What is close reading?

Close reading is a careful and purposeful method of reading that involves analyzing a text in great detail to uncover deeper meanings, structures, and nuances. This approach focuses on understanding the text’s language, style, and content, often examining aspects such as word choice, sentence structure, imagery, symbolism, and themes. Close reading requires multiple readings of the same text, each time with a different analytical focus, to gain a comprehensive understanding of its layers and complexities. This method is commonly used in literary studies and critical analysis to engage deeply with texts and appreciate their intricacies and subtleties.