6. Critical Reading Notes Questions to always answer while reading the text: 1. What role, if any, does the title play? Where do we see the title influencing the text? 2. When was the text published? 3. Who was the target audience? 4. Under what circumstances was the text produced? (historical connection) 5. Sequential events: where in the text do you see significant events connecting in a cause/effect relationship? Significance Archetypes Every reading will have both types of significance- Significance Type II may be harder to identify. When reading it is extremely important to determine what significance type you are being asked to look for and what significance type you are paying attention to. Significance Type I Personal Significance • Understands that main idea can change for the reader when a text is read multiple times at differing points in one’s life • Importance of a text is determined by a reader’s experiences (what you bring to the book influences how you read it) • May not actually be what author wants you to focus on, but nevertheless it is still important and keeps you interested Significance Type II Author’s Intention • Main mission is to find the author’s main idea-look to see how they support it- and shape reading accordingly • Specific clues that the author wants you to notice through literary devices such as repetition, allusion, metaphor, symbolism, etc. • Is a study of the casual relationship between the main characters and the author’s specific clues For example, are you bringing your 2010 America ideas, values, and jugements (SI) to a piece of 1860s literature that is arguing a defense of the institution of slavery? How is your opinion different than those who lived during the original publication? Does your 2010 opinion even matter? For your current assignment, please also answer the following questions: 1. Which of the three big ideas discussed yesterday does your piece address? How? Evidence? 2. Which literary technique does your author employ to deliver his message? Evidence?