Pre-built codebook for analyzing Samuel R. Delany's Dhalgren. Includes codes for urban apocalypse, identity & sexuality, artistic creation, and narrative structure.
Codes (112)
BELLONA_CITY
Descriptive
Specific references to Bellona as setting
ARCHITECTURE
Descriptive
Buildings, structures, spatial arrangements
SPATIAL_DISORIENTATION
Descriptive
Confusion about location/geography
URBAN_DECAY
Descriptive
Descriptions of ruins, decay, abandoned spaces
FIRE_DESTRUCTION
Descriptive
Fire, burning, destruction
THRESHOLD
Descriptive
Doorways, borders, in-between spaces
LABYRINTH
Descriptive
Maze-like, labyrinthine elements
UNDERWORLD_DESCENT
Descriptive
Descent into dark/underground
TWILIGHT_DAWN
Descriptive
Dawn, dusk, transitional times
CARNIVAL
Descriptive
Carnival-like atmosphere, celebration
CHARACTER_ENTITY
Descriptive
Parent code for all character-related codes (names, roles, identity)
KID
Descriptive
The Kid - protagonist
TAK
Descriptive
Tak - character
DENNY
Descriptive
Denny - character
LOPP
Descriptive
Lopp - character
GEORGE
Descriptive
George - character
TRICKSTER
Descriptive
Trickster-like characters
ORACLE_PROPHET
Descriptive
Prophetic or oracular figures
MENTOR_GUIDE
Descriptive
Guide or teacher figures
HOMELESS_DRIFTER
Descriptive
Homelessness, drifting, rootlessness
LANGUAGE_BREAKDOWN
Descriptive
Language fragmenting, failing
OUTSIDER_STATUS
Descriptive
Being outside mainstream society
NAME_AMNESIA
Descriptive
Protagonist's name/identity issues
IDENTITY_FLUID
Descriptive
Fluid or multiple identities
RACIAL_DYNAMICS
Descriptive
Race, racism, racial identity
CLASS_PRIVILEGE
Descriptive
Economic class, privilege, poverty
NOTEBOOK
Descriptive
The notebook as object/symbol
OBJECT_ENTITY
Descriptive
Parent code for all object and symbol codes
ORCHID_CHAINS
Descriptive
The orchid/chains imagery
OPTICAL_CHAIN
Descriptive
Prism, lens, optical devices
WEAPON
Descriptive
Weapons as symbols
LIGHT_SOURCE
Descriptive
Lamps, fires, light sources
REFLECTION_MIRROR
Descriptive
Mirrors, reflections, self-viewing
SCORPIONS_GANG
Descriptive
The Scorpions gang and activities
SOCIAL_ENTITY
Descriptive
Parent code for all social structure codes
COMMUNE_LIFE
Descriptive
Communal living arrangements
ALTERNATIVE_FAMILY
Descriptive
Non-traditional family structures
TRIBAL_IDENTITY
Descriptive
Group identity, belonging
ARTISTIC_CIRCLE
Descriptive
Artists, poets, creative community
SOCIAL_COLLAPSE
Descriptive
Breakdown of social order/norms
WANDERING
Process
Physical or mental aimless movement
SEARCHING
Process
Character seeking or looking for something
SURVIVAL
Process
Surviving in hostile environment
SELF_CREATION
Process
Creating/defining the self
TRANSFORMING
Process
Character or situation undergoing change
REBIRTH_RENEWAL
Process
Transformation, rebirth, renewal
MUTUAL_AID
Process
Helping each other, sharing resources
RESISTING
Process
Character opposing or rejecting
WRITING_PROCESS
Process
Kid writing poetry, journal entries
CREATION_ACT
Process
Making art, creative acts
CREATING
Process
Character making or building something
POETRY_PERFORMANCE
Process
Performing or reading poetry
OBSERVING
Process
Watching, witnessing, perceiving
REMEMBERING
Process
Character recalling past events
FRAGMENTING
Process
Narrative or character breaking apart
DISSOLVING
Process
Loss of boundaries or coherence
FEAR
Emotion
Fear, terror, anxiety
PARANOIA
Emotion
Excessive suspicion and distrust
ANGER
Emotion
Anger, rage, frustration
SADNESS
Emotion
Sadness, grief, melancholy
ALIENATION
Emotion
Sense of separation from others or self
DESPAIR
Emotion
Loss of hope
SHAME
Emotion
Sense of inadequacy or unworthiness
JOY
Emotion
Joy, happiness, pleasure
ECSTASY
Emotion
Overwhelming joy or transcendence
DISGUST
Emotion
Disgust, revulsion, contempt
CONFUSION
Emotion
Confusion, disorientation, bewilderment
ISOLATION
Emotion
Cut off from outside world
INTIMACY
Emotion
Emotional closeness, connection
QUEER_DESIRE
Descriptive
Non-heteronormative desire/relationships
POLYAMORY
Descriptive
Multiple simultaneous relationships
SEXUAL_ENCOUNTER
Descriptive
Sexual interactions
GENDER_PLAY
Descriptive
Gender performance/fluidity
DOMINANCE_SUBMISSION
Descriptive
Power dynamics in relationships
VIOLENCE_DESIRE
Descriptive
Violence intertwined with desire
TEMPORAL_ANOMALY
Descriptive
Time behaving strangely
TEMPORAL_CONFUSION
Structure
Unclear timeline, time jumps
REALITY_BREAK
Descriptive
Reality/logic breaking down
MEMORY_LOSS
Descriptive
Forgetting, lost memories
CIRCULAR_STRUCTURE
Structure
Narrative loops, circular patterns
FRAGMENTATION
Structure
Fragmented narrative, broken sequences
METAFICTION
Structure
Text referring to itself
TYPOGRAPHIC_PLAY
Structure
Unusual typography, spacing, formatting
MULTIPLE_PERSPECTIVES
Structure
Shifting viewpoints
STREAM_CONSCIOUSNESS
Structure
Stream of consciousness passages
REPETITION_VARIATION
Structure
Repeated scenes with variations
PROLEPSIS
Structure
Flash-forwards, future references
ANALEPSIS
Structure
Flashbacks, past references
UNRELIABLE_NARRATION
Structure
Questionable narrator reliability
READER_ADDRESS
Structure
Direct address to reader
TEXTUAL_ARTIFACT
Structure
Text as physical object within text
HERO_JOURNEY
Structure
Elements of hero's journey
TEMPORAL_SHIFT
Descriptive
Changes in time or chronology
PERSPECTIVE_SHIFT
Descriptive
Changes in narrative perspective
SETTING
Descriptive
Description of time, place, or environment
CHARACTER
Descriptive
Introduction or description of characters
DIALOGUE
Descriptive
Direct speech between characters
INTERIOR_MONOLOGUE
Descriptive
Character's internal thoughts
NARRATIVE_VOICE
Descriptive
Narrator's commentary or perspective
SYMBOLISM
Descriptive
Symbolic objects, actions, or imagery
SENSORY_DETAIL
Descriptive
Rich sensory descriptions
OPTICAL_DISTORTION
Descriptive
Visual distortions, seeing differently
AUTONOMY
Values
Value placed on independence and self-direction
COMMUNITY
Values
Value placed on collective belonging
ORDER
Values
Value placed on structure and stability
CHAOS
Values
Value placed on disruption and uncertainty
TRUTH
Values
Value placed on authenticity and reality
BEAUTY
Values
Value placed on aesthetic experience
POWER
Values
Value placed on control and influence
JUSTICE
Values
Value placed on fairness and equity
AESTHETIC_JUDGMENT
Process
Evaluating/discussing art
EXPLOITATION
Descriptive
Economic/social exploitation