Close reading
In literary criticism, Close reading is the careful, sustained interpretation of a brief passage of a text. A close reading emphasizes the single and the particular over the general, via close attention to individual words, the syntax, the order in which the sentences unfold ideas, as well as formal structures.
Close reading is thinking about both what is said in a passage (the content) and how it is said (the form, i.e., the manner in which the content is presented), leading to possibilities for observation and insight.
Close reading is a method of detailed textual analysis where a reader carefully examines a text’s language, structure, and literary devices to uncover deeper, nuanced meanings and insights. It involves repeated and sustained reading of a short passage, focusing on how the author says something—the “how” (style, tone, word choice)—to understand what is being said—the “what” (content, central ideas). The goal is to support interpretations with direct textual evidence, letting the text guide the analysis rather than imposing external ideas.
Key Aspects of Close Reading
Detailed Examination: It goes beyond a superficial reading to scrutinize individual words, sentences, and overall patterns within a text.
Focus on Form and Content: Close reading considers both what a text says (content) and how it says it (form, e.g., imagery, syntax, diction, rhetorical devices).
Textual Evidence: Claims made during close reading must be supported by specific evidence directly from the text.
Repeated Reading: The process often involves reading a passage multiple times to notice more details.
Layered Meaning: The aim is to understand implied meanings and connections to broader themes or contexts within the work.
Interpretation, Not Imposition: The reader’s role is to observe and interpret details already present in the text, not to project their own preconceived ideas onto it.
How to Practice Close Reading
- Select a passage: Close reading is best applied to a specific, often complex, passage.
- Read and observe: Read the passage multiple times, noting specific details like vocabulary, syntax, imagery, and recurring elements.
- Analyze patterns: Look for patterns in your observations and identify any breaks in those patterns.
- Interpret: Connect your observations to the text’s overall meaning and how specific choices shape the tone, mood, and themes.
- Support with evidence: Formulate conclusions and support them with direct textual evidence.
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[1] https://fiveable.me/key-terms/introduction-contemporary-literature/close-reading
[2] https://classicswrites.hsites.harvard.edu/close-reading-0
[3] wikipedia/en/Close_reading
[4] https://www.teachthought.com/literacy-posts/what-close-reading-actually-means/
[5] https://guides.library.harvard.edu/literature/closereading
[6] https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-close-reading-definition-and-strategies
[7] https://knight.as.cornell.edu/close-reading-key-terms-devices