Douglass

Fredrick Douglass' piece, "Learning to Read and Write" is very and sincere. he is telling a story of his life that is true and does not seem to be "juiced up" in anyways. It's written in a middle style. Douglass does well at engaging the reader and gaining the readers sympathy.

"I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead; and but for the hope of being free, I have no doubt but that I should have killed myself, or done something for which I should have been killed."

This is sad, but it's true, he's not making it up..

"Under its influence, the tender heart became to stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of the tiger-like fierceness."

I really love this line. The link between "lamblike" and "tiger-like" shows two extreme opposites. it's a nice metaphor.

Also the way that he speaks to the reader, he is conscious of what he is saying and how much he is sharing, for example:

"I am strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, as a testimonial of the gratitude and affection I bear them: but prudence forbids--not that it would injure me, but that it might embarrass them; for it is almost an unpardonable offense to teach salves to read in this Christian country."

he is showing the reader his feelings, yet being fair to the other boys. he makes it clear that it is not in his benefit not to mention their names, but it is in their benefit if he does not include them.

Conrad

Conrad writes in a middle style I'd say, and using very very long sentences and tons of commas. His sentences are almost too long to fully grasp their content. At times...

"There must have been some glare in the air to interfere with one's sight, because it was only just before the sun left us that my roaming eyes made out beyond the highest ridge of the principal islet of the group something which did away with the solemnity of perfect solitude."

 there is just one comma in this entire sentence, what a mouth-full!  Regardless of how long this sentence is, it reminds me so much of a poem.  It reads smoothly.  But between the word "group" and "something" it is beginning for a pause, a comma, SOMETHING! I had to read over it a few times to figure out what was missing.  I am very curious as to why Conrad would exclude a pause here.  It is definitely reflective of his style.

The next line"

"The tide of darkness flowed on swiftly; and with tropical suddenness a swarm of stars came out above the shadowy earth, while I lingered yet, my hand resting lightly on my ship's rail as if on the shoulder of a trusted friend."

This line reads much more poetic to me.  Conrad's descriptions are great, so beautiful, "with tropical suddenness a swarm of stars came out above the shadowy earth..." this line is lovely.  Conrad effectively shows the reader this scene with lovely imagery.

"My second mate was a round-cheeked, silent young man, grave beyond his years, I thought; but as our eyes happened to meet I detected a slight quiver on his lips.  I looked down at once.  I was not my part to encourage sneering on boards my ship.  It must be said too, that I knew very little of my officers."

He it feels as if Conrad is speaking directly to his reader. "It must be said too..." For me it works because it makes the reader feel as if their understanding of the text is important to the author.  Conrad wants the reader to see the story exactly the way it is.  His style does this effectively.  His imagery, his way of showing rather than just telling, but also including the reading.

Henry James: Paste

"Charlotte had now in her hand a small bag of faded, figured silk- one of those antique conveniences that speak to us, in the terms of evaporated camphor and lavender, of the part they have played in some personal history; but though she had for the first time drawn the string, she looked much more at the young man than at the questionable treasure it appeared to contain.  'I shall like them. They're all I have.'"

James sentences are extremely long and show tons of description.  His description of the antique piece is almost exhaustive.  faded, figure silk, antique conveniences, evaporated camphor and lavender, personal history,  and THEN Charlotte draws the sting of the bag that was mentioned in the beginning of the sentence.   Then the focus moves from the focus of the antique piece to the focus of the man.  The man becomes the most important detail in this passage, why spend so much time describing the rest.  is this a form of suspense?   I'm not sure it is.  i find this to be quite confusing, it is not clear.  James is almost trying to distract the reader and then suddenly throw in one last detail, not really describing it, and making it the main point.  

"she looked much more at the young man than at the questionable treasure it appeared to contain." 

 This sentence almost says, forget about the description I used earlier because this is what is the main point.  It's ironic, but it's a pretty great technique.  We can see how James is manipulating the reader.

Montaigne

Montaigne's writing sounds very philosophical.  His opinion is written as fact, which works to make his argument strong.  He often uses "I" and speaks of himself, making this more personalized. 

"As to the rest, I have enjoined myself to dare to say all that I dare to do; even thoughts that are not to be published, displease me; the worst of my actions and qualities do not appear me so evil, as I find it evil and base not to dare own them."

This is written somewhere between a high and middle style I'd say.  It reminds me almost of Shakespeare, and reads quite poetically.  

Montaigne often drops historical names, know worldwide, which serve to make his argument even stronger.

"I am very much of Plato's opinion, who says that facile or harsh humors are great indications of the good ill disposition of the mind.  Socrates had a constant countenance, but serene and smiling, not sourly constant, like the elder Crassus, whom no one ever saw laugh.  Virtue is a pleasant and a gay quality."

Here Montaigne shows his knowledge of these world-known individuals gives him a sense of credibility to his readers.  He is showing that he knows what he is talking about.  He shows confidence.  it can seem as if he is being pretentious about his knowledge, but I believe it is effective in making his argument stronger.  

Raymond Carver

Raymond Carver's story, "Little Things" is quite disturbing.  The story begins with a break up between what seems to be a mother and father.  Once the mother and father begin to argue about who will keep the baby, things get ugly.  It is incredibly disturbing that these two characters are fighting over the baby like two children fighting over a toy.  Even the dialogue is extremely juvenile.  

I want the baby, he said.

Are you crazy?

 No, but I want the baby.

This is low style and we see a lot of repetition with the word "baby."  I think this is Carver's way of reminding the reader that this is a baby the couple is fighting over, though it may not seem to be something insignificant.

At the end, as the two grab hold of the baby and pull in opposite directions, though it is not directly stated, it is clear that the baby has been ripped in two.  the very last line is incredible, "In this manner, the issue was decided."

This ended very much like the idea of two children fighting over a toy.  usually the fighting leads for the toy to break, in this case the baby did.  Perhaps Carver is trying to show metaphorically the tearing of the baby in two to represent and emotional tear that may occur when a child's parents split up.  By choosing to have the baby tear in two may be his way of symbolizing extreme emotional pain that children go through.

Communist Manifesto

"The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his "natural superiors", and has left no other nexus between people than naked self-interest, than callous "cash payment". It has drowned out the most heavenly ecstacies of religious fervor, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water of egotistical calculation. It has resolved personal worth into exchange value, and in place of the numberless indefeasible chartered freedoms, has set up that single, unconscionable freedom -- Free Trade. In one word, for exploitation, veiled by religious and political illusions, it has substituted naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation."

By starting each of these sentences with "It has" puts further emphasis on the content.  The repetition serves as a way of making it clear to the reader so that they do not forget it.  The terms in quotes are also important.  They make the term stand out amongst the rest of the content.  Though this passage is basically a list about what the bourgeoisie has done, it is written in high style.  

The opinion presented here is strong.  It is clear that the opinions shows that the bourgeoisie is not favored.  This comes across strongly and is convincing to the reader.