Close Reading and Literary Analysis — Flashcards

Grade 11 · English · Flashcards

Key terms and methods for close reading and literary analysis in 11th grade English.

Flashcards

Close Reading: Careful, analytical attention to how specific language choices create meaning and effect
TPCASTT: Poetry analysis method: Title, Paraphrase, Connotation, Attitude, Shifts, Title (revisited), Theme
Theme: The central insight about human experience that a literary work conveys
Imagery: Sensory language creating vivid mental pictures or experiences for the reader
Simile: A comparison using 'like' or 'as' ('ran like the wind')
Metaphor: A direct comparison stating one thing is another without 'like' or 'as' ('life is a journey')
Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words for rhythm and emphasis
Textual Evidence: Direct quotations or specific references that support a literary argument
Figurative Language: Non-literal language including metaphor, simile, personification, and symbolism
Tone: The writer's emotional attitude toward the subject, conveyed through diction
New Criticism: Literary movement holding that meaning comes from within the text itself, making close reading the primary analytical tool
Connotation: Emotional associations of a word beyond its literal dictionary definition — critical to tone analysis