Close Reading Strategies AP Literature

The Speaker and the Author Never assume they are the same The author creates a persona(s), a mask, to reflect the concern of the time. It’s important to separate the two in any genre. The speaker creates tone. Always be cognizant of tone shifts within a text. As you read, look for shifts in tone!

Essentials of reading/writing Plot—how the action is developed. It is more than just a sequence of events. Conflict is the connected pattern of cause and effect which a character must face and overcome. Conflict is directly related to doubt, tension, and interest. Identify the protagonist and antagonist and how their characteristics put them into conflict

Plot Structure Is the story divided into sections or parts? What changes do you note? Weather, times of day, place? If the story departs from the formal structure, what purpose do these departures have? What variations in chronological order appear? Are there any delays of crucial details in exposition? For what effect? Where does an important action or a major section begin?

Point of view—the position or stance of the work’s narrator. Concerns not only the speaker’s physical position as observer and recorder, but also how his political, social, and mental circumstances affect him. Condition affecting POV Physical situation of the narrator A major participant or witness—close or distant? How much does the narrator know? Qualifications/limitations as an observer? How accurate are his reports? Is he reliable? Is his account probable? Intellectual/emotional position? How much does he/she stand to gain or lose from the story?

What a writer says about an idea is a good definition of theme. Theme—an idea that results from abstract thinking, discovered through analyzing action, character depiction, scenes, and language. What a writer says about an idea is a good definition of theme. Analyze the idea as it applies to character Show how actions bring out the idea Show how dialogue and speeches bring out the idea How does the work’s structure contribute to theme? How does the idea vary within the text? Are there variations of theme?

Setting— Nature and the outdoors Natural settings: hills, outdoors, valleys, etc Living creatures: birds, dogs, horses Seasons, time, conditions; day or night, winter or summer, storminess or calmness Objects of human manufacture and construction Details about interiors and exteriors of houses, park benches, tables, etc Details about personal possession: jewelry, hair ribbons, saddles.

Historical and cultural conditions— Catholic rituals (or any other religions) Religious skepticism Political climates Historical eras Settings help to establish literary credibility may be a strong guide to character may be an organizing element such as framing may be a literary symbol may establish a work’s atmosphere or mood some authors use setting ironically

Characterization—a verbal representation of a human being Characterization—a verbal representation of a human being. Through action, speech, description, and commentary, authors portray characters who are worth caring about, although some may be despicable. In literature, all actions, speeches, interactions are deliberate and meaningful

Characters Reveal their nature through action An author’s description, both personal and environmental, tell us about characters What characters say—dramatic statements and thoughts reveal what they are like Are revealed through what others say about them