Mixed Subordinate Clauses: A
Passage for Analysis
Tell the students that parts of this passage are challenging. [Adv. (time) to "raised" As the chief slowly uttered these words (DO), pausing [#1] impressively {between each sentence},] the culprit raised his face (DO), {in deference} {to the other's rank and years}. | Shame, horror, and pride struggled {in its lineaments}. | His eye, [Adj. to "eye" which was contracted (P) {with inward anguish}], gleamed {on the persons} {of those} [Adj. to "those" whose breath [#2] was his fame (PN)]; | and the latter [#3] emotion {for an instant} predominated. | He arose {to his feet}, and baring his bosom [#4], looked steadily {on the keen, glittering knife}, [Adj. to "knife" that was already upheld (P) [#5] {by his inexorable judge}]. | [Adv. (time) to "smiled" As the weapon passed slowly {into his heart}] he even smiled, [Adv. (manner) to "smiled" as if *he were* [#6] {in joy} {at having found death less dreadful [#7] } [Adv. (comparison) to "less" than he had anticipated]], and fell heavily {on his face}, {at the feet} {of the rigid and unyielding form} {of Uncas}. | Notes 2. "Breath" is here symbolic for "life." His fame exists in their lives. 3. Make sure that the students realize that "latter" goes all the way back to "pride." 4. "Bosom" is the direct object of the verbal (gerundive) "baring." The gerundive phrase modifies "He." 5. Alternatively, "upheld" can be explained as a predicate adjective. 6. Expect students to have problems with this ellipsed clause. Ellipsis in clauses is the focus of KISS Level 3.2.1. "Were" is a subjunctive. See KISS Level 2.1.7. 7. By this point in their work in KISS, students should be expected to realize that "having found" is a verbal. Thus, I would expect them to put a "(" before "at" and one somewhere after it. Otherwise, I would expect them to ignore everything from "at" to "dreadful." FYI: "death" is the subject and "dreadful" is a predicate adjective to an ellipsed infinitive--"death *to be* less dreadful." That infinitive phrase is the direct object of the gerund "having found," and the gerund phrase is the object of the preposition "of." [That phrase includes the "than" clause.] What our brains can process is amazing, isn't it! |