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Prose Analysis Essay

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Title: Prose Analysis Essay


1
Prose Analysis Essay
  • AP English 12

2
What is the Prose Analysis Essay?
  • This question asks you to analyze a passage from
    a short story, essay, or novel. You will have a
    copy of the passage in front of you, and you must
    make frequent references to the text. Do not
    quote large portions of the text only refer to
    specific words or phrases. Remember that your
    reader will also have a copy of the text.
  • The prose question is similar to the poetry
    question, in that you must analyze literary
    techniques (remember vocabulary is good, but
    meaning is much, much more important) and connect
    to specific question of meaning using textual
    references.
  •  
  • The basic form of the question is Write an essay
    analyzing how the author uses literary techniques
    to (reveal meaning, describe the main character,
    describe the attitude, etc.).
  •  

3
The One Sitting There by Joanna H. Wos
  • Read the passage and look for bigger meaning
    first.
  • Focus on function before form. Meaning is always
    the first priority.
  • Always look for shifts in tone, narration,
    attitude, etc. These shifts lead to meaning.

4
The One Sitting There
  • Read the passage.
  • Write a noun or a phrase in each of the blanks to
    the left of the passage. Your choices should be
    specific as they identify the shifts in the
    narrative.
  • These shifts lead to an understanding of meaning.

5
The One Sitting There
  1. mothers frugality
  2. fathers blessing of food
  3. parents pain or grief
  4. narrators frustration lack of
    understanding
  5. narrators rebellion defiance
    independence growth
  6. narrators homage tribute
  7. narrator communion with sister gratitude
  8. narrators acceptance
  9. narrators freedom

6
What did we learn about the passage?
  • What is the shift which occurs throughout the
    passage?
  • How does the change occur? Why is it important?
  • What is not said in this passage? Read the
    spaces. Where is space important? How?
  • What is the meaning of the last sentence? How is
    the meaning implied?

7
Now look at form.
  • How does the syntax develop meaning?
  • What literary devices do you notice?
  • What do the spaces in the passage reveal?
  • Form Follows Function! Only consider form AFTER
    you have derived a meaning.

8
Heart of Darkness passage
  • Examine the meaning before technique.
  • Identify the dominant images in the passage.

9
Follow the image.
  • Underline the words which relate to light.
  • Which lights come from nature? From sources in
    or made by civilization?
  • What does Marlow mean by this? Why has it been a
    dark place?
  • How is Marlow different from the other sea men?
  • How do the others interpret meaning? How do they
    respond to what they learn?
  • How does Marlow interpret meaning?
  • How does the light imagery at the end
    characterize Marlows mode of reading?
  • How does the light imagery at the end
    characterize Marlows mode of reading?
  • How does Conrads language in the last sentence
    reflect and validate Marlows mode of reading?

10
The Big Picture
  • Always connect to meaning as a whole.
  • Surprise your reader with an expression of
    meaning in a fresh and specific way.
  • Do not list devices.
  • Explore shifts and relationships.
  • Organize around meaning, ideas, questions do not
    organize around devices.
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