Fences Close Reading Chart

Act 1 Scene 3 Lines 80-215

	Use of Language	What do the words mean?	Structure of Text	Cultural/Global Theme
Quotes	“I thought we had an understanding about this football stuff? You suppose to keep up with your chores and hold that job down at A&P. Ain’t been around here all day on a Saturday. Ain’t none of your chores done...and now you telling me you done quit your job.” (1.3.115-118)	“I get good grades, Pop. That’s why he recruiter wants to talk with you. You got to keep up your grades to get recruited. This way I’ll be going to college. I’ll get a chance…” (1.3.129-131)	“I don’t care what nobody else say. I’m the boss...you understand? I’m the boss around here. I do the only saying what counts.”(1.3.143-144)	“Rose, I ain’t got time for that. He’s alive. He’s healthy. He’s got to make his own way. I made mine. Ain’t nobody gonna hold his hand when he get out there in that world.” (1.3.211-213)
Analysis (Rationale)	The diction of this quote is very informal and uses poor grammar. The sentence structure is abnormal and gets the main point across towards the end of the sentence. This shows how the style of the passage is unique and casual.	This section of the play has a high denotative language and relatively low connotative language. This particular quote uses denotative language when referring to the recruiter and connotative language when it says ‘i’ll get a chance’ because this is symbolic to Cory facing racism and entering the sports world as a black athlete to begin integrating the sports community.	This section of the passage is in the middle of the passage. This is the point where Troy tells Cory no to the football recruitment and this is a turning point because the beginning of the passage built up on the big deal of Cory being recruited and how it was a big opportunity for him and Troy just denied Cory that opportunity.	This quote has a psychological element to it because Troy says that he is hard on Cory because he is preparing him for the real world. Every father, no matter what race or culture, tries to prepare his children for the real world and this is representative of that.