essay in literature

Essay In Literature (6 Types & Examples)

What is an essay.

An essay is a written work, which expresses the author’s opinion about a particular matter or issue and is usually restricted in its size. Essays are a type of non-fiction writing and can be on almost any topic, from the author’s life, experiences, and concerning the issues facing society to analyze the literature or presenting a philosophical argument. Essays are distinguished by a well-organized structure, which consists of an introduction, body and conclusion. It is a tool through which the writers share their thoughts to their audience and participate in discussions that are taking place in different disciplines.

Essays are versatile and can be written in a number of ways. The tone of the essay can be conversational, serious, etc. They can be either written in a formal language, and follows a proper structure. Moreover, the essay can be either factual or based on the personal opinion, analysis or the story. For these reasons, the essay is a versatile genre of writing that helps the writers convey their message and ideas to their audiences effectively.

Types of Essay

There are several types of essays, which are characterized by their purposes and the methods. These types of essays allow the readers to recognize the versatility and potential of this kind of literature.

1- Expository Essay

In expository essays, the writer’s main purpose is to describe, inform or explain a matter to the audience in a precise manner. More often, they use facts and figures as well as the logic to pass information and ensure the recipients gain all the knowledge about the topic.

“The rise of social media has transformed the way people communicate, share information, and build relationships. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have created new opportunities for social interaction, but they have also introduced challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation.”

This excerpt represents an example of an expository essay through its presentation of a factual rationale for the use of social media along with its negative aspects.

2- Narrative Essay

One of the subgenres of the essay writing style, the narrative essay is always focused on telling a story. It can be described as works that involve the use of some of the elements of the fable such as plot, characters and dialogue in an attempt to capture the reader’s attention and pass a hidden meaning to them.

“As I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon, I felt a sense of awe and wonder that I had never experienced before. The vast expanse of the canyon stretched out before me, its layers of red and orange rock telling the story of millions of years of geological history. In that moment, I realized how small I was in the grand scheme of things, and how much there was to explore and discover in the world.”

This passage is classified as a type of narrative essay since it contains personal story description of a certain event along with the author’s contemplation of its meaning with descriptions that are vivid and written in the first person.

3- Descriptive Essay

Descriptive essays are mostly centered on the provision of vivid details of an individual, location, thing or an occurrence. They rely on the use of concrete image and figurative language with a view of taking the reader through the scene.

“The old library stood at the end of the street, its weathered stone façade and tall, arched windows giving it an air of mystery and grandeur. Inside, the scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air, and rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched up to the high, vaulted ceiling. Each book held its own story, waiting to be discovered by those who ventured into this literary sanctuary.”

This excerpt complies with the definition of a descriptive essay, as the author paints a vivid picture of a library and imitates the processes happening there by using the reader’s senses in order to make the reader visualize it.

4- Argumentative Essay

Argumentative essays involve presenting a case on a particular issue, after ensuring that they have presented all the side of the conflict in a proper manner. Their purpose is to convince the reader and use logic reasoning with arguments and materials that can support the position of the writer.

“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and immediate action is required to mitigate its effects. The scientific consensus is clear: human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are driving global warming. To address this crisis, governments must implement stringent regulations on carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy sources, and promote sustainable practices.”

The passage develops an argumentative essay by expressing the author’s opinion on climate change, reasons and an appeal to the readers.

5- Persuasive Essay

Unlike the argumentative essays the persuasive essays are centered on trying to enrobe some values and emotions in the reader to convince them to a certain view. Most of them employ various types of appeals and convincing language to try and support their arguments.

“Imagine a world where every child has access to quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. This vision can become a reality if we prioritize education funding and ensure that schools have the resources they need to support every student. By investing in education, we are investing in the future, empowering the next generation to achieve their full potential and create a brighter, more equitable world.”

The excerpt is an example of a persuasive essay that relies on the hero’s inner transformation, motivation by the story and the example to embrace education and the positive impact on the society.

6- Analytical Essay

Analytical essays usually comprise evaluation of certain aspects of a particular piece of literature, artwork, or a particular event. They analyze the subject in terms of its significance and components so that they can also learn of its form and effects.

“In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby,’ the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dreams and the illusion of the American Dream. Throughout the novel, the green light represents Gatsby’s hope and longing for a future with Daisy, but it also highlights the distance and barriers that prevent him from achieving his desires. This symbol serves as a critique of the American Dream, suggesting that it is ultimately an illusion that can never be fully realized.”

This passage represents an instance of an analytical essay because it analyses the meaning of the green light in “The Great Gatsby”, and in relation to the work.

This passage exemplifies an analytical essay by interpreting the symbolism of the green light in “The Great Gatsby” and discussing its significance within the context of the novel.

Examples of Essay in Literature

In literature, the essays have been used for centuries. They are helpful to reveal the ideas, provide insights, contemplations as well as opinions relating to different subjects. Here are a few notable examples:

1- “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift

“I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout.”

Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, is an ironic piece of writing aimed at describing the sufferings of the Irish and blaming the English government for not doing anything to help the situation.

Through making the reader imagine how poor Irish parents could feed their starving children by selling them foe foods, making light of famine victims’ suffering. This means that the ugly issues within the society and political domain are portrayed through satire thereby producing a scandalous essence of the piece.

2- “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being.”

Emerson, in his “Self-Reliance”, encourages people to be independent and fight for ones right. He calls for followers to listen to this inner voice in them and follow the true self and not follow what is considered normal by the society.

Emerson’s rhetorical techniques, and especially inspiring motifs, as well as he philosophical insights, compel the readers to consider the wisdom and worth of being individual as well as to remain loyal to the true nature of oneself.

3- “Notes of a Native Son” by James Baldwin

“I had discovered the weight of white people in the world. It was a shocking and vivid discovery. The world was white, and they were all strangers. I was, in the same instant, accepted and rejected, joyous and fearful. The tension between these poles held me together: I was loath to say it, but I feared I was a white man’s nigger.”

In Notes of a Native Son, Baldwin writes about black man and his existence in America. The discussed themes indicates the problems of race, identity, and tensions in the modern society.

It should be noted that reading Baldwin is somewhat uncomfortable due to the author’s candid and rather confessional approach. His work presents a passionate appeal against racism on the societal level and also examines how it affects the individuals.

4- “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell

“It was a cloudy, stuffy morning at the beginning of the rains. An atmosphere of oppressiveness, a sense of being stifled, slowed down, made sluggish by the heat, pervaded everything, as though nature herself were weary of the life she had created.”

The excerpt has been taken from “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell. The discourse is an example of personal narrative, wherein the writer explains his experience as the colonial officer in Burma.

Orwell raises and deals with some of the main moral and ethical issues of the society by portraying the use of force against the background of the crowd that demands it: the protagonist struggles to shoot an elephant to calm down the people.

As a result of the intensive focus on the author’s personal impressions, Orwell de-fames imperialism and real-to-life subtleties of domination and submission.

See also: Literary Devices That Start With E

Importance of Essay

Essays play a vital role in literature and society, serving several important functions:

1- Expression of Ideas

Essays provide a platform for the authors to disclose their thinking’s and expressions on the various subjects.

They allow authors to explain intricate concepts, express themselves and present their perspective in intellectual as well as cultural debate.

2. Persuasion and Advocacy

Essays are considered as one of the most effective means of persuasion and advocacy. The writers express their thoughts and viewpoints about certain issues or suggest certain solutions and promote certain ideas.

Essays are powerful tools that engage people’s rationality by offering logical arguments and credible evidence to affect change.

3. Reflection and Introspection

Essays tend to provoke the authors and the readers to think more about the matter at hand. Through sharing one’s story, point of view and opinion about the events, the essays contribute to the personal development and the improvement of the perception of the surroundings.

They challenge the readers to pay attention to more than one side of the story and to think.

4. Cultural and Historical Documentation

Essays are important as cultural and historical records of the society, where one can describe thoughts, attitudes, and fears of the people during a certain period.

They give a clue about the social, political and cultural background of the time they belong to; therefore, they are a source of information about the past and help to preserve the memory of people.

Literary Terms Related to Essay

A thesis is the main idea or a position that an author takes with regards to a particular subject. It is a brief and explicit assertion that is meant to express the writer’s standpoint and define the path of the given essay. Thus, the thesis is usually stated in the introduction and expanded in the body of the work.

2. Rhetoric

Rhetoric can be defined as the art of using language to influence people’s opinions and actions. In the context of essays, rhetoric covers language, style, and argumentation in an attempt to pass a message to the reader. Strategies like ethos, pathos and logos are used to strengthen the impact of the essay.

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