"Birthday party" Means and Matters You will need to complete a three-part analysis of four quotations from "Birthday Party".
1. What does it say? Find a significant quotation from the story that provides insight into the character or
theme of the story. Copy the quotation in the Say column or section of your response. Cite the quotation by
providing the correct line in parentheses after the quotation.
2. What does it mean? In the Mean column, paraphrase the quotation so that it is clear that you understand
what it means in the context of the story.
3. Why does it matter? In the Matter column, comment on why the quotation is important or significant to the
reader's understanding of the character. Explain how the excerpt advances Brush's message. As you
analyze, note how Brush uses literary rhetorical devices to round out the character, and consider why this
purpose is important to her and to her readers. The Matter section should be the longest of the three
requirements.
Example from To Kill a Mockingbird