1 page 4 paras analysis
CLOSE READING
A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH
1
From Reading to Writing
At some point in a composition or literature course, you will be asked to incorporate close readings into written assignments; you might be asked to do this in
Formal essays,
Critical reading responses,
Free-writes,
Presentations,
Short essay questions on exams, and
Homework assignments.
analyzing a quotation in paragraph form
In the following example, we will perform a close reading in paragraph form, one approach to incorporating close readings into written assignments.
Step one: identifying key terms
The first step is to underline the key terms of a particular passage worthy of discussion. The following quotation comes from Chris Abani’s novel Song for Night. The narrator “My Luck” is a teenage soldier in the Nigerian civil war.
Example:
My Luck explains, “It is a strange place to be at fifteen, bereft of hope and very nearly of your humanity. But that is where I am nonetheless” (19).
Step two: beginning with a topic sentence
If you devote an entire paragraph to the discussion of a particular passage, begin with a topic sentence that mentions the main point of the paragraph (the idea that relates to your quotation) before quoting your passage.
Example:
Although My Luck, an Igbo orphan conscripted in the army, occupies a very unusual position, one usually reserved for someone much older in chronological years, he fights to maintain his sense of self.
Step three: quoting
Quote the passage, using an appropriate signal phrase. You may choose to introduce your quotatin with a simple signal phrase consisting of a speaker + verb or with a complete sentence followed by a colon.
Example:
He explains, “It is a strange place to be at fifteen, bereft of hope and very nearly of your humanity. But that is where I am nonetheless” (19).
Step four: explaining, defining, and providing context
Explain its surface meaning, defining key terms. Also explain the context for the quotation if necessary, considering how much your reader already knows about the text from which you took the quotation.
Example:
Reflecting on his personal experiences as a human mine diffuser who well-versed in the brutality of civil war, My Luck tells a story not unlike that of a seasoned war veteran.
Step five: analyzing
Analyze by reflecting on the deeper significance of the passage in 3-4 sentences.
Example:
He describes how bereft or deprived he is of hope and humanity, given his daily experience of fear, death, murder, and loss. Despite this fact, however, My Luck maintains a hold, however tenuous, on his humanity, his sense of self; he is, as he says, “very nearly” but not entirely without humanity. Furthermore, through his rather matter-of-fact statement – “That is where I am nonetheless” – My Luck acknowledges his lot in life though he, as readers later learn, refuses to submit to it.
What should I include in my analysis?
Consider including a discussion of
Ideas that are surprising or otherwise interesting in your opinion;
Any allusions and figurative language, including metaphors, similes, and symbolism;
Questions that the passage prompts you to ask; and
Any especially effective language, explaining how the language contributes to an understanding of the passage.
Putting it all together
Although My Luck, an Igbo orphan conscripted in the army, occupies a very unusual position, one usually reserved for someone much older in chronological years, he fights to maintain his sense of self. He explains, “It is a strange place to be at fifteen, bereft of hope and very nearly of your humanity. But that is where I am nonetheless” (19). Reflecting on his personal experiences as a human mine diffuser who well-versed in the brutality of civil war, My Luck tells a story not unlike that of a seasoned war veteran. He describes how bereft or deprived he is of hope and humanity, given his daily experience of fear, death, murder, and loss. Despite this fact, however, My Luck maintains a hold, however tenuous, on his humanity, his sense of self; he is, as he says, “very nearly” but not entirely without humanity. Furthermore, through his rather matter-of-fact statement – “That is where I am nonetheless” – My Luck acknowledges his lot in life though he, as readers later learn, refuses to submit to it.
What did I just do?
The following is a reverse outline of my close reading paragraph:
Main idea: My Luck has had to grow up quickly but maintains his sense of self.
Introduction of a relevant quotation with a signal phrase (“he explains”).
Quotation
Details readers need to understand the quotation: the identity of the speaker, the circumstances surrounding his statement, etc.
Analysis of quotation using the comparison approach: comparison of My Luck to an older veteran who has seen war
A special note
Note: You will have to decide whether to quote a long passage using block quotation format or to break up a longer passage into multiple sections, quoting a small section at a time and commenting on it before moving on to additional quotations and close readings of these quotations. Consider your audience: would breaking up a longer passage and discussing it in sections help your reader better follow your argument?