[Frame] The aspect of passing, where a person pretends they are someone they are not and strive to either fool someone or protect themselves, became commoner with the increase of tension and anxiety with identities in the 1920s. [Transition to the specific text] In the novel, Passing, Nella Larsen bases her story off of black women passing as white to create better opportunities for themselves. [Thesis] Larsen uses a strong change in tone and diction to help describe the strained relationship between Clare and Irene and how Irene was more accepting of Irene in the beginning of the novel than the end. [Map of the two scenes] In the beginning of Passing, Irene opens a letter from Clare which provides her with anger and confusion while she still
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[Topic Sentence] Larsen’s use of diction in this passage reinforces Irene’s complexity by displaying mixed emotions Irene is feeling throughout the passage. [CD1] When Irene first sees the letter she instantly was upset, but “the frown [on her face], however, was more from perplexity than from annoyance; though there was in her thoughts an element of both” (Larsen, 9). [CM1 and 2] Larsen’s use of the frown being “more form perplexity than from annoyance” helps reinforce Irene’s confusion created from the letter. Larsen’s description of the frown helps the clarify Irene’s mixed feelings towards the letter. [CD2] When Irene reads the letter from Clare, “brilliant red patches flamed in Irene Redfield’s warm olive cheeks” (Larsen, 11). [CM1 and 2] The author continues to show Irene’s complex feelings for Clare by using the imagery of the “brilliant red patches” which helps prove how Irene may have a love interest in Clare or may be infuriated with Clare’s letter. The use of the word “flamed” of the line helps reinforce the intensity of Irene’s feelings towards Clare in the text. [CD3] This unexpected letter from Clare revealed “humiliation, resentment and rage” within Irene (Larsen, 11). [CM1 and 2] Larsen’s use of “humiliation, resentment and rage” reinforces Irene’s complex feelings by Larsen’s use multiple emotions to describe Irene’s feeling in this single scene. [Concluding Sentence] Irene’s curiosity in the beginning of the novel creates a less judgemental tone of Clare, but towards the end of the novel, the tone switches to a more judgemental
[Topic Sentence] Larsen’s use of diction in this passage reinforces Irene’s complexity by displaying mixed emotions Irene is feeling throughout the passage. [CD1] When Irene first sees the letter she instantly was upset, but “the frown [on her face], however, was more from perplexity than from annoyance; though there was in her thoughts an element of both” (Larsen, 9). [CM1 and 2] Larsen’s use of the frown being “more form perplexity than from annoyance” helps reinforce Irene’s confusion created from the letter. Larsen’s description of the frown helps the clarify Irene’s mixed feelings towards the letter. [CD2] When Irene reads the letter from Clare, “brilliant red patches flamed in Irene Redfield’s warm olive cheeks” (Larsen, 11). [CM1 and 2] The author continues to show Irene’s complex feelings for Clare by using the imagery of the “brilliant red patches” which helps prove how Irene may have a love interest in Clare or may be infuriated with Clare’s letter. The use of the word “flamed” of the line helps reinforce the intensity of Irene’s feelings towards Clare in the text. [CD3] This unexpected letter from Clare revealed “humiliation, resentment and rage” within Irene (Larsen, 11). [CM1 and 2] Larsen’s use of “humiliation, resentment and rage” reinforces Irene’s complex feelings by Larsen’s use multiple emotions to describe Irene’s feeling in this single scene. [Concluding Sentence] Irene’s curiosity in the beginning of the novel creates a less judgemental tone of Clare, but towards the end of the novel, the tone switches to a more judgemental