Handbook for Literary Analysis Book I

The Handbook for Literary Analysis: How to Evaluate Prose Fiction, Drama, and Poetry reclaims the metaphor, rhetoric, and literary analysis. It has a high view of the reader, the critic, and the student. All three are invited to think critically and to discuss thoroughly the great literary works of all civilizations. Systematically, this Handbook defines, explains, and illustrates a wide range of significant literary terms in fiction, drama, and poetry.

Along the way, readers explore copious, inspired examples, including biblical examples. Finally, readers read real literary analytical essays by American high school students. If readers learn how to do literary analysis well, they will be better able to create and to share vital truths with future generations.

"Dr. Stobaugh's Handbook of Literary Criticism is an outstanding resource for educators and the students. Over the past several decades, the influence of literature produced by Christians has significantly declined. From my perspective as a Christian culture influencer, I believe we must reverse that trend. We need more effective authors who are producing world class literature framed in the Christian worldview. I see Dr. Stobaugh's handbook to be essential to reverse that trend. I highly recommend it."

-Ray Traylor, Homeschool Dad, Author
True Riches & Besetting Sin


"This book is appropriate for junior high students through adults. You can work through the book sequentially or selectively, depending upon your need. The book reads like a literature text with plentiful use of literary excerpts, including many from Scripture, as examples. It also should help familiarize readers with some great literary works. There are no questions or assignments as you would find in a course. Instead, it is expected that the reader will be using it for self-directed education. Parents might assign particular sections for the student lacking self-direction, then follow up with a discussion regarding what they have read."

-Cathy Duffy, homeschool review guru