Comparison of Margery Allingham and Queens of Crime: A Glimpse into Narrative Fogginess
Delve into the atmospheric fogginess of a London setting as depicted in Margery Allingham's work, alongside an examination of readability using Gunning Fog Index. Explore how the narrative arc of a novel transitions from easy readability to denser text and back, affecting reader engagement throughout. Discover the insights derived from the fog index readings of Allingham's novels and their implications on storytelling dynamics.
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Fogginess: a comparison of Margery Allingham and the Queens of Crime By Mark Green
The fog was like a saffron blanket soaked in ice-water. It had hung over London all day and at last was beginning to descend. The sky was yellow as a duster and the rest was granular black, overprinted in grey and lightened by occasional slivers of bright fish colour as a policeman turned his west cape. The fog had crept into the taxi where it crouched panting in a traffic jam. It oozed in ungenially, to smear sooty fingers over the two elegant young people who sat inside.
Gunning Fog Index:11.2 (opening passage)
Gunning Fog Index Measure of Readability Developed by Robert Gunning US Newspapers in 1940s Based on length of sentences and use of complicated words Formula: 0.4 x ((words/sentences) + 100 x (complicated words/words)) Approximates to years of education required to comprehend content Needs to be under 12 for a wider audience to read easily Under 8 for near universal comprehension
For example The cat sat on the mat. The black cat sat on the mat. The ferocious black cat sat on the mat. The ferocious black cat sat impatiently on the mat waiting for Albert Campion s arrival home to feed him his delicious dinner of sardines containing absolutely no arsenic. 2.4 2.8 8.2 19.69
Gunning Fog Index: 8.72 (overall)
Allingham Novels 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Allingham Novels 14 Average Fog Index = 8.99 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Allingham Novels 14 11.88 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Narrative Arc of a Novel Beginning => Middle => End Hypothesis: Beginning easy readability to draw reader into novel Middle denser text as plot/investigation unfolds in all its complexity End whisk the reader to the climax (page-turner) Implies Fog index starts low, rises in middle then reduces towards end
Hypothesis 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End
Readability Arc: Is it a glidepath ? 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End Hypothesis Actual
Readability Arc: Complete novels 25 20 15 10 5 0 Beginning Middle End
Readability Arc: Complete novels 25 Death of A Ghost Dancers in Mourning 20 15 10 5 0 Beginning Middle End
Readability Arc: Oaken Heart 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End Hypothesis Average Oaken Heart
Readability Arc: The Devil and Her Son Maxwell March 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End Hypothesis Average Oaken Heart The Devil and Her Son
Readability Arc: Traitor s Purse 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End Hypothesis Average Oaken Heart The Devil and Her Son Traitor's Purse
Readability Arc: Cargo of Eagles 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End Hypothesis Average Oaken Heart The Devil and Her Son Traitor's Purse Cargo of Eagles
Readability Arc: Cargo of Eagles/Pip 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End Hypothesis Average Cargo of Eagles PYC
Comparison of Readability 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Fog Index Allingham Christie Marsh Sayers
Comparison of Readability 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Beginning Middle End Allingham Christie Marsh Sayers
Frequency of Difficult Words 7.00% 6.00% 5.00% 4.00% Allingham Christie Marsh 3.00% Sayers 2.00% 1.00% 0.00% Frequency of Difficult Words
Average Sentence Length 18 16 14 12 Allingham 10 Christie Marsh 8 Sayers 6 4 2 0 Sentence Length
Beginning Section Sentence Length 25 20 15 Allingham Christie Marsh Sayers 10 5 0 Sentence Length
Readability over Time 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s Allingham Christie Marsh Sayers
Conclusions Allingham, Christie and Marsh exhibit same pattern of readability over time Dip in third decade Generally rising demands on readership No readability evidence to support waning of powers in Christie s later books Possible readability evidence of waning of powers in Marsh s later books
