Critical Reading in Literature
Critical reading, also called close reading or active reading, is reading for academic purposes. It calls for one to review, analyse, report or argue about what one has read. In its broadest sense, critical reading with regards to literature, involves analyzing a piece of literary work into ‘fine details’ and thereafter making comments as a reader on the authors’ argument strategy and style. Critical reading is not merely reading for pleasure. This means that, in addition to enjoying reading a literary work, one can make a claim and ‘put up a defence’ for their claim by extracting substantial evidence from the read literary work.
The act of non-critical reading involves simply recognising what a literary piece of writing says about a topic, and thereafter holding the views of the author as the ultimate truth. Critical reading is thus an analytical activity that calls for one to re-read a text, identifying patterns or elements of information and even assumptions to support ones claims. The identifiable elements are tied together in an interpretation, which is the underlying or symbolic meaning of the text.
Critical reading involves critical thinking, which involves integrating knowledge and values ‘outside’ the text, to evaluate what is presented in the literary piece and ultimately decide what is acceptable as ‘truth’.
Process of critical Reading
a). Pre-reading phase
This involves reviewing and skimming a literary text. This stage involves a consideration of the works Title and any historical interpretation it can be accorded. One might consider reading any available accompanying description about the text. Additional information regarding a text is usually available on a books’ ‘blurb’ or ‘Cover jacket’. One should also read biographical information on the author, the preface of the work and even reviews about the work.
Pre-reading involves skimming, so as to get an idea of what the text entails and enable one make a possible prediction on the unfolding of the storyline.
b). Interpretive reading phase
This stage involves reading a text slowly and carefully. One pays attention to their own understanding of the text as the storyline unfolds and pays close attention to the characters therein, their behaviour and the motivation behind their behaviour. Note-taking is advisable at this stage in the critical reading process. Paraphrasing or making summaries of otherwise confusing parts of the text is also recommended. One should also consider noting down reactions to characters’ behaviour, events and even descriptions at this stage of the process.
In reading non-fiction prose, one can consider the authors’ line of argument: either deductive or Inductive, the element (speaking voice) and the writers’ rhetoric style (mode of content presentation).
c). Critical reading phase
This stage calls on the reader to reflect on the events that have taken place within the text, while at the same time posing questions such as;
One needs to consider whether such the like of the above mention circumstances might have influenced a literary work and which would otherwise render the work invalid with regards to the readers ‘time and space’. At this phase, one examines how the bits and pieces of the text all fit together.
During this phase, one also needs to engage in reading more critical material or discussing with one or more other individuals, what one has read. One is called forth to apply one or more theoretical approaches in the analysis of the read material.
d). Synoptic reading (broad reading)
During this phase, one needs to consider personal experiences and background and use it to evaluate the contents of the text while at the same time taking note of the broader implications of the issues in argument. Relational reading is also conducted during this stage of critical reading, where one compares the read work with different material focusing on the same topic.
e). Response
This marks the last phase of the critical reading process. One is called forth to write a paper in reaction to the read material. There are different methods that can be employed when writing a response to literature;
In summary the process of critical reading is presentable as a six stage orderly process; Analysis, Interpretation, Questioning, Synthesizing, Evaluation and Response.
Critical reading, also called close reading or active reading, is reading for academic purposes. It calls for one to review, analyse, report or argue about what one has read. In its broadest sense, critical reading with regards to literature, involves analyzing a piece of literary work into ‘fine details’ and thereafter making comments as a reader on the authors’ argument strategy and style. Critical reading is not merely reading for pleasure. This means that, in addition to enjoying reading a literary work, one can make a claim and ‘put up a defence’ for their claim by extracting substantial evidence from the read literary work.
The act of non-critical reading involves simply recognising what a literary piece of writing says about a topic, and thereafter holding the views of the author as the ultimate truth. Critical reading is thus an analytical activity that calls for one to re-read a text, identifying patterns or elements of information and even assumptions to support ones claims. The identifiable elements are tied together in an interpretation, which is the underlying or symbolic meaning of the text.
Critical reading involves critical thinking, which involves integrating knowledge and values ‘outside’ the text, to evaluate what is presented in the literary piece and ultimately decide what is acceptable as ‘truth’.
Process of critical Reading
a). Pre-reading phase
This involves reviewing and skimming a literary text. This stage involves a consideration of the works Title and any historical interpretation it can be accorded. One might consider reading any available accompanying description about the text. Additional information regarding a text is usually available on a books’ ‘blurb’ or ‘Cover jacket’. One should also read biographical information on the author, the preface of the work and even reviews about the work.
Pre-reading involves skimming, so as to get an idea of what the text entails and enable one make a possible prediction on the unfolding of the storyline.
b). Interpretive reading phase
This stage involves reading a text slowly and carefully. One pays attention to their own understanding of the text as the storyline unfolds and pays close attention to the characters therein, their behaviour and the motivation behind their behaviour. Note-taking is advisable at this stage in the critical reading process. Paraphrasing or making summaries of otherwise confusing parts of the text is also recommended. One should also consider noting down reactions to characters’ behaviour, events and even descriptions at this stage of the process.
In reading non-fiction prose, one can consider the authors’ line of argument: either deductive or Inductive, the element (speaking voice) and the writers’ rhetoric style (mode of content presentation).
c). Critical reading phase
This stage calls on the reader to reflect on the events that have taken place within the text, while at the same time posing questions such as;
- What is particularly effective about the authors’ style of presentation?
- Why does the author take a given standpoint with regards to the prevailing argument in the text?
- What are the socioeconomic and political factors that might have influenced the creation of the literary work?
One needs to consider whether such the like of the above mention circumstances might have influenced a literary work and which would otherwise render the work invalid with regards to the readers ‘time and space’. At this phase, one examines how the bits and pieces of the text all fit together.
During this phase, one also needs to engage in reading more critical material or discussing with one or more other individuals, what one has read. One is called forth to apply one or more theoretical approaches in the analysis of the read material.
d). Synoptic reading (broad reading)
During this phase, one needs to consider personal experiences and background and use it to evaluate the contents of the text while at the same time taking note of the broader implications of the issues in argument. Relational reading is also conducted during this stage of critical reading, where one compares the read work with different material focusing on the same topic.
e). Response
This marks the last phase of the critical reading process. One is called forth to write a paper in reaction to the read material. There are different methods that can be employed when writing a response to literature;
- Composition style; this involves the formulation of a topic, thesis statement or claim and thereafter argue around it.
- Aspect analysis; involves examining an aspect of the text and analysing it, for example themes or use of language in the text.
In summary the process of critical reading is presentable as a six stage orderly process; Analysis, Interpretation, Questioning, Synthesizing, Evaluation and Response.
Comments
Post a Comment
Leave a reply.