In a literary passage, the word 'analyze' most nearly means to

• A. Read quickly
• B. Examine closely and break into parts to understand how they work together.
• C. Memorize
• D. Skip

Answer: (B)

Analyzing a literary passage means looking closely at how its parts fit together to create meaning. It’s not just what happens, but why the author chose certain words, how the sentences are built, and how imagery, tone, and structure work together to shape the reader’s understanding. By breaking the text into its pieces—word choice, figurative language, rhythm, perspective—and considering how each part influences the others, you can explain how the overall effect is produced. This approach reveals how details support themes, arguments, or mood, rather than simply listing events or recalling facts. Reading quickly, memorizing, or skipping don’t allow for that level of connection, whereas examining closely and analyzing how the pieces fit is exactly what this skill involves.