This book argues for the significance of close reading as a method for deepening our engagement with literature and enhancing our comprehension of its complex meanings and structures. Phelan examines the theories and practices that underpin close reading, emphasizing how attentive analysis can reveal layers of significance that are not immediately apparent. The book explores various critical approaches to literature, including formalism, historical context, authorial intent, and reader-response theory, showing how each contributes to a fuller understanding of literary texts. Through case studies and practical examples, Phelan demonstrates how close reading can transform our appreciation of texts across genres and periods.