8/13/2019 Close Reading - Developing Analysis - Lab Lesson

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Close Reading

Developing Analysis

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What is a close reading?

Providing a close reading in a literature and/or criticalthinking course is essential. One must be able todissect a piece of literature to support our assertions.

We quite often jump to an analysis of a literary textwithout really thinking about howwe have arrivedthere. Close reading is all about the how.

Close reading is the practice of examining a text line-by-line in an effort to clarify and explore its contentand implications. It involves moving word-by-word andline-by-line through a literary text, putting language,diction, and meter under a critical microscope.

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What is close reading? Cont.

A close reading, or explication, seeks to confrontthe particular words, images, and organization ofa (usually literary) scene or passage.

Close reading is a technique used to break updense or complex ideas and language, or to drawattention to such individual parts as images orword choice.

Your close reading of a passage constitutes thebasis of your interpretation and becomesevidence in your argument.

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Before you begin

To develop a close reading you must read your selection at least acouple of times. Make sure to determine the meanings of wordsand references you may not understand. Read with a pencil,highlighter in hand.

Annotate as you read. Circle words and phrases that stand out.

What grabs your attention? Make marginal notes afterhighlighting. Write questions and comments about the text.

Be patient. Annotating is time consuming.

Paraphrasing and summarizing. After reading and annotating,paraphrase what youve just read in your own words. You first readfor comprehension and basic plot/story. Formulate a brief summaryin your own words. In other words, what is the passage literallyabout? What happens?

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What to consider?

Figurative Language: Examine the passage carefully forsimiles, images, metaphors, and symbols. Identify anyand all. List implications and suggested meanings aswell as denotations.

Diction. This section is closely connected with thesection above. Diction, with its emphasis on words,provides the crux of the explication.

Style. Look for any significant aspects of styleparallelconstructions, antithesis, etc.

Tone. What is the tone of the passage? How does itelucidate the entire passage? Is the tone one of irony?Sentimental? Serious? Humorous? Ironic?

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What to consider? Cont.

Theme: A theme is not to be confused with thesis; thetheme or more properly themes of a work of literature is itsbroadest, most pervasive concern, and it is contained in acomplex combination of elements. In contrast to a thesis,which is usually expressed in a single, argumentative,declarative sentence and is characteristic of expositoryprose rather than creative literature, a theme is not astatement; rather, it often is expressed in a single word or aphrase, such as "love," "illusion versus reality," or "thetyranny of circumstance." Generally, the theme of a work is

never "right" or "wrong." There can be virtually as manythemes as there are readers, for essentially the concept oftheme refers to the emotion and insight which results fromthe experience of reading a work of literature.

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Developing your interpretation

After youve read and re-read your passage and consideredthe previous you are ready to write a close reading.

Take out something you are reading and/or writing out foryour class.

Zero in on a passage. It should be no longer than two orthree paragraphs. Attempt to analyze your passage by closereading.

First, freewrite on what youve just read. What words,images, or phrases stand out? Consider the connotations of

the words. Are there any prevalent themes? Now, share your freewrite with a classmate.