In two to three double-spaced pages (about 500-750 words), analyze the passage at the end of Nafissa Thompson-Spires’s short story, “Heads of the Colored People” Download “Heads of the Colored People”(after the break on page 14). I’ve provided a few resources to help you conduct what’s called a “close reading” of these two important paragraphs in the story:
- Writing Assignment 3: Tips and Tricks
- “How to Do a Close Reading” (Links to an external site.)
- Close Reading: A Quick and Easy Guide
In the essay…
First, point out important literary elements: take note of the writing style here, the narration, tone, key terms (some you might need to look up), the author’s word choice, description, and other things you find interesting about the language.
Next, discuss the meaning behind some of these elements. Why does the author choose to use a particular word or phrase you find interesting, for instance? Or what is the effect of the narrative style on your reading experience?
Finally, armed with a sense of this passage’s meaning and significance, describe how it fits within the short story as a whole. In other words, what is Thompson-Spires trying to convey with this story, and how do these two paragraphs fit within that broader purpose?
0 comments