Prose Analysis Essay

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Prose Analysis Essay

• AP English 12

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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 Do not
  quote large portions of the text only refer to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.
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• 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.).
•  

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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.

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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.

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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

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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?

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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.

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Heart of Darkness passage

• Examine the meaning before technique.
• Identify the dominant images in the passage.

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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?

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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.