Powell Pre AP English I- Close Reading the Prose Passages
Questions to consider when analyzing a prose passage. Read your prompt carefully, determine your goal, mark up your passages accordingly. These considerations will serve as notes for your discussions and papers. If you can close read for these NINE elements, you will be in great shape for whatever literary analysis is thrown your way.
1) Tone: The narrator’s or author’s tone (attitude toward subject) The narrator’s tone shifts….Always look for irony? Where and why?
2) Narrator and Characterization: The qualities or characteristics (motives, values, fears…) of the narrator…Minor characters and function of
3) Setting: Function of time and place…location and atmosphere
4) Structure: Any cause and effect or compare and contrasts established… Any contradictions or other transitional structures? Why? ID the transitions.
5) Point of View: The point of view and purpose of…
6) Diction and Context: Uncommon use of or unfamiliar words in context? Purpose?
7) Syntax: Uncommon or unfamiliar grammatical structures (syntax) and purpose?
8) Figurative Language: Figures of speech? Repetition/patterns of images? Specifically? And why used?
9) Theme and Purpose: The author’s intent in… The subject? Purpose for creating this character or setting or conflict…Comment or inference about humans or society? Universal?
Powell Pre AP English I- Close Reading the Prose Passages
Questions to consider when analyzing a prose passage. Read your prompt carefully, determine your goal, mark up your passages accordingly. These considerations will serve as notes for your discussions and papers. If you can close read for these NINE elements, you will be in great shape for whatever literary analysis is thrown your way.
1) Tone: The narrator’s or author’s tone (attitude toward subject) The narrator’s tone shifts….Always look for irony? Where and why?
2) Narrator and Characterization: The qualities or characteristics (motives, values, fears…) of the narrator…Minor characters and function of
3) Setting: Function of time and place…location and atmosphere
4) Structure: Any cause and effect or compare and contrasts established… Any contradictions or other transitional structures? Why? ID the transitions.
5) Point of View: The point of view and purpose of…
6) Diction and Context: Uncommon use of or unfamiliar words in context? Purpose?
7) Syntax: Uncommon or unfamiliar grammatical structures (syntax) and purpose?
8) Figurative Language: Figures of speech? Repetition/patterns of images? Specifically? And why used?
9) Theme and Purpose: The author’s intent in… The subject? Purpose for creating this character or setting or conflict…Comment or inference about humans or society? Universal?