The following excerpt is from the novel, The Rise of Silas Lapham, by William Dean Howells, published in
- In this passage the author offers a peek into the lives of two sisters, Penolope and Irene. Read the
passage carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Howells uses literary elements such as style, tone, and selection of detail to portray the complex experience of Penelope and Irene within their family and society.