  Ŀ
ĳ!Attach This Header To Top of All Paper Submissions!       [TIA]
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sSubject/Class Paper was submitted for  [AP english  Lit & comp ]
SSubject/Topic of paper (Please Be As Descriptive As Possible)   
a[AP English section II Question 1 essay: Re: Emma              ]3 Letter
YYear of AP exam unknown                                       Abbrev.
 [                                                              ]for
S       Grade Level (For High School Students):      9 [ ] 11 [ ]Major
u                                                   10 [ ] 12 [X]Education
B                                       (for Ont., Canada) 13 [ ]Areas,
m       Year (For University/College Students)       1 [ ]  3 [ ]MARK one:
I                                                    2 [ ]  4 [ ]
s                                                           5 [ ]English
SSchool/University/College/Institution [St. Joseph's Collegiate ][ENG] [X]
iCity & State (Province) of Inst.      [Buffalo, NY             ]History
OName of Teacher/Prof. submitted to    [Mr. Zabawa              ][HST] [ ]
nGrade Received (If Received Yet)                           [84 ]Science
 Date Paper was submitted (mm/dd/yy)   [               10/23/92 ][SCI] [ ]
FName of Author (Real or Alias)        [The Saint               ]Health &
oHigh School Avg./College GPA of Author                 [95.6   ]Sports
RIf used, Textbook/Novel/Classic Translator/Editor and Version/  [HTH] [ ]
m Edition Info [                                                ] -
 Additional Comments [                                          ]The
 [                                                              ]Information
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Paper 6: Emma                              Due date: 10/23/92

     The passage characterizes and evaluates Emma more

effectively than Harriet because Harriet is only described in

the passage whereas Emma's sentiments are often described and

occasionally expressed by using her point of view. Emma is

ultimately portrayed as a selfish woman who is idle and

considers shaping Harriet a project worthy of her, a picture

which becomes absolutely clear at the last sentence of the

passage.

     The usage of paragraphs in the passage is key in

producing the portrayal of Emma that the author desires.

Each paragraph contains a basic idea which helps to develop

the storyline before the 'surprise' in the fourth paragraph.

In the first paragraph the author conveys the idea that Emma

has a great liking for Harriet because of her beauty. The

first paragraph does not suggest anything substantial, its

purpose is to lay the foundation for the rest of the story by

describing to the reader the basic relationships that exist

in the story. The second paragraph describes Harriet's poor

social background by pointing out that she has no

identifiable kin and that she is an illegitimate child. The

purpose of this paragraph is to raise a question in the

reader's mind as to why Emma, a seemingly fine lady, has such








a liking for a girl of so poor a social stature. The purpose

is achieved by juxtaposing a paragraph describing Harriet's

poor social stature immediately after one in which Emma is

described as eagerly awaiting Harriet's arrival. The third

paragraph assures the reader that Emma really likes Harriet

because of her beauty. It appears that the author was just

teasing the reader in the second paragraph by giving the

reader a question to think about, a question which the reader

later finds out was a significant one. The third paragraph

also reveals that Emma plans to pursue the relationship

further, in fact is "determined" to do so. By presenting this

information the author provokes the reader into believing

that something will transpire in the final paragraph. In the

final paragraph the author makes clear to the reader Emma's

obsession with the idea of molding Harriet, using appropriate

diction. The effect of making this clear in the final

paragraph is a bit sensational and typical of Jane Austen.

The surprise is an expected one since the reader has already

been provoked to expect something, yet consistent with the

author's style the surprise itself is a thought-provoking one

and thus the reader is forced to think about what has

occurred and the author's evaluation and characterization of

Emma reveals itself through the reader's own thoughts.









     The particular diction that is used in each paragraph

contributes greatly to conveying the message of the

paragraph.  For example, the words "in most respectful terms"

in the first paragraph establish the social stature of Emma,

thus establishing a great portion of the background. It is

quite obvious that even though these words are of no great

importance literally, if they had been left out completely

from the sentence, a major part of the background would not

have been established. When it is said that Emma felt an

interest in Harriet "on account of her beauty" the author not

only established Emma's feelings towards Harriet but also

established the exact reason for the feelings by using the

words 'on account of.' In the second paragraph the word

'somebody' is used to identify Harriet's doubtful parentage.

This word is effective in doing so because the word dismisses

an individual, in this case Harriet's parent, into the mass

of humanity and thus removes from Harriet's social standing

the prestige of having a personal parent.  Also, when the

author says that Harriet had "no visible friends" the words

'no visible' imply that her friends exist, however they are

of no consequence.  Another word which is used to achieve the

purpose of a paragraph is the word 'so' in the first sentence

of the fourth paragraph.  The word 'so,' combined with an









adjective or descriptive phrase, such as 'artlessly

impressed,' tells the reader that Emma is almost infatuated

with Harriet's every movement. The word 'so' thus causes the

reader to consider that Emma may somehow be obsessed with

Harriet, a thought substantiated later in the paragraph.

     Repetition is another technique that the author uses to

convey the message of each paragraph. For example, the word

'somebody' is used several times in the second paragraph to

emphasize Harriet's doubtful parentage. The repetition of

this word has the effect of drumming into the reader's mind

that Harriet comes from a poor background and this repetition

therefore contributes greatly in provoking the reader to

wonder why Emma likes Harriet. The word 'beauty' is used in

the first sentences of both the first and second paragraphs

to describe what Emma liked about Harriet. The reason for

repeating this is to make sure that the reader knows that

Harriet's beauty is what attracts Emma, and repeating the

word and the idea after the doubt-raising second paragraph

provokes thought in the reader's mind as to what the author

is trying to communicate. Another word which is repeated

several times is the word 'so' in the fourth paragraph.

Repeating the word rapidly, combined with an adjective or

descriptive phrase, forces the reader to comprehend the idea









that Emma is mesmerized with Harriet's every action. A phrase

which is also repeated rapidly is 'she would...her' near the

end of the fourth paragraph. The space between 'would' and

'her' is filled by an action that Emma would take to perfect

Harriet.  The repetition of this phrase confirms the reader's

suspicion that Emma is obsessed with the idea of working on

Harriet as if on a project. This happens because the rapid

repetition has the effect of an action list being read off

and this no doubt suggests Emma considers Harriet a potential

project, one which she must obtain.

     The final sentence of the passage is the one which

clearly defines Emma's character. The effect of absolute

revelation is attained by the author by integrating her

writing into Emma's point of view and considering the whole

matter as Emma would. The diction is remarkable in conveying

Emma's view of improving Harriet's 'social form'. When the

word 'undertaking' is used to describe her 'proposed' and

potential project of Harriet, there is no doubt left in the

reader's mind that Emma considers this nothing but an

"interesting" project, something to pass her idle time so

that she will not "dread" each evening, as is said in the

first paragraph. When it is said that it would "certainly" be

a "very kind undertaking" the word 'certainly' conveys to the









reader the idea that Emma wishes to believe that it would be

a "very kind undertaking" but does not care if it is not.

Emma's selfishness is completely communicated when it is said

that it would be "highly becoming" for her to work on

Harriet. The word 'becoming' signifies that this activity is

something which would look good on Emma's list of

achievements, i.e. it is an activity suitable for someone of

her stature and as 'becoming' is the last significant word in

the final sentence it tells the reader that this is the

reason why Emma is so obsessed with the idea of molding

Harriet.

     The passage successfully characterizes and evaluates

Emma as a selfish woman obsessed with pursuing self-

benefiting activities, using techniques such as repetition

and the use of particular diction. It should also be said

that the passage was done in true Jane Austen style, a well-

developed storyline with certain ideas emphasized and

inscribed into the reader's mind and then a slightly

surprising ending which put the puzzle pieces of the story in

place.
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