Sample Work: Studying Literary Text - Analyzing Octavia E. Butler's Kindred
Analyzing an author’s craft requires a deep dive into the details of how one writes. Octavia E. Butler departs from conventional plot structure in Kindred. She uses flashbacks, foreshadowing, and subplots to develop mood and characterization.
To start, look at Butler’s use of these three types of plot structures. First of all, she employs a flashback when Dana is transported back to the Antebellum South to save her ancestor, Rufus Weylin, from dying, which occurs on pages 22-23. This sudden shift from the modern setting to the historical one creates a jarring yet compelling experience for the reader. Secondly, she uses foreshadowing when Dana feels a sense of dread and premonition every time she is pulled back in time, particularly highlighted on page 15 when she reflects, “I wondered if I was going to come back” before her first journey. This unease hints at the significant challenges she will face. Thirdly, she utilizes subplots when exploring the dynamics between Dana and her husband, Kevin, particularly on pages 45-47, where their relationship is strained by the trauma of her experiences in the past. These tactics serve to enhance the reader's understanding of how Dana's character evolves under pressure while emphasizing the emotional weight of her journeys.
To continue, the author develops a mood of tension and unease throughout the novel. For example, the text states, “I felt a sudden, overwhelming fear, as if I were being watched” (page 34). This moment encapsulates a sense of foreboding that follows Dana, promoting feelings of vulnerability and anxiety. Through this, the reader can relate to Dana’s fear, as she grapples with the dangerous world she's thrust into while still holding on to her identity in contemporary America.
Altogether, Butler has crafted a character, namely the piece’s protagonist: Dana Franklin. She makes use of delicate details, including the plot pieces addressed above, and vivid verbs, such as “struggled,” “fought,” and “endured” (various pages). To elaborate, these actions show this character to be resilient yet profoundly affected by her experiences in the past. Every flashback reveals deeper layers of her strength and vulnerability, illustrating the personal cost of her time travel. This leads to lessons learned as the character is developed throughout the literary piece. All this is to show growth, specifically in how Dana learns to navigate her complex identity as a Black woman in both the 1970s and the antebellum South.
In conclusion, writers reach their readers through words, and this work shows strengths in developing a unique narrative structure, deep characterization, and a haunting mood. This reader believes this book was not only a compelling read but also a profound exploration of history and identity.