Aliyah Khan

October 13, 2022

Afternoon of an American Boy

Narrative Analysis
Purpose
 Afternoon of an American boy is about the author's (Elwyn Brooks) memories of his first
date. With a girl name Eileen. During the essay the reader is able to witness the various
emotions Elwyn goes through while thinking, planning and plotting about Eileen and the
date he wants to take her on.
 The purpose of this essay is to express the emotions and thoughts people go through
when experiencing their first date. The first date usually forces everyone to have the same
emotions, hence why this personal essay is perfect for everyone.
 Talks about teenage courage and ineptitude

Audience
 The audience of this story includes anyone who has had their first date. This includes
adults, teenagers, or anyone who can relate to the authors emotions of preparing his first
date.

Tone
 The author is emotional and uses many mixed emotions: excitement, anxiety, courage but
mostly nervous.
o Words that contribute to the authors tone are: Bashfulness, shy, frighten, stunned,
nervous, and anxious.

Mood
 Cheerful
 Humorous
 Anxious
 Sympathetic
 Wholesome (organic type of love)

Language
 Very formal, 1920s language and greetings “the spectacle was a revelation to me”

Voice
 The voice used in the narrative is first-person, and is

Thesis Sentence
 I believe the thesis statement of this story is the first line of paragraph four which states
“In the matter of girls, I was different from most boys of my age.” I believe this because
majority of the story includes how he took his crush, Eileen, on a fancy date
 Aliyah Khan
October 13, 2022

Old at Seventeen
Narrative Analysis
Purpose
 The purpose of this story was to convey the author’s thoughts and understand the signs
that show you are getting older. Allow the readers to reminiscence about their childhood.
 Coming to terms with adulthood and about self-growth.

Audience
 Teenager or young adult. We believe this because the author states that he is seventeen so
we went around this age range

Tone
 Pessimistic tone.
 Reminiscence and mourning of his childhood. The author states at the end of the text that
“I miss the wiry little kid who used to daredevil on sleds to impress his friends”
 Reluctant tone

Mood
 Anamnesis or nostalgia about my childhood. It makes me miss the person I used to be
and how that period of my life will remain in the past
 Calming mood

Language
 The language in the story contains a soft, sort of monotone voice as he is retelling a story,
and is not necessarily trying to convey excitement. He uses colloquial language and is
speaking in neutral diction.

Voice
 Second-person narrative, he speaks a bit disengaged and also speaks with sorrow/
disappointment of growth as an individual. The author invites the reader in.
 Personal and genuine voice

Thesis
 The thesis of this story is “These are signs that say you’re getting older.” I believe this is
the thesis because the narrative revolves around the signs that you’re growing out of your
childhood, and is the most relatable point for readers.
 “Instead, I’m a teenager who would rather read or watch a movie than wrap my body
around a tree while sledding.”
o
 Aliyah Khan
October 13, 2022
Organization of the Essay
1) Introduction (Paragraphs 1 – 4: Includes the thesis in the final sentence of the fourth
paragraph which includes “As an exhibit of teen-age courage and ineptitude, it never fails
to amaze me in retrospect. I am not even sure it wasn’t un-American.”

2) Body: One character per body paragraph – Paragraphs 5-7 includes his ineptitude with
Elwyn’s sister and her friends. Paragraphs 8-11 includes his ineptitude with Eileen and
their date. Paragraph 12-13 includes his guilt with Parnell with ruining the date with his
sister.

3) Conclusion: The conclusion (paragraph 14) was not a resolution, but shows Elwyn’s self-
actualization and wraps up the thesis statement that was introduced in the first paragraph