1. INTRODUCE THE DETAIL, ITS CONTEXT (WHEN, WHERE, WHO, AND WHAT), IN ONE OR TWO SENTENCES:
At the climax of Tayeb Saleh's "A Handful of Dates," the young protagonist observes the villagers, including his grandfather, as they distribute Masood's harvested dates amongst themselves.
2. DESCRIBE THE DETAIL IN ONE OR TWO SENTENCES
...describe the detail in your own words while integrating, naturally into your own words, a very short quote (1-3 words)
...choose the quote carefully (it is the heart of the detail)
...do not include your analytical reflections in your detail description (just present the detail)
After consuming the dates, the boy, overwhelmed by the situation, runs to the riverbank and, in a moment of distress, feels compelled to "spew up" the dates (13).
3. ANALYZE THE DETAIL IN THREE TO FIVE SENTENCES
...begin the analysis with specific words that clearly refer to the detail being analyzed
...do not refer to new details in the story
...do not refer to the detail as "This" as in "This shows that..." (what is "this" exactly?)
...use [square brackets] is you modify the quote for integration
The boy's deliberate act of purging the dates serves as a potent symbolic gesture, illustrating his rejection of the materialism and exploitation he has just been exposed to. These dates, harvested from Masood's land, represent the exploitation and greed of the adults, particularly his grandfather's. By "spew[ing]" them up, the boy not only rejects the tainted fruit but also the corrupted materialistic values that treat nature as objects to be consumed and profited from.
1. THE FIRST PART, INTRODUCING THE DETAIL, CAN ALSO INTRODUCE ITS THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE INSTEAD OF THE CONTEXT:
At the climax of Tayeb Saleh's "A Handful of Dates," the young protagonist's interaction with the dates becomes a poignant reflection on materialism and its detrimental impact on nature.
