How to develop a broader interpretation of my text?

[KristyDanielle]

I am incredibly over lit but I need to get through it. Anyway, I have been told all year that I need to have a broader sense of what the author is doing and a broader interpretation or perspective on the text. I'm writing on Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and T.S. Eliot's poetry. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE A 'BROAD INTERPRETATION!' What does this mean and what is a decent way of writing out my introduction? I feel so disheartened every time I receive a SAC mark back and it says the same thing. I try so hard but my marks don't seem to improve. My teacher even wrote on my last practice paper: "This is a simplistic interpretation of a complex book. Develop your ideas."

HELP ME

[Lolly]

Darn it, I just wrote a whole two paragraphs for you and then the page refreshed/timed out for some reason. Why does it do that? Oh well I’ll type it again.

I guess with a broad interpretation you’re trying to find patterns and recurring themes. Every author has their own set of ideas. With Woolf I suppose there is a lot in her writing to do with feminism, the need to communicate, the beauty in moment, humanity beyond the pretence of society and so forth. At least that’s what I picked up. (But your interpretation is really up to you.)

For example, in Mrs Dalloway I’m sure you already know how there is this constant mention of age, death and decay. So you could say that these are recurring ideas and they are all linked to this umbrella concept of “Time”.  You can see how this is a broad interpretation, right? Because it’s so big, you can apply this idea of *time* to nearly any given passage within the entire novel. However this interpretation is also *complex* since you can use this “big” idea to analyse these passages in detail.
 
So, for instance, you could mention how time causes change for characters and their society - this is a broad, blanket statement. Then use evidence within the passages, and draw an interpretation that is more detailed eg : that there is a perpetual struggle against objective forces of time and establishment. You see how any passages that crop up will link to your broader interpretation, but more complex ideas arise from this?
 I hope that helped…:) Let me know if it didn’t. I'm still learning too.

[Eriny]

^ that. The idea is that your analysis of the small bits of the text (metaphors, the rhythm, etc) would allow you to show how it illuminates the broader themes and issues of the text. Think of each sentence as a kind of microcosm for the big picture.

[charmanderp]

Try reading some background on the text and gain an appreciation for the context it was written in and for. That what it's easy to understand how the author has been inspired to use certain features of the text for a specific purpose - for example several metaphors and allegories of Frankenstein are Mary Shelley's interpretation of the Industrial Revolution and social class struggles, hence you see that the entire text is somewhat all connected to these ideas, amongst others. It's about understanding the reason why an author chose to write a certain text, and how these motivations are then manifest in their writing.