Literary Commentary Characteristics and Examples

A literary comment is a type of text in which a writer introduces his opinion on a literature text. They tend to have a journalistic focus, they can also be on current issues, but the perspective of the writer is always included. An example of a literary comment might be a column.

The word comment comes from Latin commentarius, which translates to diary, notes, or memo. For this reason, the literary commentary is manifested in the measure that the writer evokes his thoughts on a certain subject or topic..

The comments, in the journalistic field, are usually expressed in two special ways, that of the commune, already mentioned, and in the editorial. Generally, the latter deals with a opinion piece already published and is placed next to the most relevant news of the newspaper.

In any case, the editorial always deals with the opinion of an editor, who can be the editor-in-chief, and does not revolve around a current news story, but rather an opinion. What is sought with the publisher is to promote the opinion of the general public, or arouse their interest.

What is the structure of a literary comment?

First of all, before starting to write a literary commentary, it is essential that, if it deals with a work, then it is fully understood..

For it, reading and underlining of the most essential ideas is recommended, as well as other aspects that may attract the attention of said work.

When you have finished reading and you have the relevant ideas already specified, it is suggested to make a sketch or a tentative outline of the points to be developed.

In general, the structure of a literary commentary is divided into three parts: the introduction, the development and the conclusion..

Introduction

This section presents the general data of the analyzed work, that is, the title, the year and the author..

Also, the author can be introduced so that readers know him and better understand what will be exposed. In addition, this could help to better understand certain aspects of the work..

Before concluding this section, the thesis is presented, that is, the topic to be analyzed..

Developing

Subsequently, we proceed with the ideas exposition, trying to make the text look as natural as possible. To do this, a discursive thread must be followed that connects the ideas.

In the development, the words of the work are cited to support the thesis of the literary commentary. In addition, each appointment is followed by a brief explanation. At this point, the opinion of the writer can be included, always giving justification with the quotes from the work..

Conclution

At the end, a conclusion is drawn in which the topic is closed. Contrary to repeating what has already been stated, in the conclusion of the literary commentary the most relevant points that have been exposed are reinforced, thus reaffirming the thesis.

Examples of literary comments

Here is an example of a literary commentary analyzing a poem.

"When You're Old" by William Butler Yeats

When you're old and gray and sleepy

nod by the fire, take this book

and read it dreaming with the soft gaze

that they had your eyes, and with their deep shadows;

and how many your moments of joyful grace loved,

and your beauty, with false or sincere love,

but only one loved the pilgrim soul in you,

and loved the afflictions of your changing face;

and then leaning next to glowing bars,

whispers, somewhat saddened, how love left

to pass over the high mountains

and his face hid endless stars.

Introduction

The central theme of the poem “When you are old”, written in 1895 by William Butler Yeats, is love, which is evoked through literary images and with a language with literary aesthetics..

In this poem, the elements recreate the sadness and nostalgia produced by remembering a love that has been lost. (The thesis is the use of literary images and language to reinforce the idea of ​​a love lost in time).

Developing

The poem presents the image of an elderly woman, "gray-haired", who remembers in front of the fire "the soft look" of her eyes in the past.

Said woman takes Yeats's book and recalls how beautiful she was at one point. Thus, the theme of lost love, old age and the depth of memories is presented in each line.

Similarly, Yeats uses various symbols to convey his idea, one of the first being the fire that, although it shines and has life, in the end, like life and love, is consumed and leaves everything reduced to ashes. Like fire, women will also one day cease to be present.

The woman looks to the past and the unattainableness of her love is made clear by the height of the mountains and the stars, elements that end up reinforcing the fact that it was an impossible love.

This poem is also written in the first person singular, so that the most intimate feelings, such as sadness, can be felt by the readers who approach each of the verses.

It is also possible to perceive that there is a relationship between Yeats and the elderly woman, since the use of the imperative “take this book and read it dreaming of the soft look that your eyes had, so it establishes.

Conclution

Yeats's poem uses images and literary language to make the reader connect with the feeling of the poet and his beloved, who now, like fire and love, has been disrupted by the years.

Finally, it should be noted that these are the most essential aspects that a literary comment must contain, although it is true that the previous one is only a small example and that, in reality, it must be carried out with depth and conviction, presenting, if necessary, a thesis with its antithesis that does not allow its refutation to close with a synthesis.