We’ve finally begun applying the close reading skills previously learned onto an actual text, Albee’s The American Dream. This is exciting, especially to do as a class, because it’s interesting to see the class responses to the play. It takes what feels like an eternity to get through the shortest of passages, but our class can’t seem to get enough analysis.
What I’ve discovered through this close reading is that Albee has many intentions with the play, and many lines can be taken at face value or examined for deeper meaning. Jokes that he includes in the text have, in my opinion, an ulterior motive that Albee wants to make obvious to the reader, but they can also be seen simply as a way to lighten tense situations in the plot.
I’ve enjoyed the close reading that we’ve done so far, and I look forward to continuing it. Despite the lengthiness of the process, I find it compelling that so much meaning can be hidden behind a few lines of text. Albee’s creative genius becomes obvious when analyzing the hidden opinions in The American Dream.
The time we take to analyze one page is really surprising. I was not expecting people to find so much to look into. Which is one thing that concerns me. I know Albee intended to have many layers to The American Dream but I wonder if things we are "finding" meaning in were never intended to have meaning. I've really enjoys the close reading and the discussions but I have a hard time with not having a definitive answer. When my opinions conflict with those of other's I want to know who is right, so that I know I'm not looking at things incorrectly. Unfortunately, this area study can be the least definitive so it takes some adjusting. I wasn't expecting to like The America Dream as much as I have and I think that part if that has come from the analysis and my increase in understanding.
ReplyDeleteThe time close reading takes with Ceremony is especially daunting. I'm kind of afraid that we'll close read the whole thing, and that would take forever! I've also really enjoyed the double meanings behind different passages.
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