Analyze Quote: 11 Things You're Leaving Out
How to Analyze a Quote
When you write papers that examine a piece of literature, you will often incorporate quotations to support your argument. Analyzing a quote is the process of breaking it down to examine its deeper meaning and its context.
It involves identifying the author while examining the context and determining the tone. It also involves identifying literary techniques and analyzing their impact on the overall meaning of the quote.
1. Identify the author
When used properly when used correctly, quotations can give an additional voice and perspective to your narrative. They can also be an important source of evidence to support your argument. When used ineffectively they can make the reader feel lost and obstruct your text. This handout from Rutgers Writing Centers will help you master using quotes with confidence.
First, you need to identify the author of your quote. This should be easy to do. The author's name will usually be included in the text when an exact quote is taken from a book, essay or speech. If not, it should be easy to search online to find out who the author is.
You must determine the context of the quote. This can be a challenge when you are not familiar with the subject. To help you with this, try rewriting the quote in your own words to familiarize yourself with the subject. This will help you determine if it is in line with the overall theme of your essay. It is helpful to consider the audience for your essay when choosing the quote.
Once you've identified who wrote the quote and the context Once you've identified the author and the context, you can begin to study the quote. Start by identifying the central idea or concept of the writer. This is the main point you will argue in your paper.
Then, look over the words of the quote to understand how they support your argument. This is especially important if your argument involves an issue that is complex or controversial. If you are arguing for instance that Cordelia in King Lear is the most likable of all characters, you'll be required to analyze her words and their relationship to your argument.
2. Recognize the context
Understanding the meaning and significance of a quote is contingent on its context. This step involves looking at the words, phrases and the structure of the quotation to determine its context. It is also crucial to consider the speaker as well as the audience when looking at a quote. Understanding the background of the speaker will aid in understanding the meaning behind the quote and its significance. Also, understanding the viewpoint of the audience can help to better understand the quote.
With the five steps outlined in this guide, students at Rutgers Writing Centers will be creating body paragraphs with quotes faster than they can write them. It requires practice and you might want to consult with a Writing Center tutor along the process, but after a bit of effort, students can analyze quotes with confidence.
A strong body paragraph will back up the thesis with evidence and quotes to provide further details. The third stage of quote analysis is to describe how the quote validates the thesis assertion. This is best done by linking the quotation to your claim. For instance, "This quote* validates my thesis that [claim] because _____." Avoid quoting out of context, as this can cause your readers to be misinformed and misunderstanding your argument. Instead, you should follow the five guidelines in this guide to ensure that your quotes are accurate and relevant.
3. Identify the theme
Your instructor will expect you to include literary quotes in your analysis, regardless of whether you're writing a report or an essay on a work of literature. How do you seamlessly incorporate other people's words in your own? Here are some tips to help you analyze the quote and incorporate it into your argument.
It is important to recognize the theme in studying a quote. The theme is the primary message the author is trying to convey. Themes can range from the importance of family to the power in language. To identify the theme, you'll need look at the context and tone of the quote.
Another important thing to remember when looking over the text of a quote is to search for any literary devices the author employs. You might notice, for example, that the author uses poetic techniques or figurative language to give the quote more depth and meaning. In addition, you may like to draw attention to any rhetorical devices utilized in the quote, such as the use of adverbials or parallelism.
Lastly, you will have to determine the meaning behind the quote. This is the most important aspect of a quote analysis. The meaning is what the quote communicates to its readers. You'll have to decide how the quote supports or contradicts your argument.
One final tip for analyzing a quote is to avoid overusing quotes. Limit the use of quotations to three or four per paragraph. If you need to include more than this, be sure to use ellipses to indicate the missing portions. This will help readers understand the significance and meaning of your analysis.
4. Find out the tone
The tone is the general attitude in a piece of written work. It is the author's perspective on the subject and how he wants readers to feel.
Tone is a complex concept to grasp, as there aren't any close synonyms. Some authors describe it as mood, quality, feel, style, air, note, temperament or spirit. You can discern the tone by reading the quote several times and comparing it with other quotes in the same genre. This will help you find the common ground and compare the quotes.
A serious tone is employed when you want to convey a sense weight or gravitas to your writing. It is usually more formal and less informal than a lighthearted tone, and can include words like "stern," "dark," "sober" or "grave." A serious tone can be effective in delivering a message of importance or creating suspense.
In contrast, a lighthearted tone can convey a sense of joy or hope to a piece writing. It is generally more conversational than a serious tone, and it may use words like "happy," "smiley" or "jolly." A lighthearted tone is effective at conveying optimism or a sense joy.
You can determine the tone of your work by reading it several times and comparing it to other quotes from the same genre. You can also test your the use of words and dictionaries to discover the inherent tones that your language may carry. Make a list of the words that are associated with specific tones, and practice using those tones in your writing. If you're looking to create a positive tone, words like "bright," forward," "future," and "inspire" could be appropriate.
5. What is it that means?
Understanding the meaning behind a quote is essential to comprehend it. This step will assist you in understanding what the speaker is trying say and how it applies to your subject or argument. This will also aid in understanding the speaker and the audience, which will enable you to analyze the context of a quote.
It is essential to study the quote attentively to fully comprehend the meaning behind it. Pay attention to the words and phrases that appear in the quote, and also how they are structured. Think about different ways to interpret a quote.
Once you have determined the meaning of the quote, you will be required to identify the speaker and the audience. This will allow you to understand the context and implications of the quote. This will also allow you to identify the theme of a quote.
After identifying a quote's meaning It is essential to comprehend the writer's literary techniques. Examiners appreciate when students are able to identify the methods employed in a piece of writing. For instance, you might observe that the author uses repetition to highlight a point. This technique can be used as a rhetorical tool or to create tension.
Another important step is identifying the purpose of the quote. Was it intended to inform or convince the reader? Was it written to be humorous or sad? Did the writer intend to make a point? You can judge the impact of a quotation by identifying the purpose behind it. It can also help to determine the significance of the text.