About Literary Analysis
This blog is for those who are both consumers and thinkers – individuals who appreciate good literature and film, and are also interested in the messages being communicated therein. I approach life from a theistic Christian worldview, and the opinions on this website reflect that.
I agree with St. Augustine that “the form of a work comes from God, and its content comes from man.” Savvy cultural critics have an important, if sometimes difficult, task: to assess the message of a particular work while simultaneously appreciating its artistry. In keeping with this attitude, I often choose to analyze a work’s worldview independent of its artistic merit.
How to interpret these Verdicts:
9.0-10.0 = “A”
8.0-8.5 = “B”
7.0-7.5 = “C”
6.0-6.5 = “D”
Anything 5.5 or under = “F”
Contact us at editor[at]literaryanalysis.net.
Literary Analysis 
Helen
December 2, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Glad to discover your blog. Sounds so interesting. Just now reading your comment on Cranach’s blog.
Thanks.
Helen
g0vnah
January 28, 2014 at 4:22 pm
I just stumbled on this while researching “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” and I think I’ve found a goldmine of information from a Christian source (finally!). God bless you. You have a new reader!
Butterfly W
November 18, 2014 at 7:47 am
Looks like a great website. I just stumbled upon it while looking for Harry Potter analys’.
Is it possible to give review/analysis suggestions? Any way to search for a particular review?
If not I suggest a literary commentary on the Gone series by Micael Grant or Harmony by Project ITOH. Oh, and No. 6, by I’d have to email that one to you. It isn’t officially transalted yet so it’s being shared around by someone who aiming to become a professional translator. They’re all really good and very much open to analysis and debate. Wonderful works indeed.
Tammy Riley-Wilson
December 13, 2014 at 11:48 am
I was looking for critical articles for my students to read after they finish reading The Hunger Games. I have a small group for English IV who struggle in English class and have IEP’s or 504 plans. We were attempting Lord of The Flies but everyone was falling asleep. They have come alive reading The Hunger Games and are asking really important question, critically thinking and debating ethical and moral questions. I love your analysis and perspective. I will be using your cite with my students. Thank You. You have inspired me to go back and read Saint Augustine. Last time I read it was in Graduate school at Saint John’s College in Annapolis. Your perspective, insights and analysis are reminiscent of those days.
Kathya De Leon
July 31, 2015 at 8:11 am
Uhm, hi. Can I ask for your full name and a few description/information/biography about yourself? Pls. reply soon. I really need this for a school project where I need the name and a little biography of the person who made the critique about a certain story/book. P.S. your blog is so amazing! I myself love literature and I will always visit your blog from now on 🙂
literaryanalysis
July 31, 2015 at 2:38 pm
I’ve emailed you at the address associated with your WordPress account. Thanks for reading!
seroword
August 15, 2015 at 11:54 am
Hi, I was just browsing the film articles of WordPress and came across your review of Straight Outta Compton. We’d love to feature that review via our website at Seroword.com, of which I am the Editor. If you’d like to discuss this opportunity further, send us a quick message to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/seroword (you can message pages in the top right next to the ‘follow’ button.)
Regardless of your decision, you run a great blog here and I’ll be sure to look out for more of your film reviews.
Michael
-Seroword
ksanter95
September 17, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Hi, I’ve been reading for your blog for the past couple years and you are the best reviewer/writer I’ve seen since Roger Ebert. Thank you for probing deeply into film and literature to put together ideas that I had difficulty doing myself. You are very talented; never stop writing.
Anonymous
October 15, 2015 at 8:05 pm
Your writing is absolutely capturing–very interesting and thoughtful. I love how you review objectively while keeping an open mind. Looking forward to more!
Jennifer
April 6, 2016 at 10:23 pm
I read your review of Sophie’s World and had that Ah Ha! moment. I really do like the book, but I really couldn’t figure out What the author was trying to say. So thank you for making that clear. The reason I like the book so much is that it keeps people reading while providing a good introductory overview of philosophy. But, as you pointed out all the problems with it, I’m wondering if you have a suggestion of another book for high schoolers to read as a good introductory level course in philosophy. And I guess I will add a final question, do you think that, armed with the information you’ve provided in terms of the worldview/perspective of Gaardner, his book could be effectively used with high school students who are all of a Christian persuasion (i.e. a homeschool class where we can talk about whatever we want to). Or would you say it’s too much of a can of worms.
Thank you!
literaryanalysis
April 7, 2016 at 4:19 pm
I’m tempted to suggest “That Hideous Strength” by C.S. Lewis. But it’s been awhile since I read that one!
Jennifer
April 7, 2016 at 4:50 pm
That is my favorite of the 3. But I want something that explicitly goes through the history of philosophy. So that is why Sophie is so attractive to me! In other words, would you agree or disagree that his explanation of the various philosophers and philosophies is correct ? Or is he too biased there as well. Is this a good book to “plunder the Egyptians” or is it too “dangerous” for lack of a better word, to use as a tool to learn about philosophers.
(thank you for your time!)
literaryanalysis
April 7, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Oh, in that event I’d say go for it. Honestly, I wrote that review eight years ago and my views have since changed somewhat (I’d like to think the tenor of my approach is more reflective than reactive now). Sounds like it’d be a great fit for your class.
fkiani12
May 8, 2017 at 7:27 pm
what is your name bro? i have to cite your blog in my assignment!.
literaryanalysis
May 8, 2017 at 8:26 pm
John Ehrett. Thanks for reading!
fkiani12
May 9, 2017 at 7:32 pm
your stuff is good (Y) helped me a lot in my assignments
Jennifer
April 7, 2016 at 5:24 pm
well, that last line about the DaVinci code did give me pause…… But I greatly appreciate your thoughts about the Sophie. Excellent food for thought.
Denise Harris
May 6, 2016 at 12:40 am
I came across this site after doing a google search of “Supernatural TV Show and Christianity.” I thought your analysis of the show was incredibly interesting, though I must admit at times I wished I remembered more from my collage philosophy class. Your piece also made it painfully clear that I know even less about Christian theology then I thought.
I hope you don’t mind me getting a bit personal, but I think it is the only way I can explain why finding this blog has me so excited. I beg for your patience for this is very important to me. I grew up in Southern California and then moved to San Francisco in the early 1990s. I have now been living in Cincinnati, OH for over 10 years. My parents moved back to the small town they grew up about 3 hours east of Cincinnati. Most of my very large extended family also live in or close to the same small town. The culture shock I experienced when I first arrived after leaving San Francisco was challenging. Thankfully, after so many years, I sincerely enjoy Cincinnati. What I have not been unable to come to terms with is being surrounded by so many people, especially members of my family that hold many simplistic and sometimes frighteningly fanatical and historically inaccurate world views that they believe come directly from scripture. I sincerely respect the joy, meaning and fellowship that religion brings to their lives. And for once in my life I am truly without words to explain the complexities of feeling I have regarding the above. I hope what I have written makes some kind of sense. This issue has caused and continues to cause me emotional and spiritual sadness, pain and sometimes anger (I promise I am wrapping this up now.) And all of this is why reading your thoughtful and educated analysis of a show like Supernatural has thrilled me so much. I look forward to reading more of your blog for I am an avid reader, mostly fiction. I am hopping that you might point me some direction, such as suggestions of books to read that can teach me about Christian theology or any other suggestions you might have. Maybe just reading the blog will help. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Lotte Albrecht
August 15, 2016 at 6:28 am
Hi there 🙂 seeing that someone already asked you this, I was wondering if you’d be comfortable if I quote your review of interstellar in my term paper? I’d need your name for this and a quick reply, so I really hope it’s not a bother. I’d be very glad to be able to use some of your lines because iyou make some exceptional points in your review and have an outstanding view on the philosophical and transcendence theme. thank you so much for these insights! God bless 🙂
Lisa Greenlee
July 18, 2017 at 9:01 pm
I have really enjoyed skimming through a couple of your blogs while helping a student find some info to support his comp/contrast of Dresden Files and Harry Potter. Your discussions are enjoyable to read. I am curious about your academic background. Care to share?
literaryanalysis
November 10, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Thanks for reading! I recently finished up my law degree and also moonlight as a freelance journalist.
Lynda Siejak
November 8, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Hi there. You’re a great writer. I would like to cite your blog for an essay. May I cite a name for the “publisher” of the blog? Do you have a copyright statement?
God bless.
Lynda Siejak
literaryanalysis
November 10, 2017 at 4:30 pm
My name is John Ehrett – feel free to use whatever content you’d like. Everything’s copyrighted by default, but I have no problem with people reblogging/citing in other venues.