100 Sentence Starters for Literary Analysis

No.	Item	Definition
1.	A closer reading reveals	Signals deeper interpretation.
2.	Another way to read this is	Offers an alternative interpretation.
3.	As the passage unfolds,	Tracks developing meaning.
4.	At first glance,	Introduces an initial reading.
5.	Consider how	Invites close analysis.
6.	One could argue that	Presents a debatable interpretation.
7.	The author contrasts	Shows deliberate comparison.
8.	The author critiques	Shows critical stance.
9.	The author questions	Shows what the text challenges.
10.	The author suggests that	Introduces an inferred claim.
11.	The character embodies	Shows what the character represents.
12.	The character’s actions show	Interprets behavior as evidence.
13.	The conflict reflects	Connects struggle to larger meaning.
14.	The dialogue suggests	Interprets spoken exchange.
15.	The diction creates	Explains effect of word choice.
16.	The ending implies	Explains final suggestion.
17.	The imagery conveys	Explains what images communicate.
18.	The imagery reinforces	Shows images supporting meaning.
19.	The language reflects	Links wording to meaning.
20.	The metaphor suggests	Explains figurative implication.
21.	The motif reinforces	Shows repeated pattern’s effect.
22.	The narrative exposes	Reveals what the story uncovers.
23.	The narrative highlights	Shows what the story stresses.
24.	The narrator emphasizes	Highlights narrative stress or focus.
25.	The passage depicts	Describes what is represented.
26.	The passage explores	Introduces a theme or issue.
27.	The passage suggests	Offers an interpretive claim.
28.	The poem conveys	States what the poem communicates.
29.	The poem emphasizes	Shows what the poem stresses.
30.	The poem reflects	Connects poem to idea.
31.	The scene establishes	Shows what the scene sets up.
32.	The setting reinforces	Links place to meaning.
33.	The speaker emphasizes	Shows what the voice stresses.
34.	The speaker portrays	Describes how the voice presents.
35.	The speaker questions	Shows doubt or challenge.
36.	The speaker reveals	Shows what the voice discloses.
37.	The speaker’s tone conveys	Explains attitude communicated.
38.	The structure suggests	Links form to meaning.
39.	The text examines	Introduces close exploration.
40.	The text implies that	Signals an indirect meaning.
41.	The text portrays	Describes representation in the work.
42.	The text reveals	States what becomes clear.
43.	The tone shifts when	Notes a change in attitude.
44.	The writer portrays	Describes how something is presented.
45.	This allusion evokes	Explains effect of reference.
46.	This characterization suggests	Links portrayal to meaning.
47.	This choice indicates	Shows what a choice suggests.
48.	This comparison reveals	Shows meaning through likeness.
49.	This conflict suggests	Links struggle to implication.
50.	This contrast reveals	Shows significance through opposition.
51.	This contrast underscores	Shows emphasis through difference.
52.	This description evokes	Shows what feelings it stirs.
53.	This description suggests	Links description to implication.
54.	This detail conveys	States what a detail communicates.
55.	This detail highlights	Draws attention to significance.
56.	This detail implies	Shows indirect significance.
57.	This development shows	Explains significance of progression.
58.	This ending reinforces	Shows how conclusion supports meaning.
59.	This episode reveals	Shows significance of an event.
60.	This event marks	Identifies an important turning point.
61.	This example demonstrates	Uses evidence to show meaning.
62.	This exchange reveals	Shows meaning in dialogue.
63.	This image conveys	States what the image communicates.
64.	This image reflects	Connects image to idea.
65.	This image symbolizes	Gives symbolic significance.
66.	This interaction shows	Explains what an exchange reveals.
67.	This irony highlights	Shows effect of irony.
68.	This language suggests	Links wording to implication.
69.	This line foreshadows	Points to a future event.
70.	This line reflects	Connects line to larger idea.
71.	This line suggests	Offers a brief inference.
72.	This moment captures	Shows a key instant.
73.	This moment reveals	Shows significance of an instant.
74.	This moment suggests	Introduces a likely implication.
75.	This motif suggests	Interprets repeated element.
76.	This passage emphasizes	Shows what is stressed.
77.	This passage reflects	Connects excerpt to idea.
78.	This passage reveals that	Points to what the text shows.
79.	This pattern reveals	Identifies meaning in recurrence.
80.	This perspective reveals	Shows effect of viewpoint.
81.	This perspective suggests	Links viewpoint to implication.
82.	This phrase implies	Explains indirect suggestion.
83.	This repetition emphasizes	Shows stress through recurrence.
84.	This scene conveys	States what the scene communicates.
85.	This scene illustrates	Shows what the scene demonstrates.
86.	This scene reflects	Connects scene to larger idea.
87.	This setting suggests	Links place to implication.
88.	This shift indicates	Marks a meaningful change.
89.	This statement reveals	Explains what a claim shows.
90.	This symbol represents	Explains symbolic meaning.
91.	This symbol suggests	Offers symbolic interpretation.
92.	This word choice suggests	Links diction to implication.
93.	Ultimately, the text suggests	introduces a final interpretive claim
94.	Underlying this passage is	introduces a hidden idea or tension
95.	Viewed in this light,	reframes the passage’s meaning
96.	We can infer that	draws a conclusion from clues
97.	When read closely,	invites detailed textual analysis
98.	While the speaker appears to,	sets up contrast between appearance and meaning
99.	Within this context,	places evidence in surrounding circumstances
100.	Yet the passage also	adds a contrasting observation