How do you analyze an excerpt from People of the Whale by Linda Hogan for AP Literature?

Question

AP® English Literature and Composition 2022 Free-Response Question 2

(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts as one-third of the total essay section score.)

The following excerpt is from Linda Hogan’s novel People of the Whale, published in 2008. In this passage, the narrator describes two events that occur in a community: an infant’s birth, shortly followed by an octopus’s walking out of the sea.

Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how the author uses literary elements and techniques to develop a complex characterization of the community.

Answer 1

In this analysis, the text is being examined for its construction of a causal relationship between the birth of an infant and the peculiar behavior of an octopus. The use of pronouns and conjunctions plays a significant role in shaping this connection, creating a sense of causality. The passage is described as unfolding like a syllogistic argument, progressing from "if" statements to "then" claims.

The author points out that the short and simple declarative sentences contribute to emphasizing this quality of the argument. This suggests that the structure of the passage, characterized by clear and concise statements, reinforces the cause-and-effect relationship being presented.

Furthermore, the mention of "it" in the analysis is highlighted as having dual significance. On one hand, "it" represents the divine significance of the octopus, implying a deeper, spiritual meaning. On the other hand, "it" also symbolizes the human tendency to attribute deity-like qualities to nature, especially when faced with the incomprehensible chaos of nature. This dual interpretation adds layers to the understanding of the text, suggesting a complex interplay between the divine and human perceptions of nature's mysteries.