1. It was the meanest moment of eternity. A minute before she was just a scared human being fighting for its life. Now she was her sacrificing self with Tea Cake's head in her lap. She had wanted him to live so much and he was dead. No hour is ever eternity, but it has its right to weep. (Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God) 2. Outside it was getting dark. The streetlight came on outside the window. The two men at the counter read the menu. From the other end of the dunter Nick Adams watched them. He had been talking to George when they came in. (Ernest Hemingway. "The Killers') 3. She seated herself to write to her husband. The letter he would get in the morning, and she would be with him at night. What would he say? How would he act? She knew that he would forgive her, for had he not written a letter? ... What did he mean by withholding that letter? How dared he not have sent it? (Kate Chopin, "A Night in Acadie') . . 4. For the truth was, it was extremely refreshing to be out in the summerhouse after many continuous days in the main building and neither of us was inclined to hurry with our tasks. Indeed, although one could not see out far that day on account of the encroaching mist, and the daylight too was rapidly fading by this stage. ... I remember our often breaking off from our respective activities simply to gaze out at the views around us. (Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day)

### Step 1. Analyze the Narrative Voice and Perspective - **Excerpt 1 (Hurston):** - The narration is in the third person, but it delves deeply into the character’s inner experience. - The focus is on the dramatic change in the character’s state—from vulnerability ("a scared human being fighting for its life") to an almost mythic transformation ("her sacrificing self"). - **Excerpt 2 (Hemingway):** - The narration is strictly external and objective. - The sentences are short and factual, emphasizing what is observed (darkening sky, the streetlight, people reading a menu). - There is little to no internal commentary, which is typical of Hemingway's minimalist style. - **Excerpt 3 (Chopin):** - The narrative remains in the third person but closely follows the inner thoughts and emotional turmoil of the character. - The character’s uncertainty about her husband’s actions is highlighted through internal questions (e.g., “What would he say? How would he act?”). - This internal monologue creates an intimate lens into her relational anxiety and insecurity. - **Excerpt 4 (Ishiguro):** - The narrative tone is reflective and measured. - It recounts events and memories with calm introspection. - There is an emphasis on the setting and the atmosphere (e.g., the summerhouse, the encroaching mist), which provides a contemplative mood throughout the excerpt. --- ### Step 2. Examine the Use of Time and Temporal Descriptions - **Excerpt 1 (Hurston):** - Time is distorted and given an almost eternal quality with phrases like “the meanest moment of eternity” and “a minute before…”. - The narrative makes the reader feel the weight and tragedy of the moment, stretching a brief period into an undefined, heavy eternity. - **Excerpt 2 (Hemingway):** - Time proceeds gradually and methodically as the scene unfolds. - The progression from daylight to dusk is described in a linear, visual manner that mirrors the calm routine of the setting. - **Excerpt 3 (Chopin):** - Future outcomes are anticipated (e.g., the letter will be received in the morning, and she imagines her husband’s reaction later that night). - This foreshadowing coupled with internal questioning creates a sense of anxious uncertainty. - **Excerpt 4 (Ishiguro):** - The passage reflects on a calm interlude in the midst of a fading day. - Although the day is ending (“daylight too was rapidly fading”), there is a deliberate, measured pace to the narration, suggesting a reflective pause. --- ### Step 3. Evaluate the Tone and Mood - **Excerpt 1 (Hurston):** - The tone is tragic and profound. - There is sorrow intermingled with a sense of inevitability as the character confronts a painful transformation and irreversible loss. - **Excerpt 2 (Hemingway):** - The tone is detached and observational. - Despite setting up a potentially foreboding atmosphere (darkening sky, quiet ambience), the narrative lacks overt emotional commentary, reflecting Hemingway’s signature simplicity. - **Excerpt 3 (Chopin):** - The mood is tense and introspective. - The internal questioning creates a palpable anxiety regarding the nature of personal relationships and expectations. - **Excerpt 4 (Ishiguro):** - The tone is contemplative and calm. - There is a gentle appreciation for the environment and the passing of time, inviting readers to pause and reflect along with the characters. --- ### Step 4. Compare the Styles: Imagery and Sentence Structure - **Imagery:** - Hurston employs vivid, emotional imagery to capture the shock and transformation of the character. - Hemingway uses concise, concrete images that emphasize the external world without digressing into inner emotional states. - Chopin blends external actions (writing a letter) with a cascade of internal queries that evoke the character’s emotional uncertainty. - Ishiguro paints detailed atmospheres, using the environment (e.g., summerhouse, mist) to parallel the inner lives of the narrators. - **Sentence Structure:** - Hurston’s sentences carry a lyrical quality and sometimes juxtapose extreme emotional states within the same breath. - Hemingway’s structure is minimalistic with a preference for short, declarative sentences that make the scene immediate and direct. - Chopin’s narrative includes questions and fragmented thoughts that invite readers to share in the character's confusion and anticipation. - Ishiguro’s sentences are detailed and measured, reflecting a slow pace and a reflective pause in both action and thought. --- ### Conclusion Each excerpt demonstrates a distinct approach to narrative technique: - Hurston emphasizes inner emotional shifts and the compression of time to capture profound transformations. - Hemingway relies on external observation and minimalism to let the scene speak with subtle hints rather than overt emotions. - Chopin blends internal questioning with narrative action to underline the uncertainty of personal relationships. - Ishiguro uses reflective descriptions and atmospheric detail to convey a measured, introspective mood. Together, these analyses reveal how different authors manipulate voice, temporality, tone, imagery, and sentence structure to create unique narrative experiences.