Take it from a computer science major
that analyzing literature is difficult, although not impossible. For me, it
tends to be a slow but sure process. I start with a close, slow reading of the
literature with a pencil (or pen, what utensil you prefer) and I narrate my
thoughts with every paragraph. I include my reactions and questions and
possible ideas for patterns. The patterns are repetitive or connected details
that make sense in the broader sense once the novel is finished.
- The pencil in your hand should become your best friend. I recommend using pencil because you can always erase to keep your comments neat but that my personal preference. Just like I am reflecting on the process of literary analysis, you, the reader, should make your own reflections. I take my pencil very seriously because every time you come back to the novel when trying to analyze the novel, you do not want to reread the novel. Also commenting/summarizing interesting points in the margins of a novel will keep you attentive and engaging. Notice the difference between reading a novel for pleasure and closely engaging every word the author writes to find hidden meaning invisible to the unfocused eye.
- I like to mark very obvious patterns with colored stickies. In the novel, Water Ghosts, I marked all of the pages with references or allusions to ghosts or hauntings so I can easily go back to those pages. I also marked with another color sticky passages that stood out. I noticed changes in point of view and interesting excerpts involving character development that was unexpected. The unexpected information that I learn as I read a piece of literature can be used to form thought-provoking questions and possible patterns. What do you do when doing a close reading of a text? Please include them in the comments.
As you take on the adventure of reading Water Ghosts by Shawna Yang Ryan, pay
close attention to details because analyzing should always be on your mind as
you read. I personally enjoyed the novel, and I hope you do too.
