If your essay is based on a novel, short story, essay, poem or other published literary work the fact of your expressed point of view is usually based on an interpretation of the author’s expression. Using appropriate passages from the published work which you are analyzing is essential to demonstrate for your critical reader that you have interpreted the literature with the intent called for by the writing task.
EXAMPLE: The Road is a story about a man’s devotion to his son and the unimaginable struggles that test his love and fortitude in keeping his son safe and alive. “Listen to me, he said, when your dreams are of some world that never was or some world that never will be, and you’re happy again, then you’ll have given up. Do you understand? And you can’t give up, I won’t let you.” (pg. 215)
Be sure to indicate the page number, in parenthesis after the quote, which the cited passage is from.