++++ 100 command prompts designed for literary analysis apps

 

This list categorizes 100 command prompts designed for literary analysis apps (primarily Large Language Models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, but also adaptable for corpus analysis tools).

These prompts are structured to move from surface-level comprehension to deep, critical, and data-driven analysis.

I. Plot & Narrative Structure (1-15)

Focus: Pacing, story arcs, and structural integrity.

1. "Create a chapter-by-chapter outline of [Title], highlighting the key plot points in each."

2. "Identify the Inciting Incident, Climax, and Resolution in [Title] and analyze how they are causally linked."

3. "Map the narrative arc of [Title] against Freytag’s Pyramid. Where does the structure deviate?"

4. "Analyze the pacing of the second act. Does it drag or accelerate, and which scenes contribute to this tempo?"

5. "Identify all non-linear timeline shifts (flashbacks/flash-forwards) in the text and explain their effect on suspense."

6. "List every 'Chekhov’s Gun' introduced in the first half of the book and track where it is fired."

7. "Analyze the reliability of the narrator. Point to three specific passages that suggest they might be lying or biased."

8. "Deconstruct the ending. Is it a logical conclusion to the plot, or a 'Deus Ex Machina'? Explain why."

9. "Trace the B-plot involving [Character Name]. How does it thematically mirror or contrast with the main plot?"

10. "Identify the 'Midpoint Reversal' in the story. How does it change the protagonist's goal?"

11. "Analyze the use of cliffhangers at the end of chapters. How do they affect the reader's engagement?"

12. "Summarize the plot in three sentences: one for the setup, one for the confrontation, and one for the resolution."

13. "Identify the main 'MacGuffin' of the story and explain its symbolic value beyond its function as a plot device."

14. "Evaluate the stakes. Are they internal (emotional) or external (physical)? How do they escalate?"

15. "Compare the plot structure of this novel to the 'Hero's Journey' (Monomyth) stages."

II. Character Analysis (16-30)

Focus: Archetypes, psychology, and relationships.

16. "Create a psychological profile for [Character Name] based on the 'Big Five' personality traits."

17. "Trace the evolution of [Character Name]’s motivation from Chapter 1 to the final chapter."

18. "Identify the fatal flaw (Hamartia) of the protagonist and list three moments where it leads to their downfall."

19. "Map the relationship dynamics between [Character A] and [Character B]. How does the power balance shift over time?"

20. "Classify the main characters according to Jungian archetypes (e.g., The Shadow, The Mentor)."

21. "Analyze the antagonist's justification for their actions. Is their worldview coherent?"

22. "Contrast the protagonist with their foil. What traits does the foil highlight in the protagonist?"

23. "Extract all dialogue tags used for [Character Name]. What do these verbs suggest about their personality?"

24. "Analyze how [Character Name]’s speech patterns (diction, sentence length) differ from other characters."

25. "Identify a 'static' character in the novel and argue whether their lack of change is a flaw or a thematic necessity."

26. "Examine [Character Name]'s relationship with their parents/past and how it dictates their current behavior."

27. "Who is the moral compass of the story? Cite specific decisions they make that prove this."

28. "Analyze the physical descriptions of [Character Name]. How do they reflect their internal state?"

29. "List every epithet or nickname used for [Character Name] and explain its connotation."

30. "Evaluate the agency of the female characters in the text using the Bechdel Test criteria as a starting point."

III. Themes & Symbolism (31-45)

Focus: Abstract concepts, motifs, and allegory.

31. "Identify the three dominant themes in [Title] and provide one quote supporting each."

32. "Trace the motif of [object/concept, e.g., 'water' or 'mirrors'] throughout the text. What does it symbolize in different contexts?"

33. "Analyze the title of the book. How does its meaning change after reading the final chapter?"

34. "Is this text an allegory? If so, what do the characters and settings represent in the real world?"

35. "How does the author treat the theme of [e.g., Redemption]? Is it presented as achievable or impossible?"

36. "Contrast the theme of 'Fate vs. Free Will' as portrayed in the actions of the protagonist vs. the antagonist."

37. "Analyze the setting as a symbol. How does the weather or landscape reflect the mood of the narrative?"

38. "Identify a biblical or mythological allusion in the text and explain its significance."

39. "Discuss the role of color imagery in the novel. What does the color [Color] represent?"

40. "How does the text explore the tension between Tradition and Modernity?"

41. "Analyze the recurring dream sequences. What do they reveal about the collective unconscious of the story?"

42. "Identify a 'leitmotif' associated with a specific character and track its appearances."

43. "How does the theme of Isolation manifest in the physical environment of the story?"

44. "Examine the role of technology in the book. Is it a symbol of progress or destruction?"

45. "Analyze the moral ambiguity of the ending. What thematic statement is the author making by leaving it unresolved?"

IV. Style, Tone & Linguistics (46-60)

Focus: Syntax, diction, and rhetorical devices.

46. "Analyze the author’s use of sensory imagery (sight, sound, smell). Which sense is prioritized?"

47. "Evaluate the sentence structure. Does the author prefer parataxis (short, simple sentences) or hypotaxis (complex, subordinate clauses)?"

48. "Identify three distinct rhetorical devices (e.g., polysyndeton, chiasmus) used in the opening paragraph."

49. "Analyze the tone of the narrator. Is it detached, ironic, sympathetic, or judgmental?"

50. "Examine the use of irony in the text. Distinguish between verbal, situational, and dramatic irony examples."

51. "How does the author use dialect or slang to establish class or geography?"

52. "Analyze the use of passive voice in Chapter [X]. What does it suggest about agency in that scene?"

53. "Compute the average sentence length in dialogue vs. exposition. What does the difference indicate?"

54. "Identify the shift in tone that occurs during the climax. How is this achieved linguistically?"

55. "Analyze the use of metaphor vs. simile. Which is more prevalent and why?"

56. "Examine the author's use of whitespace and chapter breaks. How do they control the reading speed?"

57. "Identify all instances of second-person address ('You'). What effect does this have on the reader?"

58. "Analyze the use of stream-of-consciousness techniques in [Section]. How does it mimic thought processes?"

59. "Compare the vocabulary complexity (Lexical Density) of the first chapter vs. the last chapter."

60. "How does the author use repetition (anaphora/epistrophe) to emphasize key emotional beats?"

V. Critical Lenses & Context (61-75)

Focus: Marxist, Feminist, Post-Colonial, and Historical criticism.

61. "Analyze [Title] through a Marxist lens. How does the text critique or uphold the class structure?"

62. "Apply a Feminist critique to the relationship between [Male Character] and [Female Character]."

63. "Examine the text through a Post-Colonial lens. How is the 'Other' represented?"

64. "Analyze the story using Psychoanalytic criticism. Where do we see the Id, Ego, and Superego clashing?"

65. "Contextualize the novel within the historical period it was written. How do contemporary events influence the plot?"

66. "Read the text as an Eco-critical work. How is nature treated—as a resource or a character?"

67. "Analyze the text using Queer Theory. Are there subtextual relationships that challenge heteronormativity?"

68. "How does the text reflect the anxieties of the [Specific Era, e.g., Cold War]?"

69. "Critique the representation of disability in the novel using modern Disability Studies frameworks."

70. "Analyze the economic systems present in the fictional world. Are they sustainable?"

71. "How does the text engage with the concept of the 'Death of the Author'? Can the text stand independently of the author's biography?"

72. "Evaluate the text's adherence to the conventions of its genre (e.g., Gothic, Noir). Where does it subvert them?"

73. "Analyze the power dynamics using Foucault’s theory of Panopticism/Surveillance."

74. "Discuss the Orientalist tropes present in the description of foreign lands."

75. "How does the text address the concept of the 'American Dream' (or equivalent cultural ethos)?"

VI. Comparative & Intertextual (76-85)

Focus: Comparing texts, adaptations, and influences.

76. "Compare the opening line of [Title] with [Famous Classic]. How do they differently establish authority?"

77. "Contrast the protagonist of this book with [Famous Character, e.g., Hamlet]. What traits do they share?"

78. "Compare the novel to its film adaptation. What key subplot was removed, and how did that change the theme?"

79. "Trace the influence of [Author, e.g., Shakespeare] on this text. Identify specific borrowed lines or plot points."

80. "Compare the representation of [Theme] in this book vs. [Contemporary Book]."

81. "How does this sequel subvert the expectations set by the first book?"

82. "Compare the ending of the book to the alternate ending (if known/drafted). Which is thematically stronger?"

83. "Analyze this text as a response to [Previous Literary Movement]. How is it pushing back against those ideals?"

84. "Compare the narrative voice of this text to [Author's] other works. Is it consistent?"

85. "Juxtapose the villain’s monologue with a famous real-world political speech. Are the rhetorical strategies similar?"

VII. Creative & "What If" (86-95)

Focus: Generative exploration and reimagining.

86. "Rewrite the ending from the perspective of the antagonist."

87. "Write a dialogue between the protagonist of this book and the protagonist of [Different Book] discussing their fatal flaws."

88. "Imagine this story set in a Sci-Fi setting. Which plot points would become obsolete?"

89. "Draft a letter from [Character A] to [Character B] that was never sent, revealing a hidden secret."

90. "What if the Inciting Incident never happened? Describe the protagonist's life five years later."

91. "Generate a sequel outline focusing on a minor character."

92. "Rewrite a key scene changing the narrative distance (e.g., from 3rd person distinct to 1st person)."

93. "Create a Spotify playlist description for [Character Name] based on their emotional arc."

94. "Write a modern-day news report covering the climax of the novel."

95. "If [Character Name] had access to therapy, how would the plot change?"

VIII. Data & Corpus Analysis (For Code/Data Tools) (96-100)

Focus: For tools like Python, R, or Voyant.

96. "Generate a word frequency list excluding stop-words. What are the top 10 unique nouns?"

97. "Create a sentiment analysis graph tracking the emotional polarity of the text chapter by chapter."

98. "Perform a 'keyword in context' (KWIC) search for the word 'truth'. What adjectives most frequently precede it?"

99. "Visualize the co-occurrence network of character names. Who is the central node connecting different groups?"

100. "Calculate the readability score (Flesch-Kincaid) of the dialogue vs. the narrative description."