Commentary
Guided Revision Activity
How do I explain a quote in depth?
So, how do I know what to say in the
commentary?
• Begin with the words “This shows that” following the quote
• This will force you to explain the quote without
summarizing.
• What does the quote show?
• Try this now with your paragraph. Select a quotation and
start a sentence after it that begins with “This shows
that…”/ write at least two sentences to explain what the
quote shows and also how the quote relates the thesis
statement & topic sentence. Write your new sentences into
the margins of your paragraph.
What are some things I can explain?
• Character traits: What traits are revealed through the
quote and how do they help prove the theme?
– Quote: “I’ll play the hero.” This shows Beowulf desires
heroism, showing that he is motivated by being famous
and not by helping others.
• Try this now. Select a quotation. What character traits
does it reveal and why?
– Write two sentences explaining what character trait is
shown by the quote and how that helps explain the thesis
statement & topic sentence.
– Start with: “This shows the character is…”
What else can I explain?
• Diction: What are the key words/ phrases of the quote? Are there any
devices (simile, metaphor, personification, etc.) How do those words/
phrases/ devices help prove the theme?
– Quote: “I’ll play the hero.” The word choice of “play” shows that Beowulf
recognizes he is playing a part in the story and recognizes that there is evil to
be defeated and likewise his duty to defeat it.
– Quote: “That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime” The epithets show the
extent of Grendel’s evil nature by emphasizing what he values most in life“evil” and “crime.”
• Try this now. Select a quote from your draft and the explain word choice
of the quotation by focusing on selected words from the quote. Explain
how the word choice helps to support the thesis statement & topic
sentence. Write at least two sentences of explanation.
– Start with “The word choice shows…”
What else can I explain?
• Tone: Are there strong tone words/ phrases in the quote? What’s
the tone towards what is being described? How does that tone
help convey the thesis?
– Quote: “That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime” The dark, brooding
tone of the descriptions of Grendel convey that he is the embodiment
of all that is immoral and malevolent in Anglo-Saxon society. He is the
direct opposite of the hero Beowulf, and the contrasting tones used in
descriptions of the two characters shows which side the narrator is on.
• Try it now. Select a quotation from your draft and focus on the tone
of the quotation. Write two sentences to explain how the tone of
the quotation connects to the thesis statement and topic sentence.
Write your new sentences in the margins.
• Start with “The tone used in this instance shows…”
What else can I explain?
• Irony: What type of irony is it? How does the irony
help convey the thesis?
• Suspense: What creates the suspense and what does
the suspense add to the story?
• Devices: metaphor, simile, personification, rhetorical
questions, internal dialogue, onomatopoeia, allusion,
paradox, repetition, etc.
– What is the device in the quote and what is the effect of
that device? How does it tie into your theme?
What else can I explain?
• Conflict: What is the primary conflict shown in the quote?
How does conflict help convey the thesis?
• Symbolism: Is there a symbol shown in the quote? What is
it? Explain how and why it’s symbolic. How does that
symbol help convey the thesis?
• Setting: Does the quote show setting? How does the
setting help convey the thesis?
• Other Literary elements to consider explaining:
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Imagery
Point of view
Satire
Plot points (exposition, climax, etc.)
Literary techniques (allusion, personification, paradox,
metaphor, assonance, rhyme scheme, etc.)
• Select one final quote and explain in terms of one of the
literary elements/ techniques above. Write at least two
sentences in the margins.
Revision.
• Add AT LEAST ONE MORE sentence to your commentary so that all
commentary becomes AT LEAST 3 sentences!
• Revise your paragraph and bring a NEW COPY to turn in on
Thursday for 3XH!!
• Remember other targeted writing skills:
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Topic sentence with a theme (leads to)
At least two quotes (blended with TCS)
At least three sentences of commentary
Concluding sentence
Present tense verbs
No first or second person
No clichés or slang/ casual language
No vague language such as “things”