Mastering Textual Commentary: Literary Analysis Techniques

Mastering Textual Commentary

1. Analyzing General Ideas

• Identify the language: Determine if the text is written in Latin or a vernacular language. Latin targets educated humanists, while vernacular is often more didactic.
• Determine the text type: Identify if it is a speech or oratory, noting the use of vocatives.
• Scholastic structure: Observe if the text follows ancient scholastic methods of dividing and subdividing explanations, which is common in medieval writing.
• Tone: Assess whether the tone is conversational, erudite, pompous, or distant. Most humanities texts aim for an elegant, natural language known as grace.
• Classical influence: Evaluate the extent to which the text references old models, such as Greek, Roman, or Hebrew traditions.
• Human condition: Analyze the relationship between the text and the study of human beings, the world, and moral philosophy.
• Social and political projection: Determine if the text relies on Greek sources to project social or political ideas.

2. Humanistic Dialogic Texts

• Opening: Examine how the dialogue begins, how expectations are established, and how characters are introduced.
• Spatiotemporal marks: Note the setting (time and place) and stage gestures (dimensions) that provide credibility and help the reader visualize the environment.
• Voice hierarchy: Identify how many voices speak and their roles. Note the presence of "dumb" speakers who are present in the fiction but do not participate in the conversation.
• Character description: Analyze character names, appearance, age, social position, tone, and vocabulary.
• Imitatio models: Identify the applied model:
  • Platonic Model: Uses the maieutic method of questions and answers.
  • Ciceronian Model: Features a master illustrating a disciple, where one is correct and the other is not.
  • Lucian Model: More theatrical and satirical, using colloquial language to ridicule characters or criticize religion.