The Conclusion

Paragraph
What conclusion will you reach
in your essay?
Write it down in one sentence.
Be prepared to share.
The conclusion paragraph in an essay of
literary analysis functions as follows:
It finishes off the essay and tells the
reader where the writer has brought
them.
It restates the thesis and contains echoes
of the introduction and body paragraphs
without listing the points covered in the
essay.
It creates a broader implication of the
ideas discussed and answers the
questions: so what? Or why do we care?
Anatomy of the Conclusion:
The conclusion begins with a restatement of the
thesis, not a repetition, and gradually widens
toward a final , broad statement of implication.
Borrows from the body paragraphs, without being
flatly repetitive or listing points already covered.
Creates echoes of the introduction and body
paragraphs to reinforce analysis/ ideas.
Moves outward with a statement that relates the
thesis to a broader implication so the reader can
see the analytical focus in a larger perspective or
application.
Strategies for Composing Conclusions:
Strike a note of hope or despair.
Give a symbolic or powerful detail/fact.
Create an analogy that relates your topic
to a larger implication.
Give an especially compelling example.
Use a meaningful quotation. (If you used
a meaningful quotation in your
introduction, refer back to this quote and
tie it in with your overall analysis.)
 Recommend a course of action without
being preachy.
Echo the language and approach of the
introduction.
Reference and make meaning of the title
of the work you are analyzing.
Consider the following checklist when
writing a conclusion:
Avoid first-person point of view,
abstract/vague language, poor diction,
and slang.
Avoid simply repeating the thesis and/or
listing the main points.
Dont conclude more than you reasonably
can from the evidence you have
presented.
Echo the language and ideas from your
introduction and body paragraphs.
 Expand on the implications of your analysis: So
what? Why do we care about these ideas? Whats
so important about what youve developed in
your paper? Are there any other applications for
your ideas?
Avoid any attempts at humor, cuteness, or
sarcasm.
The conclusion need not be longer than four to
six sentences, as with the introduction, but must
be adequately developed.
Include the title(s) and author(s) once more.
Sample Conclusions:
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of
the sample conclusions to follow.
Identify possible references to the thesis
statements, introduction, and body
paragraphs.
Identify broader implications.
Identify and evaluate other strategies
used.
Sample 1:
Both great works of epic literature from
historical India and Japan certainly provide
fascinating insights into the study of the
idealization of women and wives. We can see how
the different social conventions of each time and
place have a defined impact on womens roles
within the institution of marriage. In reflecting on
the societal expectations of a wife as represented
in classical world literature we can gain new
insights into womens roles within marriage in a
contemporary world. Future generations will look
to our contemporary literature as a depiction of
our societys expectations and values of women
not only as wives, but as single and independent
women, as well.
Sample 2:
Ednas character transforms from sleeping
through life by meeting expectations to a great
awakening, in which her thoughts and actions are
consistent with each other. Ednas struggle
between her inner desires and her outward
conformity is one in which her best solution was
to satisfy no roles and expectations, including her
own. Her character is so memorable because the
reader can empathize with Ednas internal conflict
to both conform and defy. She is unforgettable
because she does what each of us has wanted to
do; her character resonates with the universal
human condition of defying and abandoning
societal expectations and impositions.
Sample 3:
The culmination of Stephen Dedalus linguistic and
artistic development in James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist
as a Young Man in indicated at the end of the novel when
his story is no longer dependent on a narrator, but is told
by Stephen himself through his journal. The journal entries
are projected forth in the unfiltered language of the artist.
He completes his linguistic journey, coming full circle from
a child who merely perceives others language to the artist,
who creates his own. The language implicit in Stephens
journal represents the realization of his identity; his
language displays the confidence and independence of one
who is autonomous. At the end of the novel, Stephens
physical, intellectual, and emotional transformations have
been chronicled through the intricacies of language.
Sample 4:
Throughout Morrisons Beloved memory has a
power distinguished from other motifs in the
novel. Memory is so pervasive that it functions as
a separate character within the plot. It interacts
with, and has a unique relationship with, each
character; it brings up painful past experiences,
and preys upon those resonances. Indeed,
memory functions as an additional antagonist,
dredging up the past, teasing and torturing
without remorse the characters who attempt to
forget. Ultimately, however, memory is defeated
with Morrisons dictate: this is not a story to
pass on.
Sample 5:
The values of leadership portrayed by
Tamburlaines character are still honored
in society today. We desire a leader who is
passionate and eloquent, but who is a
leader of action, as well. We also value a
leader who is proud and confident in his or
her abilities and experience. Todays
leaders would do well to consult
Marlowes example of leadership in
Tamburlaine.
Side by Side
Broken Chain by
Gary Soto is a story that
many young people can relate
to. It tells the story of
insecure Alfonso, who is trying
to find a bike for his potential
girlfriend, Sandra, to ride.
When describing the types of
conflict of Broken Chain
readers see there are external
and internal conflicts. First,
there is an external conflict
between Alfonso and his
brother, and second, there is
an internal conflict Alfonso has
with himself.
Broken Chain is full
of conflicts. The first conflict
is external: Alfonso and his
brother Ernie do not get
along. The second conflict is
internal: Alfonso is very
unhappy with the way he
looks. At the end of the
story, both conflicts are
solved. Ernie lends Alfonso
his bike, allowing him to ride
bikes with Sandra. Because
Sandra clearly is romantically
interested in Alfonso, his self-
esteem has increased,
leaving him happy.
Side by Side
Thomas Hardy was one
of the most influential writers
of the late 1800s. His novel
Tess of the DUrbervilles is
one of his most famous
novels. It tells the story of a
young girl, Tess, who has an
extremely hard life.
Throughout the novel she
endures many hardships.
Tess is a complex character.
Her experiences, naivet, and
perseverance make her one of
literatures great characters.
Tess is a complex
character. She goes through
many tragic experiences in the
novel, which only make her
stronger. Though she starts the
novel as a very nave, trusting
girl, she learns very harsh
lessons about life. Even though
she preserves through the
novel, life is still too hard for
her. Hardys uses Tess to tell
readers that sometimes a
persons circumstance works
against them and they will have
a terrible, unhappy life.
 Side by Side
Love can be a revolution of
thinking; an overcoming of barriers. It
can be confusing, and at times, love
defies all reason. Love inspires such
passion that people endure great
tragedy and conquer in overwhelming
circumstances. Love provokes
emotions that can cause a person to
accomplish the impossible. For good
reason, love has been put on the
highest pedestal; however, love is not
flawless or effortless. It may at times
require work, and patience, and then
even more patience! The short story,
Wife Wooing by John Updike and
Robert Burns poem, A Red, Red Rose
share similar overall messages and
literary motifs about love, yet depict
distinctly different versions of love in
their themes and characterization.
Realistic love is not so easy as
the love read about in poems. Poetic love
may send one floating through the clouds
and inspire fabulous love letters, but
realistic love takes time, and work, and
patience. Updikes piece helps to
understand that marriage isnt simple and
that some days are not going to seem to
be happily ever after. There will be times
of frustration and jealousy. When we are
young, we dream of a passionate love
like that of Burns poem, but Burn helps
us to realize that passion is just one
component of love. By comparing and
contrasting Updikes and Burns pieces, it
is clear that both realistic and idealistic
portrayals of love are important, but in
my world, I prefer the real to the ideal. I
think the soft toothpaste kiss far
outweighs promises of love till the seas
go dry..