Emulate Author

Techniques used

Topics

Jeffrey Eugenides tends to focus on coming-of-age stories that show the complexities of growing up and discovering one’s identity. In his novels Middlesex and The Virgin Suicides he explores themes such as gender, identity, and the confusion that comes with adolescence. Additionally, he explores adolescence and confusion with characters struggling to understand themselves in their changing environments. Family and history are also strong topics explored when he connects personal identity with family backgrounds and cultures. Another major topic Eugenides covers is isolation in characters through their changing emotions as they feel misunderstood. His topics are deep and relatable while also including bigger social issues.

Characters

Eugenides' choice in characters contributes highly to his specific writing style. He writes characters that are both relatable and complex. Additionally, his characters are emotionally layered with conflicting thoughts and feelings, often displaying multifaceted emotions. Eugenides characters are also often observed rather than explained. This is shown through his novel The Virgin Suicides, as the girls stories are told through the perspective of others and they are never fully understood. All in all, Eugenides' characters are important for his novels and drive the plot with their multi-layered stories.

Sentence Structure

Eugenides sentence structure is a huge part of his voice and overall writing style. He often uses long, flowing sentences that are built with detailed, descriptive sentences, allowing him to fully develop scenes, emotions, and ideas. The varied sentence structure allows for an entertaining and rhythmic read. Additionally, he uses a reflective tone in his sentences that feel thoughtful and reminiscent, as if the narrator is looking back on past experiences. Figurative language is also used as he uses metaphors and imagery to make emotions and scenes feel more real and vivid. Overall, his combination of varied sentence structure helps strengthen his writing and impact as a whole.

Emulation

She was in my math class. Everyday she would walk in, long brown hair, often crimson in the light, sit down and open her notebook. I had always wondered what she wrote in that notebook. As soon as the teacher began it would be put right back into her black jansport bag. So what was the notebook for? I often imagined her sketching, developing stories through the art of dragons and princes. Or writing her feelings, thoughts, goals for the day. She has a sort of calmness to her, never rushed unlike the others. She moved as time had slowed down just for her. She was cautious, deliberate in her work developing more and more with each task.

My interest started to expand. The more I watched the more I noticed her little habits. The way she tapped her pencil, back and forth, the way she tucked her hair before raising her hand. I wondered if she even liked math. Or if she just pretended to continue writing in the notebook. It couldn't be for school, too worn and developed. The cream colored edges folded in slightly as if it was opened thousands of times daily.

One day, near the end of class I noticed her linger slightly on a page. Glancing around as if looking for an answer to what was written. She didn’t want to leave it behind just yet. Then suddenly it was put away. The moment lingered with me well after class as my curiosity grew stronger.

I thought about asking her one day, what she was writing. But the question felt wrong like a barrier would break between us. I started to enjoy observing and didn’t want to ruin it. So, I decided to stay just watching and wondering.

As we approached the last couple weeks of school. I purchased my own notebook, black, lined and not as lived in as hers was. I had no intention of writing more than notes but as time passed I began writing. Small things. My thoughts, to-do lists, notes I imagined she wrote day to day.

Now, when I would look over at her I would see the same scenario. Pencil moving, flowing words out just as I was. I felt connected to her. A connection through expression, just two people trying to make sense of things.

Reflection

In my emulation I used a young character observing a girl in class. This draws attention to his adolescence coming-of-age stories that display the complexity of understanding oneself and others. The story shows the narrators struggle with their curiosity and understanding of the girl. In the end, the narrator too finds comfort in the notebook as a way for them to develop their own thoughts and feelings. Never fully explaining what they girl actually wrote, develops the idea of a mysterious character which is promote in Eugenides novel, The Virgin Suicides. The girl is observed by the narrator and never fully understood while also being the main topic of the story. The narrator has many emotions when observing the girl as they make up their own scenarios for the girl's notebook. The narrator is also never fully revealed as to who they are, displaying the same effect as the unknown narrators in The Virgin Suicides. Also, in my emulation I used varied sentence structure as Eugenides does to keep the reader entertained. I used descriptions in long sentences to develop certain scenes, while also drawing attention to moments with short, abrupt phrases.

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