Summary The Handmaid's Tale: How to write a literature essay (IEB English Home Language)

How to write a
literary essay



The Handmaid’s Tale
Essay Development

,What is a literary essay?
● You are making an argument based on a novel or play that you have read.
● You are only showing ONE SIDE Of the argument.
● No counter-argument
● Refrain from using in-text referencing e.g. (pg 154) in the essay. This is unnecessary,
as you will not be required to do this in your preliminary or final examinations.
● You write with the knowledge that the person marking the essay knows the plot and
context of the novel or play.
● You do not retell the story.
● Every claim you make must be substantiated (supported) with evidence from the
text. This evidence comes in the form of events (or moments in the story) and from
SHORT quotes.

, Structure
● A literary essay is a VERY specific kind of essay.
● It has a very particular structure that MUST be followed.
● The essay is making an argument and this needs to be clear at
all times.
● AIM for a maximum of 600 words if it is for a novel or play.
● You must write in PRESENT TENSE!



introducti body conclusion
on
• Stance • Link • Similar
• SIGNPO • Events to the
ST • Quote introduc
tion