AN ANALYSIS OF JOYCE CAROL OATESS EXCERPT FROM WE WERE THE MULVANEYS

Because I was happy upon the heath, And smiled among the winter's snow, They clothed me in the clothes of death, And taught me to sing the notes of woe. -Song of Experience: The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake

Natalie Keller & Cori McGownd

What Statement
The author characterizes Judd Mulvaney as an innocent Romantic who shifts his perspective to an experienced Realist.

Overview
Romanticism

Other World

Realist

 Syntax Diction Juxtaposition Tone Shifts Repetition Use of Parentheses Foreshadowing Irony Symbolism Point of View Organization

Literary Elements

Shifts in Syntax & Tone Proves Transition from Romanticism to Other World
Romantic
Line 1-8 That time in our lower driveway, by the brookFastflowing clear water, shallow, shale beneath, and lots of leaves.

Other Worldly
Line 16-19 I leaned farther and farther over the rail staring into the water and I was moving, moving helplessly forward, it seemed I was moving somehow upward, rising in the air, helpless. Tone: Curious line 15 oh boy! we-ird! Scary and ticklish in the groin as I leaned farther

Tone: Carefree line 2I was straddling my bike staring down into the water.

Repetitious Phrases Prove Innocence

Line 16-19 I leaned farther and farther over the rail staring into the water and I was moving, moving helplessly forward, it seemed I was moving somehow upward, rising in the air, helpless .

Line 18 & 19 helpless moving

Lack of Repetition in the Realist Perspective Reflects the Characters Loss of Innocence
Repetition Earlier
Of verbs: Lines 16-17
moving, moving farther and farther

Within the Realist World

About Death: Lines 34
dying, dying, dying

Of knowledge: Lines 39 and 66

I didn't know not to know what I knew

Of Heartbeat Lines 20-23

ONEtwothree ONEtwothree!
Every heartbeat is past and gone! Every heartbeat is past and gone!

Use of Parentheses Foreshadows Realism

Line 9 The brook was flowing below left to right (east to west, though at a slant) Line 11 and I stood immobile leaning on the railing (pretty damned rotten: Id tell Dad it needed to be replaced with new planks, we could do it together)

Use of Parenthesis Shows the Transition in Judds Perspective, But Also Emphasizes His Constant Struggle to Accept It
Line 43-45 (Might as well buy our vehicles mud colored to begin with, saves time, was dads logic)

Irony Proves Shift from Romanticism to Realist

Lifted off Earth to reassess his own life from new perspective

Line 34-48 Though on a farm living things are dying, dying, dying all the time, and many have been named, and others are born taking their places not even knowing that they are taking the places of those who have died.

Symbolism of the Heart & Diction Proves Life

Line 19-22 in that instant aware of my heart beating ONEtwothree! ONEtwothree! thinking Every heartbeat is past and gone!

Point of View, Stream of Consciousness, & Organization Proves Transition

Line 31-34 Every heartbeat is past and gone! Every heartbeat is past and gone! In a trance that was like a trance of fury, raging hurt Am I going to die? because I did not believe that Judd Mulvaney could die.

1st Paragraph- stream of consciousness 2nd Paragraph- Them, too. All of them. Every heartbeat past and gone. Telegraphic

The Characters Use of Tone & Voice Reflect His Shift in Perspective
Tone
Line 40-55 aged rotted scared snag terrible

Voice
Line 42-46 mud-colored Ford pickup barreling up the drive, bouncing and rattling the trucks doors were neat curving white letters

Imagery Words are Used to Highlight the Differences Between the Romanticist World and Realist World.
Romanticist World
Lines 17-22 staring moving rising beating shiver thinking

Realist World
Lines 42-46 Describes writing on the neat truck curving Describes color of the truck mud-colored barreling Describes actions of the truck bouncing rattling

Verbs used to describe Judd

The Commas, Semicolons, and Colons represent that the revelation of Judds Understanding of Death has Shifted his View Into a Realist One
Lines 38-39 So I knew I wasnt a dope, but I didnt know not really. Line54-58 And I looked after them, these two people so remarkable to me, my dad who was like nobody elses dad and my big brother who was well, Mike Mulvaney: Mule Mulvaney and the most terrible thought came to me.

Dialogue is Used to Show Judds Connection to Reality and People. Line 51 Hey Ranger-kid: whats up?

How I Can Relate-- Death

Child View
Great Grandmother dying while in elementary school

Matured View
Mr. Wades recent death