at all.")
2. (one or more sentences to explain or develop the idea in the topic sentence--talk about the impossibility of finding happiness in a world without death)
3. (quote from the poem, e.g. "Cold Pastoral")
4. (discuss how the quotation relates to the theme/subtheme/technique; e.g. "the speaker calls the urn a "Cold Pastoral" because it lacks human warmth; as a cold pastoral, it provides us with eternal perfection, but at the cost of happiness." Optional: Repeat steps 2 and 3--discuss further examples, quotes, symbols, etc.
5. (wrap up; e.g., "thus, Keats shows ...").

Sample Body paragraph 2

1. (one or more sentences to explain or develop the idea in the topic sentence--talk about the possibility of finding happiness in a world with death i.e, animate objects)
2. (quote from the poem, e.g. "that heifer lowing at the skies")
3. (discuss how the quotation relates to the theme/subtheme/technique; e.g. "the heifer, which is about to be sacrificed, represents the benefit or happiness that death can bring the living") Optional: discuss further examples, quotes, symbols, etc.
4. wrap up; e.g., "thus, Keats shows ...").

Conclusion (tie everything back together; repeat subthemes, then main theme or thesis)