Quotations

Leading Into and Out of Quotes in a Literary Analysis Essay

Leading into a quote is like introducing a new friend to your classmates. You want to make them sound interesting and relevant to the conversation. Here's how to do it:

1. Set the Scene: Briefly describe the situation in the text where the quote appears.

2. Introduce the Speaker: Tell who said the quote and why they are important to the story.

3. Introduce the Listener: Tell who the person is listening or being spoken to in a quote.

Example:

Original quote: "The old man looked at the sea and saw it was calm."

Lead-in: After struggling for days against the powerful waves, the old fisherman paused to admire the sudden calm. He looked out at the sea, his eyes filled with both relief and determination. As he gazed at the tranquil water, he muttered to himself, "The old man looked at the sea and saw it was calm."

Leading out of a quote is like finishing a conversation and making sure everyone understands the point. Follow up the quote. How does it prove your thesis? (Though you can't say, "This quote shows...") You cannot just assume your reader will make the connection to your your thesis/point of the paragraph. 

Here's how to do it:

1. Explain the Significance: Tell why the quote is important to your argument.

2. Connect to Your topic sentence/thesis point: Show how the quote supports your main idea.

Example:

Lead-out: The old man's observation of the calm sea is a pivotal moment in the story. It symbolizes his resilience and unwavering spirit, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. 

Remember: The goal of leading into and out of quotes is to make them fit seamlessly into your essay. By providing context and explaining their significance, you can help your reader understand how the quote contributes to your overall argument.

Adapted from Gemini 9/26/2024

• Click here for NoRedInk's great description of how to set up a quote in an essay.

• Cite the quote. (See the Purdue OWL Website)

• If your quote is 4 lines of text in your paper or longer, click here to learn how it is setup/punctuated differently from a shorter quote.

Here's a great handout with information on using and citing quotes in an essay.