2 pages

Close Reading:

Lit 61R: Close Reading

In literary studies, close reading is one of our primary tools of analysis. Close reading is a methodology that involves a careful, critical reading of a passage from a text. This reading is then used to fuel an argument about the text itself. Not to be confused with a surface plot summary, close reading asks us to focus on how the meaning of the text is constructed through its language, structure, and content.

Strategies for Close Reading:

 Carefully read the entire text. Be sure to take notes in the margins. Underline or highlight sentences/passages that stand out in your reading.

 Once you understand the plot of the story, try to develop a deeper understanding of the text. Go back through your notes and annotations, what is happening below the surface of the text? What is its underlying content?

 Pay close attention to the language of the text. What vocabulary is the author using? Are there certain words that are repeated in the story? Why do you think these words are repeated? Are there implied or double meanings to these words? How does this use of language contribute to your understanding of the text? It might be helpful to isolate one sentence to analyze how language is working in the text.

 Analyze the imagery of the text. What images, symbols, or tropes is the author utilizing and why? Does this imagery reveal a theme or pattern in the text?

 Are there metaphors or figurative language in the text? Are there objects or images in the story that stand in for a deeper meaning beyond their surface representation? How does these metaphors aid or further your understanding of the text?

 Pay attention to the syntax (grammar) and structure of the text. How is the author using sentence structure/style, narrative structure, and grammar (i.e. punctuation)? How do these elements also contribute to the underlying meaning(s) of the text?

 Why are these observations important? How can you use them to generate an analysis of the text?