Steps to Quotation Analysis

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Steps to Quotation Analysis
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Sample Quotation

• Wesley! My mother shouted my fathers name
  exactly the way she would shout a babys to stop
  him from doing something dangerous toddling
  toward the stairs, extending his finger toward
  the electrical outlet anything to stop him. I
  flinched and a part of me said leave, get away,
  run, now before its too late (47).

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1. Identify the speaker and/or subject.

• Gails outburst is directed toward her husband,
  Wesley Hayden, though her adolescent son David is
  also listening from his hiding spot on the side
  of the house.

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2. Relate the context within which the quotation
occurs.

• Marie Little Soldier, the sick housekeeper, has
  revealed to Gail that the county doctor, also
  Wesleys brother Frank, has been molesting Indian
  girls. Gail is trying desperately to help her
  husband to understand the seriousness of the
  situation. However, Wesleys initial responses
  have been defensive.

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3. Articulate the significance of the quotation.

• This quote provides insight into the relationship
  between Davids parents, as well as their
  different personalities. Gail is clearly an
  emotional character whose motherly instincts come
  across in the way she speaks. Davids reaction to
  overhearing his parents interaction reveals that
  no matter how much his parents want to shelter
  him from what is going on, it is impossible for
  him to remain passive.

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4. Link the quotation to other significant
moments in the text.

• As a child listening to his parents argument,
  part of David want to run away. However, he
  later asks his mother about what is going on when
  the two are alone in the backyard.

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5. Analyze the stylistic significance (any
literary devices the author employs)

• The author uses an analogy to convey the urgency
  and desperation in Gails voice. She is not
  talking to her husband, rather her tone implies a
  mother screaming in fear for the safety of her
  child. Whether the child in this case is Wesley
  or David is unclear.

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6. Articulate the authors intention and/or
establish thesis connection.

• Once Wesley comes to terms with what his wife is
  telling him, he has more than one decision to
  make. These lines indicate how Franks crimes
  have infiltrated Wesleys immediate family. No
  matter if he wants to protect his wife and son
  from the truth, Wesley must accept that his
  family is going to be affected and involved in
  his decision.

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• Ms. Ks quotation analysis
• Gails outburst is directed toward her husband,
  Wesley Hayden, though her adolescent son David is
  also listening from his hiding spot on the side
  of the house.Marie Little Soldier, the sick
  housekeeper, has revealed to Gail that the county
  doctor, also Wesleys brother Frank, has been
  molesting Indian girls. Gail is trying
  desperately to help her husband to understand the
  seriousness of the situation. However, Wesleys
  initial responses have been defensive. This quote
  provides insight into the relationship between
  Davids parents, as well as their different
  personalities. Gail is clearly an emotional
  character whose motherly instincts come across in
  the way she speaks. Davids reaction to
  overhearing his parents interaction reveals that
  no matter how much his parents want to shelter
  him from what is going on, it is impossible for
  him to remain passive. As a child listening to
  his parents argument, part of David want to run
  away. However, he later asks his mother about
  what is going on when the two are alone in the
  backyard. The author uses an analogy to convey
  the urgency and desperation in Gails voice. She
  is not talking to her husband, rather her tone
  implies a mother screaming in fear for the safety
  of her child. Whether the child in this case is
  Wesley or David is unclear. Once Wesley comes to
  terms with what his wife is telling him, he has
  more than one decision to make. These lines
  indicate how Franks crimes have infiltrated
  Wesleys immediate family. No matter if he wants
  to protect his wife and son from the truth,
  Wesley must accept that his family is going to be
  affected and involved in his decision. Until
  then, he says he will do things in my fashion
  (54).

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YOUR TASK

• Select one quotation from each reading in Part 2
  of Montana 1948 to develop into a thorough
  quotation analysis.
• You may use quotations from the study guide or
  one of your own choice.
• Each analysis is worth 12 points and they will be
  due when we finish reading Part 2.
• In total, you will have 4 analyses worth 48
  points toward your grade.