What to Do if Youre in Love With a Fictional Character

What to Do if You're in Love With a Fictional Character We love to read, and when were immersed in literature, the characters come to life for us! We know them- all their most secret and intimate details. Sometimes, we become too involved in a characters life (and situation). We know what they want, who they are, and sometimes, we may even imagine ourselves into the world of the novel. What do you do if youre in love with a fictional character? Step Back   Ask yourself: Why do I love the character? Perhaps one of the things you love the most about him/her is the fact that the character is without substance (he/she is not real, at least not in a corporeal, sit-down-and-have-a-conversation-with-you kind of way). How does the character (and the episodes in the novel that compelled you to love the character) compare with your real life experiences? Pros vs. Cons Consider the characters other qualities... For every perfect character trait, the author likely included a few undesirable personality characteristics. Make a list of the pros and cons (what you love about the character in one column, and what you dislike about the hero/heroine in the other column). At the top of the con list, you can write: _____ is not real. Hes a figment of my (and every other readers) imagination! Familiarity How many times have you read the book? Have you memorized all the characters main lines? If you have memorized all the scenes, and youve imagined yourself sitting beside your fictional love, it may be time to read other books. Get critical! Use your intense fascination with the book to conduct a full study of all works by the author, as well as an exhaustive study of the novel itself. (Beyond a simple reading and re-reading, track the characters, look at the critical reception, and learn more about the historical context of the work. Think of it as your way to get to know more about the character you love. Book vs. Movie? Ask yourself: Am I really in love with the actor who plays the character in the   film version? Im not suggesting that you suddenly become a stalker, or fall violently in unrequited love with all the actors as a  stand in for literary characters. But, its a bit easier to have a crush on an actor than it is to be in love with a character in a novel. Fan-dom vs. Real Love Sometimes its easy to confuse the feelings of real love with the enthusiasm you feel when you are an ultimate fan. That giddy-obsessive feeling that you get when you find a character that represents so many romantic qualities can be can sometimes be confused with the enigmatic (often confusing) feeling of love. Support Group or Book Club After talking with a great many readers over the years, Im convinced that there are many more of you who are in love with their favorite characters than you would imagine. Of course, part of the problem is that being in love with a character from a book is sometimes not accepted by our society. But, if you are really in love with a character, I urge you to seek out others to share your passion. Start a support group. You can even start a   book club- to share the favorite books with others who love their hero/heroine just as much as you do!   Read more about Fictional Heroes We Love... In The Secret Life of Prince Charming, Deb Caletti writes: It starts so young, and Im angry about that. The garbage were taught. About love, about whats romantic. Look at so many of the so-called romantic figures in books and movies. Do we ever stop and think how many of them would cause serious and drastic unhappiness after The End? Why are sick and dangerous personality types so often shown a passionate and tragic and something to be longed for when those are the very ones you should run for your life from? Think about it. Heathcliff. Romeo. Don Juan. Jay Gatsby. Rochester. Mr. Darcy. From the rigid control freak in The Sound of Music to all the bad boys some woman goes running to the airport to catch in the last minute of every romantic comedy. She should let him leave. Your time is so valuable  and look at these guysdepressive and moody and violent and immature and self-centered. And what about the big daddy of them all, Prince Charmi ng? What was his secret life? We dont know anything about him, other then he looks good and comes to the rescue.

Literary Analysis A Guide to Writing a Perfect Literary Analysis

Literary Analysis A Guide to Writing a Perfect Literary Analysis The process of learning how to write a literary analysis can be daunting and overwhelming at first, but as you gain more practice with this kind of thinking, you can craft a method that works best for you. Literary Analysis Essay A literary analysis essay is an argumentative analysis that carefully examines a piece of literature by looking at the characters of the story, theme, tone, setting as well as the plot and other literary devices used to narrate the story. It encourages a reader to think about how and why a novel, poem or play was written. Its meant to be an analysis of a key element in the literature thus you should refrain from writing a paper that explains every single point of the plot of the story. An argument can be raised by looking at the authors intentions and attempting to explain their significance or from a personal perspective in which case the original text has to defend and account for the argument to the reader. 7 TIPS TO WRITE A LITERATURE REVIEW The Purpose of a Reading Analysis The purpose of a literary analysis is to demonstrate why the author used specific characters, themes, settings, imagery, etc. to persuade the reader in a story. It tries to identify an important theme and then investigates the literary devices that the author used to reveal that theme. The literary analysis also helps to develop critical thinking skills in students by challenging them to look beyond the literal meanings by dissecting the story to see how the pieces fit together. Literary Analysis vs. Reading Analysis From a general view, literal analysis delves into the why and tries to understand the obvious and hidden meanings that lurk beneath the main plot. It causes one to not only reflect on the story itself but to understand the bigger picture of history, human condition etc. Reading analysis, on the other hand, is the act of reading to extract information. 5 Steps on How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay The process of learning how to write a literary analysis can be daunting and overwhelming at first, but as you gain more practice with this kind of thinking, you can craft a method that works best for you. Here is a guide that outlines everything you need to know to write a good literary analysis. 1. Choose and Focus on the Topic First, you need to read the work thoroughly and ensure you understand the plot of the play, poem or novel and who the characters are. An analysis is only possible when you have a clear understanding of the story. Always pick a topic that interests you as it is easier to start off with something you enjoy. Brainstorm a list of potential topics (themes) by asking yourself questions like, What was striking in the text? Why did the author write this? How are characters developed? How are the literary devices used? and try to look for connections and patterns by mapping out the different aspects of the chosen element. 2. Gather Evidence Its important for students to research the topic before writing. Collect enough material to help you answer or support your question. 3. Introduction to a Literary Analysis Essay The introduction to a literary analysis essay makes the first impression on a reader so its essential that you bring it out in a clear and concise manner. A good introduction to a literary analysis essay should provide relevant information about a particular aspect of a work of literature and orientate the reader to what will follow. The introduction must, therefore, include a book, author, title, main characters, short summary, and thesis. A thesis appears as the last sentence in the first paragraph and will mainly allude to the three main points you wish to address in the main body of the essay. Here is an example of a good thesis statement for literary analysis: In a Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens demonstrates the process by which an unfruitful and wasted life can be redeemed. Sidney Cartons intense love for Lucie Manette transforms him from a hopeless man into a hero and star whose life and death bring so much meaning. 4. The Body of a Literary Analysis Essay After the introduction, you will move towards the body of your essay where you present the paragraphs (usually three paragraphs for a 500-750 word essay) that support your thesis statement. Each paragraph in the body should include a topic sentence, textual evidence (paraphrase or quotation), commentary/explanation and a concluding sentence. 5. Conclusion of a Literary Analysis Essay This is the last paragraph in your essay which should reflect how your essay topic relates to the book as a whole. You will need to summarize all that you have discussed in the essay without introducing any new ideas. Formatting a Literary Analysis Literary analysis papers are generally written using MLA citation style formatting guidelines unless specified otherwise by your professor. Here is the article about MLA essay format with the  example: MLA ESSAY FORMAT Writing literary analysis is often a time-consuming activity that requires a lot of research and skill. With the use of our writing services, you will not only receive quality literary analysis essays even on the most challenging topics, but you will create a more professional piece that depicts you as one with a deep understanding of literature. Get an expert writing assistance today, place an order and leave your worries behind.