What patterns, symbols, themes, and images appear–and what might they mean?

In this essay, you will choose one of the readings we have completed in Unit 3, and subject a short passage of that reading (a couple paragraphs of a short story, or a limited section of dialogue from a play) to what we call a close reading.In close reading, we read very, very slowly, line by line, image by image, even word by word. Then, here is the process you might follow for getting your essay underway!Step 1: Select the Unit 3 reading and passage you plan to work with. Some good bets include: *The first couple paragraphs of a story or opening scene of a play*The last couple paragraphs of a story or closing scene of a play*Any other passage or section which seems particularly dense, intriguing, or intenseStep 2: Read, and re-read, and re-read that passage with a pencil or pen. Force yourself to go word by word or phrase by phrase. What does each part contribute? Why are certain word choices interesting? What patterns, symbols, themes, and images appear–and what might they mean?Step 3: Once you are done close reading your passage or section, connect what you’ve read to the rest of the text. Do things (images, words, themes, etc.) appear in your section, that recur later in the piece? Are there foreshadowings of events to come? How does “your” piece connect to the whole?Step 4: Finally, write a 3 page essay in which you talk us through the passage you’ve decided to close read. Here is the rubric I will use to grade your essay: Your grade:Successfully RespondsSatisfactorily RespondsNeeds ImprovementNeeds Significant ImprovementYou read and discuss your passage slowly, phrase by phrase, idea by ideaYou make convincing arguments about what the individual choices in your passage meanYou thoughtfully connect your passage to the rest of the text Your response is free of mechanical errors that distract your reader. Use the story By Ambrose Bierce,” an occurrence at owl creek bridge” starts at on 599