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.