How to Do a Close Reading of Fiction
Close Reading Questions Answered!
In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages.
Download this page as a PDF: See page 2 of How to Do a Close Reading of Fiction
What is a close reading?
A close reading is a systematic and attentive approach to understanding a text. Often called “unpacking” a text, a close reading helps separate the working parts of a text, explain them, and put them back together into a new understanding of the whole. When writing a critical analysis of literature, implementing this skill enables us to make more precise arguments about the things we read.
What is the point of a close reading?
A close reading helps us to attain our own understanding and interpretation of the text, taking us beyond plot summary.
In paying close attention to what we are reading, we can make an argument about how a small fragment of the text illuminates something about the whole.
What should I avoid in a close reading?
The first mistake we often make in close reading is imposing our own presuppositions on the text. Some of these presuppositions might include the following: assuming that we know more than we actually know about the historical context of the novel (i.e., a certain text by an American author was written before 1800, therefore it is an extended metaphor for the formation of a new nation); automatically assuming that the “point” of the text is to say something about “today’s society.”
Sometimes the greatest obstacle to understanding is the assumption that our own worldview can adequately explain what we are reading. Instead, to develop your own interpretation, first immerse yourself in the world of the text and try to follow its unique logic.
How do I begin a close reading?
Unpacking an entire novel would take a lot of time, probably more time than most of us have to spend on a short analytical paper. However, if we choose a few key scenes, episodes, or conversations within that novel for our close reading, we then have a more manageable portion of text at hand and can make a more sophisticated argument about it.
You might consider choosing: a turning point in the conflict, an illuminating moment of characterization, a subtle shift in the tone within the novel that carries implications for what comes after it, or interesting language or syntax.
How do I proceed after I select a passage? What am I suppose to do with it?
Good question! It is advisable to read the passage twice, maybe even three times, to ensure you do not miss any details that could help you form an argument. While you are reading, look for interesting stylistic patterns, repetitions of themes, or references to other parts of the text. If none of those things are in play, you can still look at the language the author uses and consider how it might compare to or depart from other parts of the novel. (Hint: Check in other parts of the work).
If you are dealing with a descriptive passage of a particular setting, for example, you might think about how the physical space of the story affects the movement of the characters. Are they trapped in a small space that keeps them constantly colliding and conflicting with one another? Are they in the middle of the desert where the openness of the landscape leaves them feeling isolated and alone? Asking these kinds of questions while you read will help you to not only decipher what the text is saying but also to understand it from several different angles. Then, once you are through this stage, you might decide to incorporate some of your own outside knowledge or insights if you feel they are applicable.
Last revised: 07/2009 | Adapted for web delivery: 04/2021
In order to access certain content on this page, you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader or an equivalent PDF viewer software.