Reading books, whether fiction or nonfiction, is a fantastic hobby that is fun and informative. However, analyzing books can help you get even more out of the books you read, both for fun and academic purposes. Knowing how to analyze them changes the way you interpret and understand them, and maybe even what they mean to you. Once you know how to break down the plot, structure, language, and plot of a work, while critiquing the author's perspective, analyzing books is a breeze.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Breaking down fiction
Step 1. Read the work slowly and pay close attention to details
To analyze a book for subtle messages and ideas, you must give it your full attention. Take your time as you read and pay attention to all the details that the author chooses to include in the text.
- Remember, when you read, that all the little details in the book were deliberately chosen by the author and therefore can be significant in some invisible way. For example, if an author describes a girl's dress as "yellow like the sun," ask yourself why the author chose the color yellow (symbol of optimism) or what it means for her dress to be compared to the sun.
- Certain sections of any book should be read with special attention. The beginning and the end, for example, are a good place to find meaning and symbolism in a text. Read those sections a little more carefully.
- If you have trouble reading slowly or staying focused, try to keep the specific goal of the reading in mind rather than reading "without thinking." For example, if you are trying to analyze a work of fiction for symbolism, keep that in mind as you read and it will help you focus on the relevant details (for example, the author's choice of character names).
- Read the book twice if you have time.
Step 2. Take notes as you read
Not only will it help you notice any details that seem significant, but it will also allow you to jot down your thoughts as you read them and keep them organized. Include page numbers and chapters in your notes.
- Write down anything you think might be especially important, even if you're not sure. You'll be happy to keep a convenient record of potentially significant details when it comes time to write about your analysis.
- In your notes, quote directly from the book when you think the specific wording of the text is important. Otherwise, feel free to paraphrase the text when taking note of events or topics.
- If you can, invest in a personal copy of the text. This allows you to highlight, underline, and take notes in the margins of significant passages as you go along.
Step 3. Study the context in which the author wrote the book
The work can be a commentary on the events that occur in the author's life or be a reflection of the prejudices of the people in his society. Knowing the context of the book can also help you determine what the author's goal was in writing it.
- When researching the context in which a book was written, consider the time period, the location (country, state, city, etc.), the political system, and the author's biography. For example, a Russian expat writing in the 1940s about a dictatorship might make a statement about the Soviet Union or Joseph Stalin.
- Look in other books by the same author and see how the book you read compares to them in terms of history, topic of discussion, themes, and other details. For example, many of Philip K. Dick's novels focused on the nature of reality and the questions surrounding identity.
- Try starting on a site like Wikipedia. While not an academic source, it often provides an overview of the topic and can be linked to other sources or even other works by the author.
Step 4. Establish the essential plot points of the story
The plot of a novel is usually organized around a certain pattern that includes a problem, a climax, and a resolution. Identify where these points occur in the story to better understand what message the author is trying to convey.
For example, if the characters in a novel can only solve a problem by working together, the author can make a statement about the importance of collaboration
Step 5. Determine the setting of the book and how it contributes to the story
Although the setting of a novel may seem like a background, it is often just as important to the story as some of the characters. Consider how the setting of the story influences your reaction or helps convey the theme of the story.
- The setting can be symbolic. Reflect on the characters at a certain point in your journey or foreshadow certain key plot elements.
- For example, ask yourself if a story that takes place in an isolated cabin during winter would be quite different if it took place in an apartment in a big city. If so, think about why a different setting changes the meaning of the story.
Step 6. Examine the actions, motivations, and beliefs of the characters
Books typically have a main character (the protagonist), a villain (the antagonist), and a variety of supporting characters. As you read, think about why the characters do what they do and what this says about them and their beliefs.
- You should also consider why the author would make his characters do the things they do and what he is trying to say.
- For example, if a holy man commits murder, ask yourself why the character would betray his beliefs or why the author tries to portray a holy man in this way.
Step 7. Consider how the author's writing style affects the story of the book
Although an author's writing style may be the result of personal preference, it can also be an intentional style choice to influence the reader's reaction to the story. Pay attention to the author's style and ask yourself if it influences the meaning of the story.
- The writing style includes the author's choice of vocabulary, sentence structure, tone, imagery, symbolism, and the overall feeling of the story.
- For example, an author may try to impart a more humorous tone by using short, choppy sentences and nonsense words.
Step 8. Identify the main theme or message of the book
Most authors who write a work of fiction will have a theme or message that they want their book to convey. Use your analysis of the plot, setting, characters, and writing style to determine what the book's theme is.
- Some common themes include good versus evil, growth, human nature, love, friendship, war, and religion.
- A book can cover multiple topics, with some topics more obvious than others. Topics are often most visible at the beginning and end of a book. Reread these sections after the first reading to help you evaluate the subject of the book.
Step 9. Make an outline to collect your ideas and relevant information
It is especially useful if you write a critical analysis of a book for others to read. Create an outline that includes basic information about the book and the author, a summary or description of the work itself, and its interpretation.
Method 2 of 2: Criticize Nonfiction Books
Step 1. Read the book slowly and take notes as you read
Nonfiction books are often dense and can be cutting to read. Make sure to read slowly and stay focused so you don't lose track of the logical flow of the book. Write down your thoughts on the book or the most important information you find.
- Try to find key words and phrases in each paragraph as you read, and write a summary of each passage or chapter as you go.
- If you have trouble reading slowly or staying focused, try to keep the specific goal of the reading in mind rather than reading "without thinking." If you read for specific information on a topic (for example, the physical properties of meteorites), keep this in mind as you read and you will be able to better focus on the relevant information as you read it.
Step 2. Determine the author's purpose
Every nonfiction book has a purpose, whether it is to describe, persuade, discuss, or instruct. Read the text and, if possible, read the summary of the book to discern what the author's goal is.
- For example, some historians write books to challenge the dominant interpretations of certain historical events (for example, the cause of the American Civil War).
- Many authors will state the purpose of their nonfiction book in the preface or introductory chapter and will reaffirm that purpose in the final chapter of the book. Read those sections to help you determine the overall goals of the book.
Step 3. Research the author's background and motivation for writing this book
Compare the book to other works the author has written and ask yourself if the author's beliefs or ideologies could lead to the book being biased.
For example, if the book is a history of a particular political party, then the author's relationship with that party (for example, if the author is a member of the party) will almost certainly influence how the history of the party is written in the book
Step 4. Distinguish fact from opinion statement
Although the objective evidence used to reinforce an argument must be viewed critically, it is the opinion of the author that you must critique and evaluate in the analysis.
- For example, an author might write: “High school students usually learn European history from their teachers. Such teachers are overpaid”. In this case, the first sentence is a statement of fact, while the second is a statement of opinion.
- Statements of fact are often followed by citations in the form of footnotes or parenthetical citations.
- Don't discount what an author says right away simply because it is "opinion." In most cases, an author's conclusions will be derived from the facts that are also presented in the book and should be judged as such.
Step 5. Examine the evidence the author relies on to support his argument
Determine if the evidence the author presents actually supports their conclusions or convinces you to accept their opinion. Similarly, consider whether the author has intentionally omitted any evidence that contradicts his argument, due to his own bias.
- For example, consider whether you would come to a different conclusion based on the same evidence, and see if the author describes in the book why he did not come to the same conclusion as you. If you don't, the plot may not be entirely planned.
- Try to verify the author's information with other sources. Look at scholarly articles, online encyclopedias, and other scholarly resources to see if the evidence the author cites matches the larger scholarly work on the topic, or if you can find conflicting evidence that the author did not include in their work.
Step 6. Decide if the book serves its purpose
Ask yourself if the book convinced you to agree with the author's opinion, argument, or conclusions. If you were not persuaded, determine what aspect of the book failed to convince you of the author's accuracy.
- For example, think about whether the author's evidence was reliable or relevant, whether the argument was logical, and whether the author's conclusions made sense to you.
- Make sure you don't let your personal attitudes interfere with the analysis. If you find a book unconvincing, ask yourself if you have any internal biases that prevent you from analyzing the book in a neutral way.