What is the purpose of a response-to-literature essay?
A) to entertain
B) to persuade
C) to analyze
D) to compare and contrast
to analyze
The purpose of a response-to-literature essay is to analyze a literary work and provide a thoughtful and critical response to it. Therefore, the answer is C) to analyze.
The purpose of a response-to-literature essay is to analyze a piece of literature and respond to it. To find the answer to this question, we can break it down by considering the characteristics of each option.
A) To entertain: Essays are typically written for informational or analytical purposes rather than to entertain the reader. Therefore, we can eliminate option A.
B) To persuade: While persuasive essays aim to convince the reader of a specific viewpoint, a response-to-literature essay focuses more on analyzing and responding to the literary work rather than persuading the reader. Thus, option B is not the purpose of a response-to-literature essay.
C) To analyze: This option aligns with the main purpose of a response-to-literature essay. These essays are designed to analyze various elements of a literary work such as its themes, characters, symbolism, and literary techniques.
D) To compare and contrast: Although comparing and contrasting elements of literature can be part of a response-to-literature essay, it may not be the sole purpose. The primary objective is to provide an analysis and response to the literary work, rather than solely focusing on comparing and contrasting.
Therefore, the correct answer is C) to analyze.