Close Analyses

Students will closely analyze an important passage from most of the texts we read. The purpose of this assignment is to practice literary analysis, which argues for the importance of symbols, tone, and word choice in understanding larger themes in a literary text. Sometimes we don't get a chance in class to really focus on one passage the way I hope you will do in these close analyses.

Instructions: Each entry begins with any key passage (1-3 sentences) from the work at the top of the page. After copying this passage, write a 1-2 page (250-400 word) close analysis, which means analyzing specific literary elements in that one passage and arguing for their significance in terms of the novel's major themes and questions. Please avoid plot summary, and include a Works Cited.

Some students have found the following instructions for how to go about closely analyzing a passage helpful:

1) Circle keywords.

2) Analyze their technical functions in the sentence: word meaning/etymology; syntax; symbolism/simile/metaphor/allegory, see other literary elements; and tone.

3) Relate this data to some of the critical and thematic issues in the text.

These short writing exercises are not officially graded until they are presented in a revised Portfolio at the end of the semester (see below). Owing to scheduling difficulties, I am afraid I am NOT able to read late submissions, although I do expect to see them in the final Portfolio. I will neither accept emailed submissions, nor evaluate late postings on Blackboard. If you are unable to complete your analysis on time, you could ask a fellow student to read and evaluate the work-in-progress, or visit me in office hours.

The final Portfolio includes a critical intro., your TOP 3 analyses, including at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills, and all originals you submitted with my comments attached. If you wish to submit all 4 assigned analyses, you may; I average the top 3 scores. The cover letter should self-evaluate your own analyses and address the following questions: How have these writing exercises aided your thinking this semester? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your analyses? What is your best analysis, and why? What grade would you give yourself for this assignment? Consider the following guidelines in averaging your grade:

Although you are only required to revise one analysis, if you revise others, I will reevaluate them. Immediately following the cover letter, place your mandatory revised journal, and the original analysis with my comments on it behind it. The rest of the Portfolio should follow this format (revised analysis, original analysis). Or, if you are not revising the analysis, please just include it in the Portfolio; it's a waste of paper to reprint an unchanged analysis. You should of course include any analyses that you’re handing in late. Here’s a final list of everything you should include: 1) Critical introduction/cover letter; 2) Mandatory revised analysis; 3) Any other revised analyses; 4) Original analyses with my comments on them; 5) Any late submissions. Please simply staple everything together, or use a binder clip. No cover pages, please. Please also upload a copy of all analyses to Safe Assign (as one continuous document).