Helpful Verbs for Literary Analysis
Helpful Verbs for Literary Analysis
Always strive for active voice and present tense when analyzing a short story, a novel, a passage from a novel, an essay, a play, or a poem.
The writer…
asserts that wisdom resides in simplicity
creates a world where robots
constructs family life sans TV and video games
reconstructs his father’s memories
relives the adventures of his youth
traces the boy’s family history
tracks the evil results of greed
probes the innate cruelty of human nature
explores how one lie leads to legions
criticizes negligent parents
blames fate for his brother’s illness
accuses society of apathy and selfishness
attacks the authority figures
argues the merits of honest humiliation
establishes a mood of dissatisfied sarcasm
presents a childhood story
seeks to explain the inexplicable
finds ruptured relationships to be the cause
reveals how love can change lives
thinks love’s merits are overrated
believes all people want to feel significant
feels people too often succumb to despair
suggests that all families have secrets
points out the confusion
considers the historical period
examines the idealism of youth
exposes the hypocrisy of the self-righteous
dissects the underlying reasons
focuses on the cruelty of racist remarks
concentrates on motives behind decisions
reflects on a long walk in the woods
recalls a time when Americans relied on
reminisces about his grandfather’s fiddle
commiserates with families of soldiers
recreates the blurred landscape of a blind man
refers to her own childhood
illuminates the character’s thoughts
tells how he escaped into another world
shows how education defines social status
portrays a young athlete
depicts the hardships of the Depression
illustrates the struggles of migrant workers
paints a portrait of society’s forgotten
describes the courage of ordinary people
provides a glimpse into
cries out for social justice
pleads for acceptance
appeals for understanding
expresses the pain of loss
confides her sense of guilt
rages against the materialistic rat race
questions conventional wisdom
marvels at nature’s resilience
ignites the reader’s imagination
uses examples of broken things
pinpoints the moment of epiphany
hints that irony taunts our every move
implies that his despair stemmed from
makes clear the bristling resentment
surprises the reader
searches for answers to
empties his heart
produces two very different views
sorts through raw memories
inspires the reader to take a stand
chisels careful images of disappointments
encourages following whims
insists on facing mortality
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