Wednesday, September 16 Do Now Take out the poem and your responses

Close Reading What do you think close reading is? Discuss your response with a partner.

Close Reading Assumptions Every element of a work of literature (novel, short story, poem, play, etc.) is essential. The elements of a work of literature include, but are not limited to: punctuation, word choice, point of view, imagery, repetition, recurrent ideas, literary devices, etc. Careful analysis of these items leads to a greater understanding of the work as a whole. Close reading is a reader’s best tool to help achieve careful analysis.

Background 1930’s Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch William Lyon Phelps In contrast, Formalists wanted rigor or a scientific basis or some sort of set of principles that could actually be invoked, so that the business of criticism could become more careful and systematic. So this is the backdrop in which in the American academy arose in the thirties and in the forties.

Earlier Close Readers: I. A. Richards Precursors of the New Critics Richards, before he joined the English department at Cambridge, was actually a psychologist. Richards really did believe, seriously believed, in the way in which language really can hook on to the world. His student, Empson was a math major before he became an English major. Both of them take very seriously the notion that there can be a scientific basis for what one does in English or in literary studies.

New Critics (Group within the formalists) The New Criticism created an atmosphere in which it was okay to notice that things were a little more difficult than they'd been supposed to be. Close reading evolved within the New Criticism left its mark on much subsequent criticism and theory. Close reading became a question of constructing an elaborate formal edifice to which everybody could contribute. (Students got excited about it.)

Good Close Reading Involves interacting with the text on a physical as well as an intellectual level. Write on the text (If you can’t write, use post-its!). Attention to detail. (Interact with all the parts) A willingness to take risks. (Open your mind to new possibilities in the text) Plausible = able to function; there is value/validity in it

Levels of Close Reading Level 1: Surface-level Identify interesting words/phrases, concepts The reader identifies the presence of literary elements (e.g. metaphor). Level 2 : Identifying purpose The reader attempts to identify the function of a particular literary element. Level 3: Understanding Relationships The reader examines how the relationships of literary elements allow the reader to explore potential meanings.

Level 1 Questions to Use While Close Reading What is the point of view? Is there any interesting punctuation? What words stick out? What literary devices are present? What characters are present?

Work on the poem Make level 1 questions specific to “Where I’m From” Answer the questions if you can (ex. What is the point of view? It is a first person point of view.) Keep in mind that you have started exploration already. Look for new things – patterns, interesting concepts, literary devices, etc. (Be curious and adventurous when you explore )

Level 2 Questions to Use While Close Reading What does the point of view add to the text? How does punctuation add meaning to this passage? How does word choice add meaning to this passage? What meaning do the literary devices add to the meaning? What do the characters add to the meaning? How does the literary work better over another?

Level 3 Questions These questions are for more advanced use. We will use them in the coming weeks. You are not expected to use them today. What is a potential theme statement that can be derived form this passage? If you are evaluating a passage from a greater work, how does that passage add to the work as a whole? How do multiple literary elements work together to advance a theme?

Closure/Transition How do you think a level 2 close reading will change your understanding of the poem?

As a Class What is the most important Level 2 question that you generated? Why?

Closure/Exit Ticket How has understanding the first two levels of close reading helped you to understand the poem?

Credits The notes on New Criticism Background are based on Dr. Paul H. Fry’s lectures. The notes on the qualities of close reading are based on Texts and Contexts by Steven Lynn. These notes were prepared by Mr. Gonzalez.