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AP TIP long, which means you can read them several times. Each time you both luxurious quantity and quality. The expression “a crown of glory,” not the more 1
1
read a passage, you will notice more and more. This section will offer common “crowning glory,” suggests the mother is royalty, which makes the idea of her
You will likely encounter
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unfamiliar words in the AP ways to deepen your awareness of the specific literary elements having “foreign blood” sound downright foolish. Further, this is hair that seems to have chapter 1
Exam texts. Remember to authors use to express their ideas. We’ll move from identifying these a will of its own. Adichie gives it human qualities when she tells us that it “drank” the
look for context clues that elements to analyzing their effect on us as readers, and then show relaxer solution. No wonder strangers wanted to touch it “reverently,” a word we usually BUILDING CONTEXT
point to what a word or you how to approach writing a close analysis essay that shares your associate with religion or spirituality.
Ask students to brainstorm about the
phrase means. If you don’t Ask students to brainstorm about the
impact of setting details that seem
find any, consider the overall insights. For now, though, let’s concentrate on the first impressions Imagine how different this passage would have been had Adichie simply said that impact of setting details that seem
mood of the passage to get you have when you read a short passage of fiction by taking a look at Ifemelu had grown up envying her mother’s beautiful hair. The careful choices of details inconsistent with other parts of the
inconsistent with other parts of the
the gist of things. an excerpt from Americanah, a 2013 novel by Chimamanda Ngozi and the language used to convey them make the difference. That skill — the writer’s narrative using their choice of books,
narrative using their choice of books,
Analyzing Short Fiction
Adichie. The novel tells the story of a young Nigerian woman, art and craft — is the subject of this section. By paying attention to striking language movies, television shows, and so on.
movies,
television shows, and so on.
Ifemelu, who emigrates to America to attend college. As you read choices and asking questions, we have gathered textual evidence to begin interpreting For example, in horror movies, what is the
For example, in horr
or movies, what is the
© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
e smiling in the
impact of childr
this passage, pay careful attention to the specific language Adichie uses to set the the passage. In this case, we see this scene as one that reveals something deeper impact of children who are smiling in the
en who ar
nfield? What is the
scene and jot down your first impressions. You should also note any unfamiliar about the relationship between mother and daughter, perhaps one of admiration tinged Section 2 / Close Reading: Analyzing Literary Elements and Techniques middle of a dark cornfield? What is the
middle of a dark cor
significance of a character who appears
vocabulary, and, if possible, look up words you don’t know. If you are able to work only with a bit of envy. significance of a character who appears
unhappy in a pastoral setting?
with the passage itself, do your best to use the surrounding context to figure out words, By exploring what catches your attention, you’re already starting to develop a kind unhappy in a pastoral setting?
phrases, or usages that confuse you. Finally, try and tune in to the way the language of of interior conversation with the text that explores what the writer is doing and why. One
the passage affects you as you read; for instance, do specific words or phrases carry an important point to keep in mind is that your goal is not simply to identify and list literary
DIFFERENTIA
emotional meaning? Do they create a certain feeling or atmosphere? elements — although you may spot and even name some — but to analyze their effect. DIFFERENTIATION
TION
In other words, how do the writer’s choices help craft the meaning of the work? You
Collaborative Learning
may find the following approaches helpful to keep in mind as you read any text for the Collaborative Learning
from Americanah first time. Ask students to further explor e points of
Ask students to further explore points of
tension by first dividing students into two
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tension by first dividing students into two
lar
large groups. Provide each large group
ge gr
ge gr
ovide each lar
oups. Pr
oup
Ifemelu had grown up in the shadow of her would say “Are you from Jamaica?” as though KEY QUESTIONS with a value wor d, such as “r esponsibility ,”
with a value word, such as “responsibility,”
mother’s hair. It was black-black, so thick it drank only foreign blood could explain such bounteous Close Reading and then give the other gr oup a value wor d
and then give the other group a value word
two containers of relaxer at the salon, so full it hair that did not thin at the temples. Through the • Pose questions about things that confuse you — are there aspects of the setting that such as “freedom.” Ask each group to
oup to
such as “fr
eedom.” Ask each gr
took hours under the hooded dryer, and when years of childhood, Ifemelu would often look in do not seem to fit with the rest of the narrative? Are characters behaving in ways that consider the definition of the value wor ds
consider the definition of the value words
and scenarios in which their value word
finally released from pink plastic rollers, sprang the mirror and pull at her own hair, separate the appear unusual, particularly in light of what else the author has revealed about them? and scenarios in which their value wor d
would be beneficial. Then, have each group
free and full, flowing down her back like a coils, will it to become like her mother’s, but it • Make connections within the passage or story — where do you spot repetitions, would be beneficial. Then, have each gr oup
select a representative to present their
celebration. Her father called it a crown of glory. remained bristly and grew reluctantly; braiders patterns, contrasts, or points of tension, especially between and among characters? select a r epr esentative to pr esent their
ou may invite discussion about
findings. Y
“Is it your real hair?” strangers would ask and said it cut them like a knife. • Note striking, unusual, or distinctive word choices — where do the language choices findings. You may invite discussion about
then reach out to touch it reverently. Others 2013 signal a change of some sort in the narrative? a scenario in which both freedom and
eedom and
a scenario in which both fr
r
responsibility would be ideal.
esponsibility would be ideal.
You probably noticed, first of all, that the very idea of Ifemelu growing up not simply in
the shadow of her mother, but “in the shadow of her mother’s hair” is striking. But it’s Close Reading:
the description of the hair that tells us why. Instead of just writing “black” or “very
black” or using another qualifier, Adichie repeats “black-black,” which instantly gains Analyzing Literary Elements and Techniques
our attention because of the unusual repetition. This is hair that is “full, flowing down
[her mother’s] back like a celebration.” That comparison to a celebration — a party, a The point of close reading is to go from the what to the how by examining details: that
joyous occasion — gives us a visual image at the same time it evokes the awe that is, to go beyond merely summarizing what happens or identifying the literary techniques
Ifemelu feels. This is “bounteous” hair, a word that suggests more than quantity but the writer employs in a piece of prose. To perform close analysis, we must understand
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