Book Anatomy · Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility: Pace
16 lenses on pace for Sense and Sensibility 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
50 chapters, median 2,345 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D2. Mean sentence length per chapter. Count
Mean 21.6 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D3. Paragraph length per chapter. Count
Paragraphs average 66 words.
Mean paragraph words, chapter by chapter
D4. Scene against summary: how much is shown live? AI
Most chapters are shown live in scene with dialogue and action. Chapters 14, 23, and 32 use summary to cover waiting periods and emotional processing, but these are brief interludes within a heavily dramatised narrative.
Chapters: Ch 14, Ch 23, Ch 32
D5. Action against reflection, per chapter. AI
Early chapters balance action and reflection equally. From chapter 22 onward, reflection dominates as Elinor processes hidden knowledge. Chapters 43 to 48 return to high action during Marianne's illness and Edward's arrival.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 10, Ch 22, Ch 43, Ch 48
no one would have supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever from the object of her love (Ch 23, para 4)
When I see him again,” said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him out, “I shall see him the husband of Lucy. (Ch 40, para 44)
D6. Tension score per chapter (1 to 5) as a curve. AI
Peak 5 of 5, mean 3.2. See the full lens on the book page.
D7. Emotional arc of the whole book, matched to the six shapes. Count
Man in a hole (fall then rise). See the full lens on the book page.
D8. Chapter endings: cliffhanger, question, reveal or quiet close. AI
30 of 50 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 mid-conversation or action. Chapters 6, 14, 23, and 32 open in summary after time jumps. Chapter 42 opens with travel in progress. Chapter 50 opens with summary of outcomes.
Chapters: Ch 6, Ch 14, Ch 23, Ch 32, Ch 42, Ch 50
D10. Do chapters and sentences get shorter near the climax? Count
In the last fifth, chapters run at 1.26 times the length of earlier ones, and sentences at 1.18 times. So the end does not speed up by these measures.
D11. Dialogue density against pace. Count
Link between dialogue share and chapter length: -0.03 (1 is a perfect match, 0 none). Between dialogue share and tension: 0.03.
Dialogue % per chapter, chapter by chapter
D12. Time jumps and how they are signalled. Both
43 time jump phrases in the narration, such as 'next morning' or 'years later'.
| Where | Phrase |
|---|---|
| c6p6 | next day |
| c6p7 | next day |
| c6p10 | next day |
| c10p1 | next morning |
| c12p1 | next morning |
| c12p8 | next day |
| c12p28 | the following day |
| c14p6 | a week after |
Time jump phrases, chapter by chapter
Ch 6, para 6: In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton, and …
Ch 6, para 7: Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured that her visit …
Ch 6, para 10: An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without securing …
Ch 10, para 1: Marianne’s preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision, styled Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to make his personal enquiries. He was received by …
Ch 12, para 1: As Elinor and Marianne were walking together the next morning the latter communicated a piece of news to her sister, which in spite of all that she knew …
Ch 12, para 8: Margaret related something to her the next day, which placed this matter in a still clearer light. Willoughby had spent the preceding evening with them, and Margaret, by …
Time jumps are signalled by chapter breaks and brief summary openings. Chapter 5 covers the move to Devonshire. Chapter 25 jumps to winter in London. Chapter 42 moves to Cleveland. Most jumps span weeks or months without explicit clock markers.
Chapters: Ch 5, Ch 25, Ch 42
Edward Ferrars, by Lucy’s account, was not to be in town before February (Ch 25, para 15)
D13. Info dump spots: long runs with no action or speech. Both
11 stretches of 900 words or more with no speech at all. These are where description, summary or backstory pile up.
| Starts at | Words | Paragraphs |
|---|---|---|
| c6p5 | 2385 | 18 |
| c41p37 | 2323 | 21 |
| c43p14 | 2065 | 19 |
| c22p55 | 1781 | 12 |
| c50p10 | 1588 | 13 |
| c37p7 | 1501 | 8 |
| c35p47 | 1192 | 8 |
| c45p27 | 1048 | 9 |
Chapter 23 contains a long reflection on Elinor's emotional state with minimal action. Chapter 14 summarises weeks of waiting. Chapter 45 has extended reflection on Willoughby's confession. These are rare; most chapters mix dialogue and action throughout.
Chapters: Ch 14, Ch 23, Ch 45
no one would have supposed from the appearance of the sisters, that Elinor was mourning in secret over obstacles which must divide her for ever from the object of her love (Ch 23, para 4)
D14. Reading time per chapter. Count
About 8.0 hours to read at 250 words a minute. The longest chapter takes 22.1 minutes.
Minutes per chapter, chapter by chapter
D15. Micro tension in quiet scenes. AI
Quiet scenes gain tension through unspoken feelings and careful word choice. Chapter 18's breakfast conversation about the picturesque masks Edward's distress. Chapter 24's discussion of the Norland living carries hidden stakes. Chapter 40's delivery of the living offer trembles with Elinor's suppressed emotion.
Chapters: Ch 18, Ch 24, Ch 40
You must not enquire too far, Marianne—remember I have no knowledge in the picturesque, and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste if we come to particulars. (Ch 18, para 4)
All this,” thought Elinor, “is very pretty; but it can impose upon neither of us. (Ch 24, para 13)
When I see him again,” said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him out, “I shall see him the husband of Lucy. (Ch 40, para 44)
D16. Section breaks per chapter. Count
0 section breaks marked in the text, in 0 of 50 chapters.
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