Beforeyoustart,hereisan
IntroductiontoAnnotations
“Everytextisalazymachineaskingthereadertodosomeofitswork.”
NovelistUmbertoEco
Whatisthepointofannotation?
•Annotationencouragesyoutoreadactivelyandthoughtfully.
•Annotationprovidesyouwithausefuloverviewtoconsultbeforediscussionsorwritingassignments.
Ideasforannotatingliterature
•Useapensoyoucanmakecircles,brackets,andnotes.Ifyoulikehighlighters,useoneforkeypassages,butdon’tgetcarriedawayanddon’tusehighlightersexclusively.
•Lookforpatternsandlabelthem(motifs,diction,symbols,images,behavior,whatever).
•Markpassagesthatseemtojumpoutatyoubecausetheysuggestanimportantideaortheme—orforanyotherreason(anarrestingfigureofspeechorimage,anintriguingsentencepattern,astrikingexampleofforeshadowing,akeymomentintheplot,abitofdialoguethatrevealscharacter,cluesaboutthesetting,etc.).
•Markthingsthatpuzzle,intrigue,please,ordispleaseyou.Askquestions,makecomments—talkbacktothetext.
•Attheendsofchaptersorsections,writeabulletedlistofkeyplotevents.Thisnotonlyforcesyoutothinkaboutwhathappened,seeitwhole,andidentifypatterns,butalsohelpsyoucreateaconvenientrecordofthewholework.
•Circlewordsyouwanttolearnorwordsthatjumpoutatyouforsomereason.Ifyoudon’twanttostopreading,guess,thenlookthewordupandjotdownarelevantmeaninglater.Youneednotwriteoutafulldictionary definition;itisoftenhelpfultoputtherelevantmeaninginyourownwords.IfSATprephasdampenedyourenthusiasm,rediscoverthejoyofaddingtoyour“wordhoard,”astheBeowulfpoetcallsit.
•TheHarvardCollegeLibraryhaspostedanexcellentguidetoannotation,“InterrogatingTexts:SixReadingHabitstoDevelopinYourFirstYearatHarvard.”(
ASampleAnnotation
Evenasyoureadastoryforthefirsttime,youcanhighlightpassages,circleorunderlinewords,andwriteresponsesinthemargin.Subsequentreadingswillyieldmoreinsightonceyoubegintounderstandhowvariouselementssuchasplot,characterization,andwordingbuildtowardtheconclusionandwhatyouperceivetobethestory’scentralideas.Thefollowingannotationsforthefirstelevenparagraphsof“TheStoryofanHour”provideaperspectivebysomeonewhohadtoreadtheworkseveraltimes.Yourownapproachmight,ofcourse,bequitedifferent.Trycontinuingtheannotationswheretheyareleftoff…
Thetitlecouldpointtothe brevityofthestory–only23shortparagraphs–ortothedecisivenatureofwhathappensinaveryshortperiodoftime.Orboth?
"TheStoryofAnHour"KateChopin(1894)
Mrs.Mallard’sfirstname(Louise)isnotgivenuntilparagraph17,yethersisterJosephineisnamedimmediately.ThisemphasizesMrs.
KnowingthatMrs.Mallardwasafflictedwithhearttrouble,greatcarewas
takentobreaktoherasgentlyaspossiblethenewsofherhusband'sdeath.
ItwashersisterJosephinewhotoldher,inbrokensentences;veiledhintsthatrevealedinhalfconcealing.Herhusband'sfriendRichardswasthere,too,nearher.Itwashewhohadbeeninthenewspaperofficewhenintelligenceoftherailroaddisasterwasreceived,withBrentlyMallard'snameleadingthelistof"killed."Hehadonlytakenthetimetoassurehimselfofitstruthbyasecondtelegram,andhadhastenedtoforestallanylesscareful, lesstender friendinbearing thesadmessage.
Shedidnothearthestoryasmanywomenhaveheardthesame,withaparalyzedinabilitytoacceptitssignificance.Sheweptatonce,withsudden,wildabandonment,inhersister'sarms.Whenthestormofgriefhadspentitselfshewentawaytoherroomalone.Shewouldhavenoonefollowher.
Therestood,facingtheopenwindow,acomfortable,roomyarmchair.Intothisshesank,presseddownbyaphysicalexhaustionthathauntedherbodyandseemedtoreachintohersoul.
Shecouldseeintheopensquarebeforeherhousethetopsoftreesthatwereallaquiverwiththenewspringlife.Thedeliciousbreathofrainwasintheair.Inthestreetbelowapeddlerwascryinghiswares.Thenotesofadistantsongwhichsomeonewassingingreachedherfaintly,andcountlesssparrowsweretwitteringintheeaves.
Therewerepatchesofblueskyshowinghereandtherethroughthecloudsthathadmetandpiledoneabovetheotherinthewest,facingherwindow.
Shesatwithherheadthrownbackuponthecushionofthechair,quitemotionless,exceptwhenasobcameupintoherthroatandshookher,asachildwhohascrieditselftosleepcontinuestosobinitsdreams.
Shewasyoung,withafair,calmface,whoselinesbespokerepression andeven acertainstrength.Butnow therewas adull stare inhereyes,whosegaze was fixedawayoffyonderononeofthosepatchesofbluesky.Itwasnotaglanceofreflection,butratherindicatedasuspensionofintelligentthought.
Therewassomethingcomingtoherandshewaswaitingforit,fearfully.Whatwasit?Shedidnotknow;itwastoosubtleandelusivetoname.Butshefeltit,creeping
outofthesky,reachingtowardherthroughthesounds,thescents,thecolorthatfilledtheair.
Nowherbosomroseandfelltumultuously.Shewasbeginningtorecognizethisthingthatwasapproachingtopossessher,andshewasstrivingtobeatitbackwithher
Mallard’smarried identity.
GiventhenatureofthecauseofMrs.Mallard’sdeathatthestory’send,it’sworthnotingtheambiguousdescriptionthatshe”wasafflictedwithhearttrouble.”IsthisoneofChopin’s(ratherthanJosephine’s)“veiledhints”?
WhenMrs.Mallardweepswith“wildabandonment,”thereaderisagainconfrontedwithanambiguousphrase:shegrievesinanoverwhelmingmanneryetseemstoexpressreliefatbeingabandonedbyBrently’sdeath.
Thesethree paragraphs createanincreasingly “open”atmospherethatleadstothe“delicious”outsidewherethereareinvitingsoundsand“patchesofbluessky.”There’sadefinitetensionbetweentheinsideandoutsiderworlds.
Thoughstillstunnedbygrief,MrsMallardbeginstofeelachangecomeoverherowingtohergrowingawarenessofaworldoutsideherroom.
Whatchangeremains“toosubtleandelusiveto name.”
Mrs.Mallard’sconflictedstruggleisdescribed inpassionate,physicalterms asifshe is “possess[ed]” by aloversheis“powerless”toresist.
will--aspowerlessashertwowhiteslenderhandswouldhavebeen.
Whensheabandonedherselfalittlewhisperedwordescapedherslightlypartedlips.Shesaiditoverandoverunderherbreath:"free,free,free!"Thevacantstareand thelookofterrorthathadfolloweditwentfromhereyes.Theystayedkeenandbright. Herpulsesbeatfast,andthecoursingbloodwarmedandrelaxedeveryinchofherbody.
Shedidnotstoptoaskifitwereorwerenotamonstrousjoythatheldher.Aclearandexaltedperceptionenabledhertodismissthesuggestionastrivial.Sheknewthatshewouldweepagainwhenshesawthekind,tenderhandsfoldedindeath;thefacethathadneverlookedsavewithloveuponher,fixedandgrayand dead.Butshe sawbeyondthatbittermomentalongprocessionofyearstocomethatwouldbelongtoherabsolutely.Andsheopenedandspreadherarmsouttotheminwelcome.
Therewouldbenoonetoliveforduringthosecomingyears;shewouldliveforherself.Therewouldbenopowerfulwillbendinghersinthatblindpersistencewithwhichmenandwomenbelievetheyhavearighttoimposeaprivatewilluponafellow-creature.Akindintentionoracruelintentionmadetheactseemnolessacrimeasshelookeduponitin thatbriefmomentofillumination.
Andyetshehadlovedhim--sometimes.Oftenshehadnot.Whatdiditmatter!Whatcouldlove,theunsolvedmystery,countforinthefaceofthispossessionofself-assertionwhichshesuddenlyrecognizedasthestrongestimpulseofherbeing!
"Free!Bodyandsoulfree!"shekeptwhispering.
Josephinewaskneelingbeforethecloseddoorwithherlipstothekeyhold,imploringforadmission."Louise,openthedoor!Ibeg;openthedoor--youwillmakeyourselfill.Whatareyoudoing,Louise?Forheaven'ssakeopenthedoor."
"Goaway.Iamnotmakingmyselfill."No;shewasdrinkinginaveryelixiroflifethroughthatopenwindow.
Her fancywasrunningriot alongthosedaysaheadofher.Spring days,andsummerdays,andallsortsofdaysthatwouldbeherown.Shebreathedaquickprayerthatlifemightbelong.Itwasonlyyesterdayshehadthoughtwithashudderthatlifemightbelong.
Shearoseatlengthandopenedthedoortohersister'simportunities.Therewasafeverishtriumphinhereyes,andshecarriedherselfunwittinglylikeagoddessofVictory.Sheclaspedhersister'swaist,andtogethertheydescendedthestairs.Richardsstood waitingforthematthebottom.
Someonewasopeningthefrontdoorwithalatchkey.ItwasBrentlyMallard
whoentered,alittletravel-stained,composedlycarryinghisgrip-sackandumbrella.Hehadbeenfarfromthesceneoftheaccident,anddidnotevenknowtherehadbeenone.HestoodamazedatJosephine'spiercingcry;atRichards'quickmotiontoscreenhim fromtheviewofhiswife.
Whenthedoctorscametheysaidshehaddiedofheartdisease--ofthejoythat
Onceshehas“abandoned”herself(see“abandonment”inparagraphthree),thereaderrealizesthatherloveistobe“free,free,free.”Herrecognitionisevidentinthe“coursingblood[that]warmedandrelaxedeveryinchofherbody.”
kills.
PartII:LiteraryAnalysisReviewDueTues,Sept11/Wed,Sept12AssignmentB:ReadtheexcerptfromMaryBartonandcompleteannotationsassignment.Thisannotatedpassageisdueatthebeginning ofclasson Tues,Sept11/Wed,Sept11.
Thefollowingpassagecomesfrom ElizabethGaskell’sMaryBarton(1848),anovelaboutmillworkerslivinginManchester,England,inthe1840s. Inthisscene,GeorgeWilson,oneoftheworkers,goestothehouseofMr.Carson,themillowner,torequestcareforafellow worker dyingoftyphus. Readthe passagecarefully. Theannotate the excerpt focusingonhowGaskelluseselementssuchaspointofview,selectionofdetail,dialogue,andcharacterizationtomakeasocialcommentary. Theannotationsmustbelegible.Ifyouwouldlikeanelectroniccopyof thetext,sothatyoucanchangethe marginsandspacing,visittheFreedomHighSchool Englishpage.
WilsonhadabouttwomilestowalkbeforehereachedMrCarson’shouse,whichwasalmostinthecountry.Thestreetswerenotyetbustlingandbusy.Theshop-menwerelazilytakingdowntheshutters,althoughitwasneareighto’clock;forthedaywaslongenoughforthepurchasespeoplemadeinthatquarterofthetown,whiletradewassoflat.Oneortwomiserable-lookingwomenweresettingoffontheirday’sbeggingexpedition.Buttherewerefewpeopleabroad.MrCarson’swasagoodhouse,andfurnishedwithdisregardtoexpense.Butinadditiontolavishexpenditure,therewasmuchtasteshown,andmanyarticleschosenfortheirbeautyandeleganceadornedhisrooms.AsWilsonpassedawindowwhichahousemaidhadthrownopen,hesawpicturesandgilding,atwhichhewastemptedtostopandlook;butthenhethoughtitwouldnotberespectful.Sohehastenedontothekitchendoor.Theservantsseemedverybusywithpreparationforbreakfast;butgood-naturedly,thoughhastily,toldhimto stepin,andtheycouldsoonletMrCarsonknowhewasthere.Sohewasusheredintoakitchenhungroundwithglitteringtins,wherearoaringfireburntmerrily,andwherenumbersofutensilshunground,atwhosenatureanduseWilsonamusedhimselfbyguessing.
Meanwhile,theservantsbustledtoandfro;anout-doorman-servantcameinfororders,andsatdownnearWilson;thecookbroiledsteaks,andthekitchen-maidtoastedbread,andboiledeggs.
Thecoffeesteameduponthefire,andaltogethertheodoursweresomixedandappetizing,thatWilsonbegantoyearnforfoodtobreakhisfast,whichhadlastedsincedinner1thedaybefore. Iftheservantshadknownthis,theywouldhavewillinglygivenhimmeatandbreadinabundance;buttheywereliketherestofus,andnotfeelinghungerthemselves,forgotitwaspossibleanothermight. SoWilson’scravingturnedtosickness,whiletheychatteredon,makingthekitchen’sfreeandkeenremarksupontheparlour.
‘Howlateyouwerelastnight,Thomas!’
“Yes,Iwasrightwearyofwaiting;theytoldmetobeattheroomsbytwelve;andthereIwas.Butitwastwoo’clockbeforetheycalledme.’
‘Anddidyouwaitallthattimeinthestreet?’askedthehousemaidwhohaddoneherworkforthepresent,andcomeintothekitchenforabitofgossip.
“Myeyeaslike!youdon’tthinkI’msuchafoolastocatchmydeathofcold,andletthehorsescatchtheirdeathtoo,asweshouldha’doneifwe’dstoppedthere. No! Iputth’horsesupinth’stablesatth’SpreadEagle,andwentmysel’,andgotaglassortwoby th’fire. They’redrivingagoodcustom,them,wi’coachmen. Therewerefiveonus,andwe’dmanyaquarto’ale,andginwi’it,tokeepoutcold.’
‘Mercyonus,Thomas;you’llgetadrunkardatlast!’
‘IfIdo,Iknowwhoseblameitwillbe.Itwillbemissis’s,andnotmine.Fleshandbloodcan’tsittobestarvedtodeathonacoach-box,waitingforfolksasdon’tknowtheirownmind.’
Aservant,semi-upper-housemaid,semi-lady’s-maid,nowcamedownwithordersfromhermistress.
‘Thomas,youmustridetothefishmonger’s,andsaymissiscan’tgiveabovehalf-a-crownapoundforsalmonforTuesday;she’sgrumblingbecausetrade’ssobad. Andshe’llwantthecarriageatthreetogotothelecture,Thomas;attheRoyalExecution,2youknow.’
‘Ay,ay,Iknow.’
‘Andyou’dbetterallofyoumindyourP’sandQ’s,forshe’sveryblackthismorning. She’sgotabadheadache.’
‘It’sapityMissJenkinsisnotheretomatchher.Lord!Howsheandmissisdidquarrelwhichhadtotheworstheadaches,itwasthatMissJenkinsleftfor;shewouldnotgiveuphavingbadheadaches,andmissiscouldnotabideanyonetohave‘embutherself.’
‘Missiswillhaveherbreakfastup-stairs,cook,andthecoldpartridgeaswasleftyesterday,andputplentyofcreaminhercoffee,andshethinksthere’sarollleft,andshewouldlikeitwellbuttered.’
Sosaying,themaidleftthekitchentobereadytoattendtotheyoungladies’bellwhentheychosetoring,aftertheirlateassemblythenightbefore.