Literary analysis. This type of analysis focuses on the analysis and interpretation of literary works, such as novels, poetry, plays, etc. Analysis involves examining the literary devices used in the work, such as symbolism, imagery, and metaphor, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the work. Expand your literary analysis essay example for college. This sample essay focuses on the development of the character of Laura in the book By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The thesis statement for this literary analysis essay is: “When her older sister loses her sight, Laura Ingalls Wilder must suddenly assume the, Quick Answer: A good thesis statement for The Tell-Tale Heart should state its argument and provide an argument. summary of the contents of the work. A good example might be: Like much of Poe's fiction. This is where you could build the roadmap aspect of the thesis: list the elements in the order you will write them, and you suddenly have a clear path for the entire literary analysis. 3. Clear and concise. This may seem obvious, but it's crucial. A clear thesis will play into the idea of a roadmap, but it will also avoid being lengthy.