Critical analysis is a skill that can be learned. That Yale professor likely devoted a large amount of time to the work, he did not just read it and have a whole lecture prepared. People major in this stuff so they can learn how to do it. You are not lesser because it doesn’t come naturally to you immediately upon reading a text. Especially when you consider connections to the author’s life and words you just don’t know. If you don’t know something, you don’t know it and no amount of staring at the text is going to make that clear to you. Use outside resources and you will slowly build the ability to analyze things.

I think a solid trio would be Erin Morgenstern, Tamsyn Muir, and Becky Chambers. I think I could be happy for the rest of my life reading about the worlds these people create. Erin Morgenstern speaks to my soul, Tamsyn Muir wrecks my soul, and Becky Chambers heals it.