Explaining the significance of quotations

Learning to effectively analyse and discuss specific quotations is one of the most important skills you will learn this year.

Learning to effectively analyse and discuss specific quotations is one of the most important skills you will learn this year. There is a clear step by step process that you must follow.

1) Set up the quotation 2) Integrate 3) Connect 4) Analyse/Discuss (SICA)

1) Set up the quotation You must give the quotations some context so that your reader is not left wondering where in the story the quotation came from. What was happening at the time, and/or who said it.

2) Integrate You must integrate the quotation into a sentence so that your discussion flows naturally.

3) Connect You must integrate the quotation to a specific literary element such as, theme, symbol, characterization, imagery etc.

4) Analyse/Discuss You must clearly discuss how the quotation is a good example of the literary element you have chosen.

Skill Practice: Explain the significance of the following quotation. “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus.” p.187

1) Set up the quotation 2) Integrate 3) Connect 4) Analyse/Discuss (SICA)

Early in The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator is explaining her life and talking about her family members. Maida says, “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus” (p. 98) This quotation develops the theme of, after finding out too much about something or someone, you may be left wishing that you never gained that knowledge in the first place. This is evident when Maida finds out the real story surrounding the night of the skating party. She found out that her Uncle Nathan did pick which girl to save. Maida now will look at her uncle differently and wish that she didn’t know the truth. When Maida is telling us that her father “had a reluctance to look at things too closely” (p. 98) it is for the reason that the less he knows about someone, the better. Her father doesn’t want to find out about something, then look at the person differently after. With Maida pushing for answers and learning more than she bargained for, she now understands her father’s point of view. Knowledge is not always power, knowledge can hurt you.

1) Set up the quotation You must give the quotations some context so that your reader is not left wondering where in the story the quotation came from. What was happening at the time, and/or who said it.

Early in The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator is explaining her life and talking about her family members. Maida says, “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus” (p. 98) This quotation develops the theme of, after finding out too much about something or someone, you may be left wishing that you never gained that knowledge in the first place. This is evident when Maida finds out the real story surrounding the night of the skating party. She found out that her Uncle Nathan did pick which girl to save. Maida now will look at her uncle differently and wish that she didn’t know the truth. When Maida is telling us that her father “had a reluctance to look at things too closely” (p. 98) it is for the reason that the less he knows about someone, the better. Her father doesn’t want to find out about something, then look at the person differently after. With Maida pushing for answers and learning more than she bargained for, she now understands her father’s point of view. Knowledge is not always power, knowledge can hurt you.

2) Integrate You must integrate the quotation into a sentence so that your discussion flows naturally.

Early in The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator is explaining her life and talking about her family members. Maida says, “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus” (p. 98) This quotation develops the theme of, after finding out too much about something or someone, you may be left wishing that you never gained that knowledge in the first place. This is evident when Maida finds out the real story surrounding the night of the skating party. She found out that her Uncle Nathan did pick which girl to save. Maida now will look at her uncle differently and wish that she didn’t know the truth. When Maida is telling us that her father “had a reluctance to look at things too closely” (p. 98) it is for the reason that the less he knows about someone, the better. Her father doesn’t want to find out about something, then look at the person differently after. With Maida pushing for answers and learning more than she bargained for, she now understands her father’s point of view. Knowledge is not always power, knowledge can hurt you.

3) Connect You must integrate the quotation to a specific literary element such as, theme, symbol, characterization, imagery etc.

Early in The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator is explaining her life and talking about her family members. Maida says, “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus” (p. 98) This quotation develops the theme of, after finding out too much about something or someone, you may be left wishing that you never gained that knowledge in the first place. This is evident when Maida finds out the real story surrounding the night of the skating party. She found out that her Uncle Nathan did pick which girl to save. Maida now will look at her uncle differently and wish that she didn’t know the truth. When Maida is telling us that her father “had a reluctance to look at things too closely” (p. 98) it is for the reason that the less he knows about someone, the better. Her father doesn’t want to find out about something, then look at the person differently after. With Maida pushing for answers and learning more than she bargained for, she now understands her father’s point of view. Knowledge is not always power, knowledge can hurt you.

4) Analyse/Discuss You must clearly discuss how the quotation is a good example of the literary element you have chosen.

Early in The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator is explaining her life and talking about her family members. Maida says, “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus” (p. 98) This quotation develops the theme of, after finding out too much about something or someone, you may be left wishing that you never gained that knowledge in the first place. This is evident when Maida finds out the real story surrounding the night of the skating party. She found out that her Uncle Nathan did pick which girl to save. Maida now will look at her uncle differently and wish that she didn’t know the truth. When Maida is telling us that her father “had a reluctance to look at things too closely” (p. 98) it is for the reason that the less he knows about someone, the better. Her father doesn’t want to find out about something, then look at the person differently after. With Maida pushing for answers and learning more than she bargained for, she now understands her father’s point of view. Knowledge is not always power, knowledge can hurt you.

Skill Practice: Explain the significance of the following quotation. “Liking wouldn’t have entered into it,” my father said. “Your grandfather had a family to feed. He knew where his duty lay.” p.189

1) Set up the quotation 2) Integrate 3) Connect 4) Analyse/Discuss (SICA)

Near the middle of The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator, is talking to her mother, her father, and Uncle Nathan. They are discussing the stone man when Maida asks why her grandfather didn’t like the stone man. Maida’s father is the first one to comment. He says, “Liking wouldn’t have entered into it.” Then he goes on, “Your grandfather had a family to feed. He knew where his duty lay” (p. 100) The quotation develops the theme that you have to do what is best for your family over your own desires or wishes. When Uncle Nathan had to save one of the two sisters he did not pick his future wife (family duty), he put himself first. Uncle Nathan picked his true love. Uncle Nathan knew “Where his duty lay” (p. 100) but did not do the right thing. In this situation Uncle Nathan did not have the same morals as his father.

1) Set up the quotation You must give the quotations some context so that your reader is not left wondering where in the story the quotation came from. What was happening at the time, and/or who said it.

Near the middle of The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator, is talking to her mother, her father, and Uncle Nathan. They are discussing the stone man when Maida asks why her grandfather didn’t like the stone man. Maida’s father is the first one to comment. He says, “Liking wouldn’t have entered into it.” Then he goes on, “Your grandfather had a family to feed. He knew where his duty lay” (p. 100) The quotation develops the theme that you have to do what is best for your family over your own desires or wishes. When Uncle Nathan had to save one of the two sisters he did not pick his future wife (family duty), he put himself first. Uncle Nathan picked his true love. Uncle Nathan knew “Where his duty lay” (p. 100) but did not do the right thing. In this situation Uncle Nathan did not have the same morals as his father.

2) Integrate You must integrate the quotation into a sentence so that your discussion flows naturally.

Near the middle of The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator, is talking to her mother, her father, and Uncle Nathan. They are discussing the stone man when Maida asks why her grandfather didn’t like the stone man. Maida’s father is the first one to comment. He says, “Liking wouldn’t have entered into it.” Then he goes on, “Your grandfather had a family to feed. He knew where his duty lay” (p. 100) The quotation develops the theme that you have to do what is best for your family over your own desires or wishes. When Uncle Nathan had to save one of the two sisters he did not pick his future wife (family duty), he put himself first. Uncle Nathan picked his true love. Uncle Nathan knew “Where his duty lay” (p. 100) but did not do the right thing. In this situation Uncle Nathan did not have the same morals as his father.

3) Connect You must integrate the quotation to a specific literary element such as, theme, symbol, characterization, imagery etc.

Near the middle of The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator, is talking to her mother, her father, and Uncle Nathan. They are discussing the stone man when Maida asks why her grandfather didn’t like the stone man. Maida’s father is the first one to comment. He says, “Liking wouldn’t have entered into it.” Then he goes on, “Your grandfather had a family to feed. He knew where his duty lay” (p. 100) The quotation develops the theme that you have to do what is best for your family over your own desires or wishes. When Uncle Nathan had to save one of the two sisters he did not pick his future wife (family duty), he put himself first. Uncle Nathan picked his true love. Uncle Nathan knew “Where his duty lay” (p. 100) but did not do the right thing. In this situation Uncle Nathan did not have the same morals as his father.

4) Analyse/Discuss You must clearly discuss how the quotation is a good example of the literary element you have chosen.

Near the middle of The Skating Party, Maida, the narrator, is talking to her mother, her father, and Uncle Nathan. They are discussing the stone man when Maida asks why her grandfather didn’t like the stone man. Maida’s father is the first one to comment. He says, “Liking wouldn’t have entered into it.” Then he goes on, “Your grandfather had a family to feed. He knew where his duty lay” (p. 100) The quotation develops the theme that you have to do what is best for your family over your own desires or wishes. When Uncle Nathan had to save one of the two sisters he did not pick his future wife (family duty), he put himself first. Uncle Nathan picked his true love. Uncle Nathan knew “Where his duty lay” (p. 100) but did not do the right thing. In this situation Uncle Nathan did not have the same morals as his father.

“Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus.” p.187 Maida, the narrator, comments on the personalities of her father, her mother, and Uncle Nathan near the beginning of the story. She explains that she and her mother want to be told everything, and they want to know how people really are. Her father, on the other hand, prefers to keep things a little distant. Maida states, “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus.” (p.187) This quotation

Maida, the narrator, comments on the personalities of her father, her mother, and Uncle Nathan near the beginning of the story. She explains that she and her mother want to be told everything, and they want to know how people really are. Her father, on the other hand, prefers to keep things a little distant. Maida states, “Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself. He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus.” (p.187) This quotation is important in order for the reader to understand one of the themes of the story. It explains that sometimes it is better to stay out of things, and not know everything, because when you do, it could

Early on in the story, The Skating Party, the narrator, Maida, is telling us about herself and her family. She reveals to us how, like her mother, she wanted to know things. Whereas her father thought that some things are better left unsaid, or better left alone. Maida observes that, “ Perhaps my father had a reluctance to look at things too closely himself” (p.187) She figures that, “He wanted to like people, and he may have found it easier to do if he kept them a little out of focus.” (p.187) This quotation incorporates one of the stories themes; how in life, things are rarely ever black and white, or right and wrong. When we are young, we’re young, we believe that there are those people who are heroes and there are those who are villains. As Maida grows up, and matures, she realizes that this is rarely the truth. She acknowledges that her father probably realized this and thought it easier to not know everything about someone, less it complicates your opinion.