Close Reading

An explication, sometimes called a close read, is a detailed analysis of a small section of a text, such as a paragraph of a novel, or a shorter text, such as a poem. Though traditionally applied to poetry and fiction, close reads can also be relevant to photos, songs, films, even video games. Whatever the medium, goal is always to uncover new meanings through a minute analysis.

For this assignment, you will conduct close reading of an official portrait of a British royal, from King Henry VIII to Prince Goerge.

Required:

• MLA Style
• Approximately 750 words

Due: Fro 3. 6 (via Canvas)

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Below are the photos you may choose from for you close read—write about only one. Each is labeled with its location and photographer.

King Henry VIII (Hans Holbein the Younger, 1698)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen Elizabeth I (Variously attributed to William Segar or George Gower, 1585)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King George III (Allan Ramsey, c. 1765)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen Victoria (Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1859)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, (Otto Bettmann, 1941)

 

 

 

 

 

Princess Margaret (Cecil Beaton, 1951)

Princess Diana (Mario Testino, 1997)

 

 

Queen Elizabeth II (Annie Leibovitz, 2007)

Princess Eugenie (Alex Bramall, 2016)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Duke and Duchess of Susses, by Alex Lubomirski, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince George by Kate, Princess of Wales, 2024