Passage Analysis
One of America’s most celebrated modern novelists, E. L. Doctorow, decided to become a writer when he was nine years old. Here’s how
he described what triggered his decision:
I began to ask two questions while I was reading a book that excited me. Not only
what was going to happen next, but how is this done? How is it that these words on
the page make me feel the way I'm feeling? This is the line of inquiry that I think
happens in a child's mind, without him even knowing he has aspirations as a writer. *
The excitement Doctorow felt as a kid is what passage analysis is about. You will ask the same question he asked: how do “words on a page” translate into actual emotion, excitement, and “feeling”? What do authors do that trigger such responses? Passage analysis can analyze this question by pinpointing how meaning in text “happens,” and thus answer Doctorow’s question: “how is this done?”
Additionally, passage analysis can “open up” a text and help you as you consider how your passage relates to a larger point that you might make in an analytical paper (more on this later).
How do I write one? (NOTE: this is best introduced with samples, as we’ll do in class. Again, this is a condensed overview for you to refer back to when necessary):
In broadest terms, writing a passage analysis means 1) reading and annotating a section of text carefully, 2) opening your essay with a statement about what the passage does, and 3) in the body of the essay, identifying how various literary devices contribute to that meaning. That’s it. I usually give you passages that can be adequately discussed in 350-500 words.
Here is a general approach to passage analyses:
Step #1: Annotate the passage. Underline sections, circle words, write notes where you see obvious devices in play. Use your “literary terms sheet” that I gave you if you are not yet familiar with all of the terms.
Step #2: Read the passage and get a general understanding of what meaning the passage has for you. What was the focus of the passage? What are the general moves the author has made?
Step #3: It’s not enough to simply note the presence of a device; you’ll need to explain how the device contributes to the passage’s overall meaning.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say the passage you are looking at is clearly about love: some speaker is expressing love towards someone. First off, annotate the
whole thing – underline, circle, write notes, etc. – to note obvious devices in action. Then identify the main ways this love is conveyed. You may notice that there are references to the loved one’s physical appearance (this might be done with imagery)? …you may also note the speaker’s description of the tests their relationship has withstood (perhaps diction relating to steadfastness such as “withstood,” “firm,”
and “permanent”). Finally, you sense that the speaker is excited about the future with the loved one (perhaps a symbol is used here… an unfolding flower or a sunrise). When you feel you have discussed the main components of the passage and the devices that convey those components, add a short summary – even one or two sentences is fine – to end the analysis.
At this point, you are prepared to revisit the samples we’ve gone over in class.
General Grading Criteria (different classes may have different expectations):
The Payoff:
* Read more at http://www.wral.com/e-l-doctorow-author-of-ragtime-dies-in-new-york-at-84/14786966/#yirACul0gqcpD8qj.99
One of America’s most celebrated modern novelists, E. L. Doctorow, decided to become a writer when he was nine years old. Here’s how
he described what triggered his decision:
I began to ask two questions while I was reading a book that excited me. Not only
what was going to happen next, but how is this done? How is it that these words on
the page make me feel the way I'm feeling? This is the line of inquiry that I think
happens in a child's mind, without him even knowing he has aspirations as a writer. *
The excitement Doctorow felt as a kid is what passage analysis is about. You will ask the same question he asked: how do “words on a page” translate into actual emotion, excitement, and “feeling”? What do authors do that trigger such responses? Passage analysis can analyze this question by pinpointing how meaning in text “happens,” and thus answer Doctorow’s question: “how is this done?”
Additionally, passage analysis can “open up” a text and help you as you consider how your passage relates to a larger point that you might make in an analytical paper (more on this later).
How do I write one? (NOTE: this is best introduced with samples, as we’ll do in class. Again, this is a condensed overview for you to refer back to when necessary):
In broadest terms, writing a passage analysis means 1) reading and annotating a section of text carefully, 2) opening your essay with a statement about what the passage does, and 3) in the body of the essay, identifying how various literary devices contribute to that meaning. That’s it. I usually give you passages that can be adequately discussed in 350-500 words.
Here is a general approach to passage analyses:
Step #1: Annotate the passage. Underline sections, circle words, write notes where you see obvious devices in play. Use your “literary terms sheet” that I gave you if you are not yet familiar with all of the terms.
Step #2: Read the passage and get a general understanding of what meaning the passage has for you. What was the focus of the passage? What are the general moves the author has made?
Step #3: It’s not enough to simply note the presence of a device; you’ll need to explain how the device contributes to the passage’s overall meaning.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say the passage you are looking at is clearly about love: some speaker is expressing love towards someone. First off, annotate the
whole thing – underline, circle, write notes, etc. – to note obvious devices in action. Then identify the main ways this love is conveyed. You may notice that there are references to the loved one’s physical appearance (this might be done with imagery)? …you may also note the speaker’s description of the tests their relationship has withstood (perhaps diction relating to steadfastness such as “withstood,” “firm,”
and “permanent”). Finally, you sense that the speaker is excited about the future with the loved one (perhaps a symbol is used here… an unfolding flower or a sunrise). When you feel you have discussed the main components of the passage and the devices that convey those components, add a short summary – even one or two sentences is fine – to end the analysis.
At this point, you are prepared to revisit the samples we’ve gone over in class.
General Grading Criteria (different classes may have different expectations):
- Does the writer present a coherent interpretation of the passage with the opening few sentences?
- Does the writer correctly identify literary devices and link them to their interpretation?
- Does the writer deal with most of the passage and discuss a wide enough range of devices?
- Is the writing clear and do the sentences connect logically?
The Payoff:
- Passage analysis makes you an insightful reader. When you know how “meaning happens,” you will notice much more in ALL you read. It is an empowering skill to have.
- Another benefit is that you appreciate the author’s choices that she or he has made in the passage. It is hard not to be impressed with an author’s skill as you note how his or her writing “works.”
- Looking closely at a small portion of a text allows you to consider the whole text in a new light. By studying a portion, you often gain insights to the whole. In fact, doing passage analysis is a great way to begin work on a full paper.
* Read more at http://www.wral.com/e-l-doctorow-author-of-ragtime-dies-in-new-york-at-84/14786966/#yirACul0gqcpD8qj.99