Commentary vs. Concrete Details Yes, there is a difference.

What is a concrete detail? A concrete detail is something that happened in the book. It can be something a character says or does. It can be a summary of the plot. It can be a paraphrase (putting it into your own words) of a conversation. In short, IF IT HAPPENS IN THE BOOK, IT’S A CONCRETE DETAIL.

Types of Concrete Details A direct quote from the book ▫“A woman moved is like a fountain troubled,/Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty,/And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty/Will deign to touch one drop of it” (Shakespeare 108).

Types of Concrete Details A paraphrase from the book ▫In Act V, Kate explains to the women that when a woman acts and speaks with a bad temper, no man will want to be with her (Shakespeare 108).

Types of Concrete Details Summary ▫In Act V, during the wedding reception for Bianca and Lucentio, Petruchio proves to everyone that he has tamed the shrew, Katherine (Shakespeare).

What is commentary? Commentary means your opinion, interpretation, insight, analysis, personal response, feelings, evaluation, explication, and/or reflection about a concrete detail you put in your essay. Commentary is NEVER found in the book. You have to figure out what it will be.

No Commentary In Act IV, Kate and Petruchio argue when he says the sun is the moon and she is made to agree with him, or else they will go home instead of attending Bianca’s wedding (Shakespeare).

With Commentary In Act IV, Kate and Petruchio argue when he says the sun is the moon and she is made to agree with him, or else they will go home instead of attending Bianca’s wedding (Shakespeare). [This shows that] Petruchio is willing to make his own wife look like a fool in order to make him appear as if he has all of the control. [This shows that] Kate must obey her husband in order to get what she wants not because she believes in what he says.

This shows that… If you get stuck, start your commentary sentences with This shows that. The result is nearly always commentary. Do not, however, let the use of This shows that to take over your essays. You should only use it to help you think and shape your draft. Delete it from your final copy!