Passage 191 · 2013
"Americanah"
Main effectThrough geographical Princeton-in-summer subject, intransitive smelled-of-nothing absence, concessive although-liked accumulation of definite tranquil-greenness/clean-streets/delicately-overpriced-shops/quiet-earned-grace, demonstrative it-was-this pivot, appositive lack-of-smell specification, and relative most-appealed superlative, Adichie creates syntax of immigrant privilege-perception—grammar that accumulates elite space's qualities but makes odorlessness the most appealing, suggesting escape from sensory intensity of home.
Device index
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Tropes
Seeming contradiction.
No words highlightedContradictory terms.
Schemes
Repetition at beginning.
Syntax
"Princeton, in the summer"—proper name with temporal appositive. Syntax anchors observation to place and season.
"smelled of nothing"—sensory verb with negative object. Syntax makes absence into presence.
"and although Ifemelu liked"—subordinating concession. Syntax introduces what she appreciates.
"the tranquil greenness...the clean streets...the delicately overpriced shops...the quiet...air"—series of definite noun phrases. Syntax catalogs elite space.
"delicately overpriced"—manner adverb modifying economic adjective. Syntax mocks boutique pretension.
"abiding air of earned grace"—present participle with abstract genitive. Syntax captures Princeton's self-satisfaction.
"it was this"—copula with deictic subject. Syntax performs revelation.
"the lack of a smell"—definite article making absence concrete. Syntax names what was revealed.
"that most appealed to her"—restrictive relative with superlative. Syntax makes absence most attractive quality.
Close reading
1Close Reading
Geographical Subject
"Princeton, in the summer"—proper name with temporal appositive. Syntax anchors observation to place and season.
Intransitive Smell
"smelled of nothing"—sensory verb with negative object. Syntax makes absence into presence.
Concessive Conjunction
"and although Ifemelu liked"—subordinating concession. Syntax introduces what she appreciates.
Accumulating Objects
"the tranquil greenness...the clean streets...the delicately overpriced shops...the quiet...air"—series of definite noun phrases. Syntax catalogs elite space.
Adjectival Paradox
"delicately overpriced"—manner adverb modifying economic adjective. Syntax mocks boutique pretension.
Participial Grace
"abiding air of earned grace"—present participle with abstract genitive. Syntax captures Princeton's self-satisfaction.
Demonstrative Pivot
"it was this"—copula with deictic subject. Syntax performs revelation.
Appositive Specification
"the lack of a smell"—definite article making absence concrete. Syntax names what was revealed.
Relative Superlative
"that most appealed to her"—restrictive relative with superlative. Syntax makes absence most attractive quality.
Stylistic Effect
Through geographical Princeton-in-summer subject, intransitive smelled-of-nothing absence, concessive although-liked accumulation of definite tranquil-greenness/clean-streets/delicately-overpriced-shops/quiet-earned-grace, demonstrative it-was-this pivot, appositive lack-of-smell specification, and relative most-appealed superlative, Adichie creates syntax of immigrant privilege-perception—grammar that accumulates elite space's qualities but makes odorlessness the most appealing, suggesting escape from sensory intensity of home.