# memory-literary-analysis

Turns full books, plays, and long-form texts into structured Basic Memory graphs. Maps characters, chapters, locations, and motifs into interconnected notes.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 532 installs · ★ 23
- Author: basicmachines-co
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills/tree/HEAD/memory-literary-analysis/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-04-20
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/basicmachines-co-memory-literary-analysis

## What it does

This skill guides the end-to-end extraction of a literary work into a six-category note structure. It begins by initializing a project slug inside `~/basic-memory/<work-name>`. Next, it registers six schemas: characters, themes, chapters, locations, symbols, and literary devices. Every schema sets clear fields and relation links.

The workflow runs through six separate stages from Phase 0 to Phase 5. It starts with empty stubs for key figures, processes chapters in batches, connects narrative arcs, and checks the graph for schema drift. The end step builds canvas files for timelines and relationship webs. Without an active Basic Memory setup to run commands like `create_memory_project`, the workflow cannot create notes.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-literary-analysis -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/memory-literary-analysis/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/memory-literary-analysis/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-literary-analysis -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/memory-literary-analysis/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-literary-analysis -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/memory-literary-analysis/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills memory-literary-analysis
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/memory-literary-analysis/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-literary-analysis -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --path memory-literary-analysis
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/memory-literary-analysis/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills --skill memory-literary-analysis -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills/tree/HEAD/memory-literary-analysis/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- map an entire book into an interconnected knowledge base
- track character dynamics, motifs, and settings across chapters
- catch entity inconsistencies using schema validation rules
- generate canvas boards for plot timelines and character arcs

## Example prompts
- Build a knowledge graph for `hamlet` using the literary analysis workflow
- Process chapter three notes for `great-gatsby` and link character traits
- Validate the project notes against schemas to spot missing relations

## Similar
- [memory-curate](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-curate.md) — skill · 1300 installs
- [memory-notes](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-notes.md) — skill · 1300 installs
- [para-memory-files](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/para-memory-files.md) — skill · 1800 installs
- [shodh-memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/shodh-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 316
- [memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/orchestkit-memory.md) — skill · 749 installs
- [memory-systems](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-systems.md) — skill · 393 installs

## Other versions with the same name
- [memory-literary-analysis · basicmachines-co](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/memory-literary-analysis.md) — 1200 installs

From the same set: [basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/basicmachines-co/basic-memory-skills.md) — 7 cards

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md