Emma: Pace
16 lenses on pace for Emma by Jane Austen. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16
D1. Chapter length in words, as a chart. Count
55 chapters, median 2,981 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D2. Mean sentence length per chapter. Count
Mean 18.0 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D3. Paragraph length per chapter. Count
Paragraphs average 69 words.
Mean paragraph words, chapter by chapter
D4. Scene against summary: how much is shown live? AI
Emma shows most scenes live through dialogue and action, especially matchmaking attempts (chapters 1 to 10, 15, 26 to 28, 38 to 43, 49). Summary passages occur for background (chapters 2, 20) and emotional reflection (chapters 16, 31, 37, 48). Roughly 60% shown, 40% summarised.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 16, Ch 20, Ch 31, Ch 37
I made the match myself. I made the match, you know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in the right, when so many people said Mr. Weston would never marry again (Ch 1, para 37)
Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. Elton, papa,—I must look about for a wife for him. (Ch 1, para 45)
If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man, I could have borne any thing. (Ch 16, para 2)
D5. Action against reflection, per chapter. AI
Early chapters balance action and reflection equally. Chapters 16 to 17 shift heavily to reflection after Elton's rejection. Chapters 26 to 43 return to action and dialogue as Frank Churchill arrives and the ball approaches. Final chapters 47 to 55 alternate between Emma's internal anguish and external resolution.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 16, Ch 26, Ch 43, Ch 47, Ch 55
If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man, I could have borne any thing. (Ch 16, para 2)
It was foolish, it was wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together. (Ch 16, para 10)
She was soon convinced that it was not for herself she was feeling at all apprehensive or embarrassed; it was for him. (Ch 37, para 1)
D6. Tension score per chapter (1 to 5) as a curve. AI
Peak 5 of 5, mean 2.8. See the full lens on the book page.
D7. Emotional arc of the whole book, matched to the six shapes. Count
Riches to rags (fall). See the full lens on the book page.
D8. Chapter endings: cliffhanger, question, reveal or quiet close. AI
31 of 56 chapters end on a hook. See the full lens on the book page.
D9. Chapter openings: in scene, in summary, or after a time jump. AI
Most chapters open in scene with dialogue or action present. Chapter 2 opens in summary of Mr. Weston's history. Chapter 20 summarises Jane Fairfax's background. Chapter 11 uses summary for Isabella's arrival. Time jumps signal new chapters without explicit markers.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 11, Ch 20, Ch 24, Ch 30
Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury, and born of a respectable family, which for the last two or three generations had been rising into gentility and property. (Ch 2, para 1)
Jane Fairfax was an orphan, the only child of Mrs. Bates’s youngest daughter. (Ch 20, para 1)
With the fortitude of a devoted novitiate, she had resolved at one-and-twenty to complete the sacrifice, and retire from all the pleasures of life (Ch 20, para 8)
D10. Do chapters and sentences get shorter near the climax? Count
In the last fifth, chapters run at 1.06 times the length of earlier ones, and sentences at 1.22 times. So the end does not speed up by these measures.
D11. Dialogue density against pace. Count
Link between dialogue share and chapter length: 0.31 (1 is a perfect match, 0 none). Between dialogue share and tension: -0.02.
Dialogue % per chapter, chapter by chapter
D12. Time jumps and how they are signalled. Both
31 time jump phrases in the narration, such as 'next morning' or 'years later'.
| Where | Phrase |
|---|---|
| c4p27 | next day |
| c6p28 | next day |
| c8p1 | next morning |
| c9p12 | next day |
| c9p84 | next week |
| c12p16 | next year |
| c13p5 | next day |
| c17p5 | next day |
Time jump phrases, chapter by chapter
Ch 4, para 27: They met Mr. Martin the very next day, as they were walking on the Donwell road. He was on foot, and after looking very respectfully at her, looked …
Ch 6, para 28: Harriet was to sit again the next day; and Mr. Elton, just as he ought, entreated for the permission of attending and reading to them again.
Ch 8, para 1: Harriet slept at Hartfield that night. For some weeks past she had been spending more than half her time there, and gradually getting to have a bed-room appropriated …
Ch 9, para 12: The very next day however produced some proof of inspiration. He called for a few moments, just to leave a piece of paper on the table containing, as …
Ch 9, para 84: The name makes me think of poor Isabella; for she was very near being christened Catherine after her grandmama. I hope we shall have her here next week. …
Ch 12, para 16: The brothers talked of their own concerns and pursuits, but principally of those of the elder, whose temper was by much the most communicative, and who was always …
Time jumps occur between chapters without explicit signals, relying on context. Chapter 13 to 14 jumps from Harriet's illness to later news. Chapter 23 to 24 jumps to Frank Churchill's arrival. Chapter 39 uses 'the morning after' to signal time passing. Chapter 45 to 46 jumps to Mrs. Churchill's death announcement.
Chapters: Ch 13, Ch 23, Ch 30, Ch 39, Ch 45, Ch 54
D13. Info dump spots: long runs with no action or speech. Both
14 stretches of 900 words or more with no speech at all. These are where description, summary or backstory pile up.
| Starts at | Words | Paragraphs |
|---|---|---|
| c50p9 | 2925 | 8 |
| c21p57 | 2421 | 20 |
| c2p13 | 1916 | 15 |
| c49p38 | 1867 | 11 |
| c47p43 | 1812 | 12 |
| c39p1 | 1747 | 14 |
| c19p33 | 1244 | 11 |
| c54p80 | 1213 | 12 |
Chapter 2 provides extended summary of Mr. Weston's history with minimal action. Chapter 20 summarises Jane Fairfax's orphaned state and governess prospects. Chapter 31 reflects on Emma's feelings for Frank Churchill. These passages establish background without dialogue or scene.
Chapters: Ch 2, Ch 20, Ch 31, Ch 37, Ch 48
Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury, and born of a respectable family, which for the last two or three generations had been rising into gentility and property. (Ch 2, para 1)
Jane Fairfax was an orphan, the only child of Mrs. Bates’s youngest daughter. (Ch 20, para 1)
With the fortitude of a devoted novitiate, she had resolved at one-and-twenty to complete the sacrifice, and retire from all the pleasures of life (Ch 20, para 8)
D14. Reading time per chapter. Count
About 10.7 hours to read at 250 words a minute. The longest chapter takes 26.1 minutes.
Minutes per chapter, chapter by chapter
D15. Micro tension in quiet scenes. AI
Quiet scenes gain tension through unspoken feelings and misunderstanding. Chapter 12 reconciliation between Emma and Knightley carries tension beneath polite agreement. Chapter 26 Emma and Frank's speculation about the pianoforte creates intimacy and rivalry. Chapter 28 Frank's teasing of Jane creates discomfort. Chapter 49 the shrubbery scene builds tension through hesitation and fear.
Chapters: Ch 12, Ch 26, Ch 28, Ch 43, Ch 49
You may say what you chuse—but your countenance testifies that your thoughts on this subject are very much like mine. (Ch 26, para 26)
It is not fair,” said Emma, in a whisper; “mine was a random guess. Do not distress her. (Ch 28, para 10)
How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation? (Ch 43, para 56)
D16. Section breaks per chapter. Count
0 section breaks marked in the text, in 0 of 55 chapters.
Ask Emma a question about its craft (free beta)
Answers cite chapter and paragraph, and every quote is checked against the text. (3 free questions a day).
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