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activity Analyzing Tone and Mood character’s death or a dramatic revelation) affects a character. The point of view — who 1
1
tells the story — is tied to character in myriad ways, as you’ve seen in the discussion of
In the following excerpt from Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the “The First Day” earlier in this chapter. We’ve also discussed how significant the language chapter 1
main character Janie is preparing to attend her husband’s funeral. What are the tone a writer chooses to convey these elements is to interpretive analysis. Now, we’ll go
and mood of the passage? Consider how literary elements of diction, including through a step-by-step process of formulating and supporting an interpretation of
figurative language, and syntax work together to develop the tone. How does that tone meaning in prose fiction.
characterize Janie?
In our discussion, we’ll focus on “Girl,” a short story written in 1978 by Jamaica
from Their Eyes Were Watching God Kincaid, a Caribbean writer who grew up on the island of Antigua. It is presented
primarily as a monologue of a mother to her daughter. Start out by perusing the entire
Zora Neale Hurston story just to get an initial sense of what’s going on. Use the following questions to help
Analyzing Short Fiction
Janie starched and ironed her face and came set people; it was important to all the world that she focus your reading.
© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
in the funeral behind her veil. It was like a wall of should find them and they find her. But she had
stone and steel. . . . All things concerning death been whipped like a cur dog. . . . [Her KEY QUESTIONS CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
and burial were said and done. Finish. End. grandmother] had taken the biggest thing God Preparing to Write about Short Fiction Section 2 / From Reading to Writing: Crafting an AP ® Prose Fiction Analysis Essay
eview the characteristics,
ou may wish to r
Y
Never-more. Darkness. Deep hole. Dissolution. ever made, the horizon — for no matter how far • From whose viewpoint is the story being told? What beliefs or biases might the You may wish to review the characteristics,
effects, and types of monologues with
Eternity. Weeping and wailing outside. Inside a person can go the horizon is still way beyond narrator have? ef fects, and types of monologues with
the students. First, you may wish to ask
the expensive black folds were resurrection and you — and pinched it in to such a little bit of a the students. First, you may wish to ask
students to individually do a quick
Google
life. She did not reach outside for anything, nor thing that she could tie it about her • Who are the characters, and how are they described? Can you sense any conflicts or students to individually do a quick Google
contradictions within or between individuals?
om
sear
ch for monologues fr
movies or
did the things of death reach inside to disturb granddaughter’s neck tight enough to choke search for monologues from movies or
.com has
television shows. Dailyactor
her calm. She sent her face to Joe’s funeral, and her. She hated the old woman who had twisted • Where and when does the story take place? What is striking about the language the television shows. Dailyactor.com has
a nice selection of relatable 1-minute
herself went rollicking with the springtime her so in the name of love. Most humans didn’t author uses to present the time and setting? a nice selection of r elatable 1-minute
monologues. Ask students to listen to
across the world. . . . love one another nohow, and this mislove was • What are the major events that occur during the story or that are referenced from the monologues. Ask students to listen to
their monologue, and then respond to the
Most of the day she was at the store, but at so strong that even common blood couldn’t past? their monologue, and then r espond to the
Key Questions on this page. They may
night she was there in the big house and overcome it all the time. She had found a jewel Key Questions on this page. They may
wish to share the results in small groups.
sometimes it creaked and cried all night under down inside herself and she had wanted to walk wish to shar e the r esults in small gr oups.
Alternately, you might select one or two to
the weight of lonesomeness. Then she’d lie where people could see her and gleam it Girl Alter nately , you might select one or two to
review as a whole class.
awake in bed asking lonesomeness some around. But she had been set in the Jamaica Kincaid review as a whole class.
questions. . . . She had been getting ready for market-place to sell.
her great journey to the horizons in search of 1937 Wash the white clothes on Monday and put someone else’s stomach; on Sundays try to walk
them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent DIFFERENTIA TION
DIFFERENTIATION
on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline to on becoming; don’t sing benna in Sunday
Scaffolding
dry; don’t walk bare-head in the hot sun; cook school; you mustn’t speak to wharf-rat boys, not Scaffolding
pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil; soak your even to give directions; don’t eat fruits on the If students need further scaffolding, you
folding, you
If students need further scaf
From Reading to Writing: little cloths right after you take them off; when street — flies will follow you; but I don’t sing might first lead a discussion on the various
might first lead a discussion on the various
buying cotton to make yourself a nice blouse, be
benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday
subjects brought up throughout the story.
®
Crafting an AP Prose Fiction Analysis Essay sure that it doesn’t have gum in it, because that school; this is how to sew on a button; this is how subjects br ought up thr oughout the story .
Generate a list on the boar

d, and ask
Generate a list on the board, and ask
way it won’t hold up well after a wash; soak salt to make a buttonhole for the button you have students to develop questions about two
students to develop questions about two
Most of the time you will analyze literature in response to an assignment that provides fish overnight before you cook it; is it true that just sewed on; this is how to hem a dress when or thr ee of those subjects. For example,
or three of those subjects. For example,
1
theme words might include “responsibility,”
both a fiction passage and a prompt for writing about it. Frequently, you will be asked to you sing benna in Sunday school?; always eat you see the hem coming down and so to prevent theme wor ds might include “r esponsibility ,”
analyze how a writer uses literary elements and techniques to reveal some element or your food in such a way that it won’t turn yourself from looking like the slut I know you are “identity ,” and “gr owing up.” A question
“identity,” and “growing up.” A question
might be phrased as: “T
o what extent
elements of complexity about a central character’s identity or relationship with another so bent on becoming; this is how you iron your might be phrased as: “To what extent
do par
ental expectations positively or
character. Other writing prompts might ask you to focus on the effect of a setting (like 1 Antiguan and Barbudan music that spreads local gossip and father’s khaki shirt so that it doesn’t have a do parental expectations positively or
negatively impact an adolescent’s identity?”
the landscape or the cultural environment) or how a specific plot event (such as another rumors. — Eds. crease; this is how you iron your father’s khaki negatively impact an adolescent’ s identity?”
Students could then discuss varied
(continued) Students could then discuss varied
36 37 responses to the question, along with their
esponses to the question, along with their
r
explanations to support their responses.
explanations to support their r esponses.
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CLOSE READING CLOSE READING
Ask students to first track all of the directives Ask students to consider the impact of the
while you or another student reads the pas- daughter’s interjection. Why is it italicized?
sage out loud. You may want to provide a What could be suggested about the daugh-
few examples, such as “wash” and “soak.” ter’s delayed reaction, the choice of what
Ask students to discuss the impact of these she chooses to react to, and that this is her
directives. What do they suggest about gen- choice, even after the mother suggests that
der roles? she is “bent on becoming” a “slut.”
®
chapter 1 / From Reading to Writing: Crafting an AP Prose Fiction Analysis Essay 37
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