Literary analysis is more than just “talking about a book.” It’s learning to notice how authors use language, structure, and style to create meaning. For homeschool families, teaching literary analysis helps learners develop critical thinking, writing skills, and appreciation for great works of literature.
When it comes to teaching literary analysis, there are different approaches you can take. You can use a curriculum with pre-determined reading lists and questions. You can pick your own books and pair them with available study guides.
Another option is to focus on the techniques authors use — a method that works with any text — whether it’s a novel, short story, poem, or play.
Since all works of fiction share the same basic elements, you can help your kids recognize and evaluate these elements using more generic resources. Below, you’ll find major categories of analysis. Each category has its own supporting post with:
- an overview of concepts
- worksheets or online activities for practice
- text examples (short story, poem, play) that illustrate the techniques, with suggested questions
Note: This post is designed as a starting point. Supporting posts with resources for each category are being added. Structure & Narrative Elements and Character & Setting are up now, with more supporting posts coming soon.
Structure & Narrative Elements
Understanding how a story is built and told helps readers see the architecture behind the narrative. Plot and conflict, narrator and point of view, flashback and foreshadowing, suspense and pacing — all help to drive tension, add depth, and keep readers engaged. Explore Structure & Narrative Elements
Character & Setting
Every story needs people (or creatures) and a place for them to live. Characters drive the action, reveal themes, and connect readers to the text. Setting provides the backdrop — time, place, culture, and atmosphere — that shapes what’s possible in the story. Together, they anchor the narrative and help stories come alive. Explore Character & Setting
Language & Word Choice
Authors choose words with precision. Understanding denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (emotional associations) helps readers see how language shapes tone and style.
Figurative Language & Imagery
Authors often use language that goes beyond the literal to create vivid pictures and layered meaning. Figurative language includes techniques such as metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, paradox, and symbolism. These tools help readers visualize, feel, and interpret more than what’s on the surface.
Sound & Poetic Devices
Language is a kind of music all its own. Devices like alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhyme, rhythm, and onomatopoeia create sound patterns. Refrain and poetic forms add structure and memorability, especially in poetry.
Theme & Meaning
Beyond storylines and characters, every work carries ideas. Theme, moral, irony, and satire invite readers to reflect on larger truths about human experience. Sometimes, a story speaks to other stories. Authors use allusion — references to literature, history, or culture — to enrich meaning. Spotting these connections gives students a wider lens for analysis.
Resources For Studying Multiple Elements
Literary Analysis Videos (Khan Academy)
Elements of Literature: Workbook for grades 6 – 8. Worksheets, graphic organizers, writing prompts, and other activities for studying literary elements.
Glossary of Literary Terms: Provides descriptions of literary elements with examples from A Wrinkle in Time.
Literary Analysis Worksheets: Descriptions of figurative elements, with comprehension questions after each.
EReading Worksheets: Worksheets for studying elements and figurative language.
Literary Analysis Infographics:
(Click into each one to see the full image)
More Resources
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