Tobias Wolff, Old School

A close reading or explication of a passage unpacks what is implicit and makes it explicit and clear. It is not a summary or a paraphrase. Directions: Find a passage (1-2 paragraphs) in Old School that you think is particularly representative of a central idea in the book. ALalyze how Wolff gets this key idea across in the wge; What is Wolff suggesting through his use of imagery, figurative language, and word choice? Steps: 1. Pay attention to key words and phrases that strike you as particularly significant or surprising. 2. Look for any patterns in repetition or contradiction. 3. Ask yourself what the passage suggests and how it connects to the ideas in the rest of the story. Why has Wolff chosen to tell the story this way?