1.1 Close reading

Close reading is a literary analysis method that involves carefully examining a text's language, structure, and literary techniques. It aims to uncover deeper meanings, themes, and artistic elements by focusing on individual words, phrases, and sentences.

Originating in the early 20th century, close reading became prominent with the New Criticism movement. It emphasizes studying the text as an independent object, rejecting external factors like historical context or authorial intent. This approach remains relevant in modern literary studies and has expanded to other disciplines.

Definition of close reading

• Close reading is a method of literary analysis that involves careful, detailed examination of a text to uncover its meaning, themes, and literary techniques
• Involves paying close attention to individual words, phrases, and sentences to understand how they contribute to the overall meaning and effect of the work
• Requires multiple readings of a text, each time focusing on different aspects such as diction, syntax, imagery, and structure

Purpose and goals

Top images from around the web for Purpose and goals

• 

  Critical Thinking Skills | Career Exploration and College Success View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Free Pearson's Red Critical Thinking PowerPoint Diagram & Presentation Slides View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Critical Thinking Skills | Career Exploration and College Success View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Free Pearson's Red Critical Thinking PowerPoint Diagram & Presentation Slides View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for Purpose and goals

• 

  Critical Thinking Skills | Career Exploration and College Success View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Free Pearson's Red Critical Thinking PowerPoint Diagram & Presentation Slides View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Critical Thinking Skills | Career Exploration and College Success View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Free Pearson's Red Critical Thinking PowerPoint Diagram & Presentation Slides View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• The primary purpose of close reading is to gain a deep, nuanced understanding of a literary work by examining its language, form, and structure in detail
• Aims to uncover the complex layers of meaning within a text, including its themes, symbols, and motifs
• Seeks to appreciate the artistry and craft of the writer in using language to create a specific effect or convey a particular message
• Enables readers to develop their critical thinking and analytical skills by engaging with a text on a deep, substantive level

Characteristics and features

• Close reading is characterized by a focus on the text itself, rather than external factors such as the author's biography or historical context
• Involves a slow, careful reading process that pays attention to every word and phrase, rather than skimming or reading for plot
• Requires a willingness to grapple with ambiguity and multiple interpretations, rather than seeking a single, definitive meaning
• Often involves annotating the text with notes and observations, and rereading passages multiple times to gain new insights and perspectives

History of close reading

• Close reading emerged as a distinct method of literary analysis in the early-to-mid 20th century, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom
• Developed in response to earlier approaches to literature that focused on historical, biographical, or moral considerations rather than the text itself
• Influenced by modernist literature and the idea that a work of art should be self-contained and autonomous, rather than dependent on external factors for its meaning

Origins in New Criticism

• Close reading is closely associated with the New Criticism movement, which emerged in the 1920s and 1930s and dominated literary studies until the 1960s
• New Critics such as John Crowe Ransom, Allen Tate, and Cleanth Brooks emphasized the importance of studying a text as an independent, self-contained object
• Rejected the idea that a text's meaning could be determined by its historical or biographical context, or by the author's stated intentions
• Instead, New Critics focused on the "words on the page" and the formal elements of a text, such as its structure, imagery, and language

Key figures and theorists

• I.A. Richards, a British literary critic, is often credited with developing the techniques of close reading in his books "Principles of Literary Criticism" (1924) and "Practical Criticism" (1929)
• William Empson, another British critic, applied close reading techniques to the analysis of ambiguity and multiple meanings in poetry in his book "Seven Types of Ambiguity" (1930)
• American New Critics such as Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren popularized close reading in the United States through their influential textbook "Understanding Poetry" (1938)
• Other notable figures in the development of close reading include F.R. Leavis, Kenneth Burke, and R.P. Blackmur

Techniques for close reading

• Close reading involves a variety of techniques and strategies for analyzing a text in detail, with a focus on its language, form, and structure
• These techniques are designed to help readers uncover the complex layers of meaning within a text and appreciate the artistry and craft of the writer

Analyzing diction and word choice

• Examining the specific words and phrases used by the author, and considering their connotations, associations, and emotional resonance
• Paying attention to unusual or striking word choices, and considering how they contribute to the overall meaning and effect of the text
• Analyzing patterns of word usage, such as repetition, alliteration, or assonance, and considering how they create a particular rhythm or sound

Examining syntax and sentence structure

• Analyzing the way sentences are constructed and organized, and considering how this contributes to the meaning and effect of the text
• Paying attention to the length and complexity of sentences, and considering how they create a particular pace or rhythm
• Examining the use of punctuation, such as commas, dashes, or parentheses, and considering how they affect the flow and emphasis of the text

Identifying literary devices and figurative language

• Analyzing the use of literary devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, and irony, and considering how they contribute to the meaning and effect of the text
• Examining the use of figurative language, such as symbols and motifs, and considering how they create layers of meaning and significance
• Paying attention to the use of imagery and sensory details, and considering how they create a particular mood or atmosphere

Interpreting tone and mood

• Analyzing the overall tone and mood of the text, and considering how it is created through language, imagery, and other literary devices
• Examining shifts in tone or mood, and considering how they reflect changes in the characters, plot, or themes of the text
• Paying attention to the use of irony, sarcasm, or understatement, and considering how they create a particular emotional effect or convey a specific message

Considering form and structure

• Analyzing the overall form and structure of the text, such as its genre, plot, and narrative perspective, and considering how they contribute to its meaning and effect
• Examining the use of formal elements such as rhyme, meter, and stanza structure in poetry, and considering how they create a particular rhythm or sound
• Paying attention to the use of structural devices such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, or parallel plotlines, and considering how they create suspense, anticipation, or thematic connections

Applications of close reading

• Close reading is a versatile method of literary analysis that can be applied to a wide range of texts, including poetry, prose, and drama
• By examining the specific language, form, and structure of a text, close reading can help readers uncover its complex layers of meaning and appreciate its artistic qualities

Poetry analysis

• Close reading is particularly well-suited to the analysis of poetry, which often relies on dense, highly concentrated language and complex formal structures
• By examining the specific words, phrases, and literary devices used in a poem, readers can uncover its themes, symbols, and emotional resonance
• Close reading can also help readers appreciate the sonic qualities of poetry, such as its rhythm, meter, and sound patterns

Prose analysis

• Close reading can also be applied to the analysis of prose texts, such as novels, short stories, and essays
• By examining the specific language and narrative techniques used in a prose text, readers can uncover its themes, characters, and overall meaning
• Close reading can help readers appreciate the artistry and craft of prose writing, such as the use of imagery, symbolism, and irony

Drama analysis

• Close reading can also be used to analyze dramatic texts, such as plays and screenplays
• By examining the specific language, stage directions, and character interactions in a dramatic text, readers can uncover its themes, conflicts, and emotional impact
• Close reading can help readers appreciate the ways in which dramatic texts use language and performance to create meaning and effect

Close reading vs other approaches

• Close reading is one of many approaches to literary analysis, and it is often contrasted with other methods that focus on different aspects of a text or its context
• By understanding the differences between close reading and other approaches, readers can appreciate the unique insights and perspectives that each method offers

Close reading vs reader-response criticism

• Reader-response criticism focuses on the ways in which individual readers interpret and respond to a text, rather than on the text itself
• While close reading emphasizes the importance of examining the specific language and formal elements of a text, reader-response criticism emphasizes the role of the reader in creating meaning
• Reader-response criticism may consider factors such as the reader's personal experiences, cultural background, and emotional reactions to the text

Close reading vs historical/cultural criticism

• Historical/cultural criticism focuses on the ways in which a text reflects and responds to its historical, social, and cultural context
• While close reading emphasizes the importance of examining the text itself, historical/cultural criticism emphasizes the importance of understanding the text's relationship to its broader context
• Historical/cultural criticism may consider factors such as the author's biography, the social and political events of the time period, and the cultural norms and values reflected in the text

Limitations and criticisms

• Despite its many strengths and insights, close reading has also been subject to various limitations and criticisms over the years
• By understanding these limitations and criticisms, readers can appreciate the need for a diverse range of approaches to literary analysis

Accusations of formalism

• One common criticism of close reading is that it can lead to a narrow, formalist approach to literature that ignores the broader social, historical, and cultural context of a text
• Critics argue that by focusing exclusively on the language and formal elements of a text, close reading can neglect important aspects of its meaning and significance
• Some critics also argue that close reading can lead to a kind of "cult of the text" that treats literature as a purely aesthetic object, rather than as a product of human culture and experience

Neglect of context and authorial intent

• Another criticism of close reading is that it can neglect the importance of a text's historical and cultural context, as well as the intentions and experiences of its author
• Critics argue that by focusing exclusively on the "words on the page," close reading can ignore the ways in which a text reflects and responds to its broader social and political context
• Some critics also argue that close reading can lead to a kind of "intentional fallacy," in which readers assume that the meaning of a text can be fully determined by examining its language and formal elements, without considering the author's intentions or experiences

Contemporary relevance

• Despite these limitations and criticisms, close reading remains an important and influential method of literary analysis in the 21st century
• By adapting and expanding its techniques to new contexts and disciplines, close reading continues to offer valuable insights and perspectives on a wide range of texts and topics

Close reading in modern literary studies

• Close reading continues to be a central method of analysis in modern literary studies, particularly in fields such as poetry and modernist literature
• Modern scholars have adapted close reading techniques to new contexts and genres, such as digital literature, graphic novels, and film
• Close reading has also been used to examine the ways in which literature reflects and responds to contemporary social and political issues, such as race, gender, and globalization

Interdisciplinary applications of close reading

• Close reading techniques have also been adapted and applied to a wide range of disciplines beyond literary studies, such as history, philosophy, and cultural studies
• In these contexts, close reading is used to analyze a variety of texts and artifacts, such as historical documents, philosophical treatises, and works of art
• Close reading has also been used to examine the rhetoric and language of political discourse, such as speeches, debates, and propaganda
• By applying close reading techniques to a wide range of texts and contexts, scholars and readers can gain new insights into the ways in which language and meaning are constructed and negotiated in different cultural and historical contexts