Close Analysis Worksheet

Key Terms

• Close analysis - a method of examining a text in detail to identify elements such as theme, imagery, and symbolism
• Imagery - the use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader
• Symbolism - the use of objects, settings, or actions to represent abstract ideas or qualities
• Meter - the rhythmic structure of a poem, created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables

Short Questions

1. What is the purpose of close analysis?
2. What is imagery?
3. What is symbolism?
4. What is meter in poetry?

Text Analysis Task

Read and annotate the following poem by Ezra Pound. Then, answer the questions that follow:

In a Station of the Metro

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.

1. What is the poem about?
2. What is the significance of "apparition" and "petals" in the poem?
3. What imagery does the poet use to describe the scene?
4. What is the effect of the short, concise lines in the poem?

Open-Ended Research Task

Choose a poem or short story and conduct a close analysis. Identify the main themes, symbols, and imagery used in the text. Consider the author's use of language, meter, and structure in conveying the meaning of the work.