How do you structure a typical English Literature essay?

The key to getting top marks for your essay is ensuring that the structure is clear and consistent. For most essays, the structure would consist of a topic sentence/ point e.g. 'Shakespeare presents Iago as the Machiavellian vice of the play who appears 'honest' but is deceitful...', followed by quotes from the play or novel to support your point which are further developed with a complex analysis such as 'the word 'honest' is used 52 times in the play 'Othello' in relation to Iago, which is ironic as he is the vice of the play, a remnant of morality plays (although of a more sophisticated nature)...' Adding historical or social context to your essay is especially helpful in writing a successful English essay, as it shows a developed level of complexity and understanding to your work. In addition, adding critics to your work, both ones whose arguments you agree with or disagree with, will also improve the quality of your essay.
Try to keep your paragraphs concise, as lengthy texts will discourage the examiner and make it seem as though you are rambling. Three to four paragraphs (not including your introduction or conclusion) should be sufficient. Likewise with the main body of your essay, keep the introduction and conclusion concise and do not repeat yourself.