On Self-Respect
Close Reading and Analysis
Part 1 (Paragraphs 1-3)
1. The author begins with a hook. Explain it. How does the reader respond to such
a strong statement?
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2. What is the author’s attitude to her own younger self?
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3. What does she mean by alluding to herself as an “academic Raskolnikov?” and
how did this relate to her view of life (at the time and now)?
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4. Explain how the metaphors in the last sentence of paragraph 2 relate to the sense
of entitlement she describes earlier in the paragraph.
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5. Paragraph three is full of complex metaphors (3) and syntax and allusions and
addresses the issue of self-deception.
a. Discuss the meaning of the metaphors and their significance in the author’s
attempt to lay the groundwork in explaining the meaning of real self-respect.
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b. Consider the syntax of the second and third sentence in paragraph 3. How does
its structure support its purpose?
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c. Explain the allusion to Rhett Butler and Scarlet O’Hara. Why might Didion have
used this particular allusion to support her point?
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