There is no right or wrong interpretation, but some interpretations are harder to support

  Strategy: There is no right or wrong interpretation, but some interpretations are harder to support than others. To arrive at a solid, original claim you will need to identify literary devices such as storyline, character, theme, scene, and setting, as well as literary devices such as imagery, irony, satire, use of metaphor, or other stylistic patterns. You might consider diction, voice, syntax, tone, organizational format, etc. Look at how such literary devices contribute to the essay’s overall effect, message, or purpose. Focus: Your paper should explain how you see the literary elements doing what they do. In other words, you will make a case for what you think makes this essay good from a writerly perspective. Go beyond merely restating what you see in the text; flesh out your thoughts and speculations on how these elements work. Much of the paper will come from you, from your impressions of the text, how you see it put together, and what you think makes it strong. The more precise you can make your claim – your interpretive statement – the more importance you can give that claim, and the better your paper will work. Don’t forget to add a concise, yet thorough conclusion that points back to your original claim and wraps up the paper.