A Model Analysis – Step by Step

What this page offers

On this page, you can see how one literary passage can be analysed step by step.

The goal is not to copy the model, but to understand how a strong fictional analysis is built: from a short introduction to a focused conclusion.

After each paragraph, you will also find a short explanation showing why that part works well.

The Passage

The following extract comes from “Green” by Sefi Atta and centres on migration, family tension and the perspective of a child narrator.

Last year, when Grandpa died, Dad couldn’t go for the funeral in Africa. Mom said this was because they were out of status waiting for their green cards. If Dad went to Africa, he wouldn’t be able to come back to America. Dad cried. Mom said people didn’t know the sacrifices we had to make. Then on the day of Grandpa’s funeral, a white pigeon landed on our roof. She said that it was Grandpa coming to tell Dad his spirit was at peace, which made me scared, so I sneaked into their bed again, in the middle of the night, even though I really didn’t believe that pigeon on the roof was my Grandpa.

“How I wish we can get back to Mississippi before six,” I say.

“What’s on at six?” Dad asks. “Some Disney rubbish?”

“Never mind,” I say.

If I tell him, he’ll think I’m selfish. I want to get back to Mississippi in time for soccer. Already he is watching the elections on CNN.

Green is for my parent’s passports. Green white green is the color of the flag of their country in Africa, Nigeria.

First orientation

Text type: short story extract
Author: Sefi Atta
Central situation: a child reflects on her family’s immigration struggle
Main themes: belonging, sacrifice, identity, family tension

Step 1 – The Introduction

The introduction places the passage clearly and prepares the analysis without becoming too detailed.

Model Introduction

In the short story “Green” by Sefi Atta, the reader is introduced to a young girl whose family is affected by the insecurity of immigration status in the United States. The extract deals with questions of belonging, sacrifice and identity, as the child narrator observes her parents’ struggles from a limited but revealing perspective.

Why this works

It includes the basic text information.
It identifies the central situation clearly.
It introduces the main themes without over-analysing them.
It already points to the importance of the child perspective.

Step 2 – WHAT?

The first body paragraph explains what is central in the passage in terms of content, conflict and character relationships.

Model Body Paragraph I

Model Body Paragraph I (“What?”)

The passage presents a situation in which the child narrator becomes aware of the emotional and practical consequences of her family’s insecure immigration status. On the one hand, the extract shows the father’s grief over his own father’s death and his inability to travel to Africa for the funeral. On the other hand, the narrator herself remains preoccupied with returning to Mississippi in time for soccer, which creates a contrast between adult sacrifice and childish everyday concerns. This tension makes clear that questions of belonging and displacement affect each family member differently, even though all are shaped by the same uncertain situation.

Why this works

The paragraph identifies the main conflict clearly.
It selects only the most relevant content instead of retelling everything.
It focuses on the contrast between the father’s grief and the child’s perspective.
It already points toward the larger theme of belonging.

Step 3 – HOW?

The second body paragraph analyses how the text creates meaning through narrative perspective, language and literary techniques.

Model Body Paragraph II

Model Body Paragraph II (“How?”)

The extract is shaped strongly by the child narrator’s limited first-person perspective, which makes the family’s situation appear both ordinary and emotionally charged at the same time. The narrator reports serious events, such as the grandfather’s death and the father’s tears, in a simple and direct way, without fully reflecting on their emotional depth. At the same time, small but striking details, such as the white pigeon on the roof or the explanation of the colour green, give the passage symbolic resonance. Through this combination of plain language and suggestive imagery, the author creates an atmosphere in which the reader senses far more tension and meaning than the narrator herself fully understands.

Why this works

It focuses on perspective and language, not just content.
It explains how the simple style contributes to the effect.
It brings in symbolism naturally through the pigeon and the colour green.
It moves from observation to interpretation instead of listing devices.

Step 4 – WHY?

The third body paragraph shows why these narrative choices matter and what deeper meaning they create.

Model Body Paragraph III

Model Body Paragraph III (“Why?”)

By presenting the family’s situation through a child narrator, the author highlights how migration and insecurity shape everyday life in subtle but far-reaching ways. The narrator does not fully grasp the emotional or political implications of what she witnesses, yet her perspective makes these tensions especially visible to the reader. The passage therefore suggests that belonging is not only a legal or political matter, but also an emotional one, connected to grief, memory and divided loyalties. In this way, the extract encourages the reader to reflect on the hidden costs of migration and the different ways family members experience them.

Why this works

It moves beyond immediate description.
It connects form and meaning clearly.
It interprets the passage in thematic terms.
It explains why the child perspective is especially effective.

Step 5 – The Conclusion

The conclusion gathers the most important insight and evaluates the overall effect of the extract.

Model Conclusion

Overall, the extract is especially effective because it combines a simple childlike perspective with a situation of emotional, cultural and political complexity. In this way, Sefi Atta creates empathy and invites the reader to reflect on belonging, sacrifice and the hidden tensions of migrant family life. As a result, the passage remains both accessible and deeply meaningful.

Why this works

It does not repeat the whole analysis.
It evaluates the passage as a whole.
It brings together effect, theme and form.
It ends in a concise and controlled way.

What You Can Learn from This Model

A strong model is useful not because it should be copied, but because it shows what effective analysis looks like in practice.

Notice the structure

The introduction is short and clear.
Each body paragraph has a different focus.
The conclusion steps back and evaluates.

Notice the language

The writing is analytical, not casual.
Examples are always connected to interpretation.
The wording stays precise and controlled.

In one sentence

A strong fictional analysis moves step by step from clear observation to deeper interpretation.

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