Posted: June 14th, 2023

Lesson 4: Catch the Moon

Lesson 4: Catch the Moon
You will be examining the characters, mood, imagery, and theme of the story.
This is called a Literary Analysis, and in it you will be citing evidence from the story to support your points.
Before you start analyzing the story make sure you understand what characters, mood, imagery, and theme are in a story.
Use these outside resources to help familiarize yourself with analysis of various elements of a story:
• Click Here to review how Themes are analyzed in a short story.
• Click Here to review how Imagery is analyzed in a short story.
• Click Here to review how Characters are analyzed in short story.
• Click Here to review how Mood is analyzed in a short story.
You will be writing a Literary Analysis paper, which is an organized written presentation about a Short Story.
You will use evidence from the text to describe the literary techniques the writer used and interpret meaning.
What to Write:
• Introduction
o The title and author of the short story you chose
o A brief summary of the story (2-3 sentences)
o Relevant information about the writer (2-3 sentences)
o THESIS Statement – Tell the reader the points you will discuss in this essay in one sentence.
• Body Paragraph #1
o Identify and discuss the main characters
o Use at least two quotes to support your ideas
• Body Paragraph #2
o Identify and discuss the mood of the story
o Use at least two quotes to support your ideas
• Body Paragraph #3
o Identify and discuss the imagery in the story
o Use at least two quotes to support your ideas
• Conclusion
o Discuss the overall theme of the story
o Discuss how character, mood, and imagery contributed to the theme
o Use at least two quotes to support your ideas
• At the end of the essay write the heading -Works Cited- and list all the sources used to help you write the essay. The Works Cited page is an
essential part of any essay because it allows the reader to find the sources referenced in your paper.
REMEMBER:
• Use eight quotes 2 each for the characters, mood, imagery, and theme.
• Write only 2-3 sentences for the summary of the story in your own words
• Write only 2-3 sentences about the author’s background in your own words.
• Include a Works Cited page
• This paper needs to be 500 – 1000 Words.
• Avoid copying from the internet to avoid plagiarism. Use your own original ideas.
• Click on the link in the Red Box to view the Project Rubrics for this project.
• All Sections are required for the Project.
• You must follow all instructions to avoid losing points on the assignment

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Introduction:
The short story chosen for this literary analysis is “Catch the Moon” by Judith Ortiz Cofer. It is a story about a young boy named Luis who has just been released from a juvenile detention center and his journey to finding his place in the world. Ortiz Cofer is a Puerto Rican writer who was born in 1952 and has written extensively on the experiences of Latinx people in the United States. The thesis statement for this essay is: Through the use of character development, mood, and imagery, Ortiz Cofer portrays the theme of self-discovery in “Catch the Moon.”

Body Paragraph #1:
The main characters in “Catch the Moon” are Luis and Naomi. Luis is a young boy who has just been released from a juvenile detention center and is struggling to find his place in the world. Naomi is a girl who runs a flea market booth and offers Luis a job. Through their interactions, Luis begins to learn about responsibility and hard work. Two quotes that support this idea are:

“He had been to a lot of schools, but he never learned anything he could use there. He figured he was learning something now, even though he was just sweeping and carrying boxes.” This quote shows how Luis is starting to see the value in his work and how it can help him in the future.
“She had taken his attention away from himself, his own thoughts, for a while, and he was grateful to her for that.” This quote demonstrates how Naomi is helping Luis to focus on something other than his own problems and is helping him to start to see the world outside of himself.
Body Paragraph #2:
The mood of “Catch the Moon” is one of hopefulness and redemption. Even though Luis has made mistakes in the past, there is a sense that he can still make something of himself. Two quotes that support this idea are:

“The sun had come up behind him and

he felt the warmth of it on his face. It made him feel good, like he was getting a fresh start.” This quote shows how Luis is feeling positive about his future and is ready to start anew.
“He knew he was going to be okay, that he could make it if he tried.” This quote demonstrates how Luis is starting to believe in himself and his ability to succeed. It also adds to the overall mood of hopefulness in the story.

Body Paragraph #3:
The imagery in “Catch the Moon” is centered around the flea market where Luis works. Ortiz Cofer uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the colorful and lively atmosphere of the market. Two quotes that support this idea are:

“The booths were crowded with goods, everything from plastic toys to religious candles and votive offerings, from shoes to car parts, from clothes to pirated CDs.” This quote shows the variety of items being sold at the flea market and helps to establish the setting of the story.
“The smell of sizzling onions and peppers mixed with the aroma of frying meat and spices, and his stomach growled in response.” This quote creates a sensory experience for the reader, allowing them to imagine the sights and smells of the market.

Conclusion:
The overall theme of “Catch the Moon” is self-discovery. Through the character development of Luis and Naomi, the hopeful mood of the story, and the vivid imagery of the flea market setting, Ortiz Cofer demonstrates the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and finding one’s place in the world. As Luis learns the value of hard work and starts to believe in himself, the reader is left with a sense of hope for his future. Two quotes that support this idea are:

“He knew that he had to do it himself, that he was the only one who could catch the moon.” This quote demonstrates how Luis is taking responsibility for his own future and is willing to work hard to achieve his goals.
“He had discovered something about himself, something that gave him hope for the future.” This quote shows how Luis has grown and learned about himself throughout the story, leading to a sense of hope for his future.

Works Cited:
Ortiz Cofer, Judith. “Catch the Moon.” The Latin Deli: Telling the Lives of Barrio Women, Arte Publico Press, 1993, pp. 43-49.