Rules for grammatically integrating quotes
- Embed quotes naturally into your own sentences.
- Avoid inserting quotes in standalone sentences or without context.
- Use square brackets to modify words for clarity, grammatical consistency, or to adjust the tense.
- E.g. Atticus states that he “wanted [Scout] to see what real courage [was], instead of getting the idea that courage [was] a man with a gun in his hand.
- Use ellipses to omit unnecessary words
- E.g. Atticus juxtaposes the idea of “real courage” ... [and] a man with a gun in his hand” to imply that acts of violent and intimidation are products of fear, not bravery.
Tips for sophisticated quote analysis
- Use short, impactful quotes rather than overloading your sentences with long excerpts.
- If you need to use a longer quote for context, follow it up by zooming in on one or two particular words or phrases and conduct close analysis.
- E.g. Lady Macbeth calls on dark spirits to “unsex [her] here, and fill [her] from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.” In particular, the use of the word “unsex” reflects her abject repudiation of her femininity, whilst her choice of the word “crown” to refer to her head hints at her thirst for power and recognition.
- Blend quotes with analytical verbs (e.g. reveals, highlights, underscores) to show that you are unpacking the meaning of a quote, not merely summarising it.
Levels of quote analysis
| Original quote from the text |
"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand." - To Kill A Mockingbird (spoken by Atticus to his daughter Scout) |
| Unintegrated quote (avoid!) ❌ |
Atticus frequently imparts moral lessons to his children. “I wanted you to see what real courage is.” This shows he is a very admirable character |
| Integrated quote (good) ✅ |
Atticus tells Scout “I wanted you to see what real courage is,” which has a profound impact on her view of the world. |
|
Blended quote
(using square brackets to modify grammar or replace words)
(good) ✅
|
Atticus reveals that he “wanted [Scout] to see what real courage is” so that she would develop a more nuanced view of the world and not view courage as simply “a man with a gun in his hand." |
| Analysed quote (best!) ✅ ✅ |
Atticus’ desire for Scout “to see what real courage is” showcases his compassion and foresight as a father, and suggests to readers that he is extremely cautious of the impressions of the world that his children are forming. |
