GRE Subject Test: Literature in English

The GRE Subject Test in Literature in English assesses knowledge and understanding of literary texts, critical analysis, and interpretation skills.

Major Literary PeriodsGenres and FormsClose Reading and Critical Analysis
Critical Theories and SchoolsIntertextuality and AllusionAdvanced Literary Devices
Analyzing Unseen PassagesComparative AnalysisBuilding Interpretive Arguments
Time Management for the GRE Literature TestProcess of Elimination
Major Literary Perio...Genres and FormsClose Reading and Cr...Critical Theories an...Intertextuality and ...Advanced Literary De...Analyzing Unseen Pas...Comparative AnalysisBuilding Interpretiv...Time Management for ...Process of Eliminati...
Basic Concepts

Close Reading and Critical Analysis

The Art of Close Reading

Close reading means examining a text carefully, focusing on language, structure, and literary devices. This skill is central to the GRE Literature test!

Steps in Close Reading

  1. Read Slowly: Notice word choices and repeated images.
  2. Mark Literary Devices: Spot metaphors, similes, irony, and symbolism.
  3. Analyze Structure: Look at stanza forms, narrative techniques, or shifts in tone.
  4. Interpret Meaning: Ask what the author is suggesting beneath the surface.

Why It Matters

Close reading leads to deeper understanding and more convincing interpretations.

Examples

  • Finding symbolism in Robert Frost’s use of roads in 'The Road Not Taken.'

  • Analyzing the unreliable narrator in Edgar Allan Poe’s 'The Tell-Tale Heart.'

In a Nutshell

Close reading helps you uncover layers of meaning within a literary work.

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Critical Theories and Schools