HOW TO ANALYZE A QUOTATION
1. Read through the quotation.
2. Identify the speaker, listener, and context of the quotation.
3. Examine the quotation carefully, looking for any of the
following:
 Character development: What is revealed about the
character’s personality?
 Themes: Look to see if there is anything that relates
to the author’s message.
 Literary devices such as: simile, metaphor, irony, etc.
Consider the reason WHY the author creates this
figurative language. What is the writer trying to
highlight or convey?
*** You are not limited to only one of the above. Some
quotations may be rich with elements that enhance the
writer’s craft, which leaves us plenty to analyze.
4. Pull all of your ideas into one strong, cohesive response.
Try to “pull out” or highlight word, phrases, and word
units that help you to support the idea(s) you are trying to
convey/prove. Italicize or “quote” the words/phrases and
integrate them into your sentence(s) as you analyze the
significance of the passage.
5. Don’t forget the “HOW/WHY” rule: explain how and why
the quotation is important.