Some hints for stylistic analysis

The author and the significance of the given book for his creative career.

The theme of the extract.

Segmentation of the extract and short characteristics of the parts (introductory paragraph, opening passage - its relation to the main plot; the climax of the extract - what stylistic devices or methods are used by author to heighten the tension in the passage indicating the climax).

The idea of the fragment.

Analyze the rhythm of the extract.

Is the narrative emotional or matter-of-fact? Give examples.

Exemplify cases of emphasis in the text.

Point out the means by which the tense atmosphere is created by the author and comment on their effectiveness.

Is the author detached in his attitude to the events and heroes described in the fragment? Support your opinion by examples. What can be deduced about the relations of the heroes?

What method of characterization is used in description of the heroes? What is the author's attitude to them? What features of the heroes are accentuated by the stylistic devices (irony, pathos, sympathy...).

Is the speech of the characters individualized? Illustrate your point.

Is the description of nature helpful for the characteristic of events or heroes? Exemplify it.

What can you say about the language of the text? Is it simple, ornate, vigorous, figurative, plain, pompous?

Indicate the use of formal (learned) words and colloquialisms. Explain their purpose.

Analyze the syntax of sentences, their variety and the rhythmic effect achieved. Exemplify the author's use of vivid epithets, instances of irony, humour, parenthesis, metaphors, similies, repetitions and other stylistic devices. Comment-on their effect.

What is gained by telling the story in the first (third) person? How does the fact influence the mood and atmosphere of the narration? What method of characterization does the author use?

Though the extract is an introductory (intermediate, final) part of me novel (story) it can be subdivided into smaller fragments of the plot each dealing with a certain theme and having a certain function in the development of the narration.

It is next to impossible to discern all the elements of the plot: exposition - story - climax - denouement. Hence, the extract under consideration's an open plot structure.

Note: There are known three types of short stories

a) a plot (action) short story; the sequence of events forms an ascending line from me exposition on to me climax or down to the denouement;

b) a psychological (character) short story. It shows the drama of a character's world;

c) a mixed type story.

Alternatives: a) rather complicated (intricate);

b) austerely simple;

1 The narration is done from me first person.

Alternatives: a) the narrator being his own protagonist;

b) the narrator focusing on another character.

2 The narration is done from the third person; the narrator being an omniscient observer of the sequence of events and character collisions.

3 The narrator is anonymous. The narration (presentation) of the events in the extract in question rests upon the following forms (types).

Alternatives: a) interior monologue;

b) dramatic monologue;

c) dialogue;

d) narration;

e) description.

All these forms of presentation interrelate in the extract but dialogue (or description, etc.) stands out more prominent (Prevails).

Thus, the extract is built in two (three, four) planes:

Alternatives: a) the description of a... and;

b) the narration about... and;

c) the conversation between ....

The plot is static (or dynamic). (The story is lacking in action). As the plot progresses we come to know about....

From the standpoint of the genre of writing the extract analyzed manifests:

Alternatives: a) social-psychological story (novel);

b) mixture of drama and tragedy.

The genre materializes in a set of formal features imposed on by the content These formal features are composition, plot, structure, imagery, speech representation, rhythm.

For example, the tone and narration of extract is a) impassionate; b) elevated; c) objective; d) subjective; e) livery; f) free-flowing and exciting; g) ironic; h) logical.

This may be accounted for by the fact that the whole novel (story) belongs to the ... ... genre.

And now let's proceed to the text and see how the author's intention is realized in the language tissue of the extract. In other words I get down to the analysis of the innovative aspect excerpt of the text, that is, to the micro-components of poetic structure or the so-called "narrow literary norm".

Very roughly the passage can be divided into (how many) major parts.

1. The opening paragraph ... or several paragraphs.

Alternatives: a) makes an introduction of the whole story;

b) deals with the consideration of the story-teller about...;

c) is built as a narration;

d) consists of dialogue (between whom) which is extremely interesting in structure and essence.

This paragraph reflects the norms of colloquial speech (oral type of speech) in all its peculiarities - syntax (loose word order, elliptical sentences, short sentences, question-answer pattern)., vocabulary (set expressions, words of wide semantics, frequent repetition), grammar (contracted verbal forms, preference for simple sentences).

The choice of words and phrases is conditioned by the same principle - the author (narrator) employs (uses, utilizes) neutral or rather colloquial words and set phrases such as .... Thus, we can make a conclusion that the writer aims at skillful imitation of the natural unaffected speech.

The sentence (constituents) of the paragraph are arranged in a logical pattern with each leading directly to the next. The topic-sentence of the paragraph, that is the sentence containing the essence of what the paragraph is about occupies the initial position. The rest of the sentences expand (add to, qualify, support, complete) the idea expressed in the topic sentence.

The paragraph is a coherent logical unity. One can easily detect the signals (lexical, grammatical, stylistic) of the paragraph cohesion.

The next paragraph masterfully presents the atmosphere of... . From it we gather further information about.... The shift in the subject of narration is almost imperceptible (or rather perceptible, abrupt).

Owing to the peculiarities of the oral (written) type of speech, the length and structure of the constituent sentences of the paragraph are used in the excerpt to mirror this tendency.

Note: a) sentences expressing a complicated thought are well-developed periods, containing subordinate and coordinate clauses and corresponding infinitival, gerundial and participial constructions; b) the short sentence is fitted for the expression of ideas in a concise, pointed and sparkling form. Note should also be taken of the so-called segmented to the basic sentence.

From the point of view of stylistic classification of the English vocabulary, we can easily trace the prevalence of colloquial layer of words (or neutral or literary). (Give examples). They serve to create the effect of... . The writer favours the key-words which contribute to the content of the utterance.

Alternatives: a) the analysis clearly shows that the author employs a restricted number of colloquial words. Here are some examples:...

b) the number of synonyms is deliberately restricted;

c) the impression of matter-of-fact narration is brought about by a very limited use of words denoting feelings....

It is the macro-context that depends the meanings of some words. (Give examples).

The protagonist's inner thoughts are rendered either in the form of direct speech or in the form of represented speech (characterize it).

Now to stylistic proper. The purport of the story is vividly revealed through the abundant use of different stylistic devices (SD) and expressive means (EM).

1 The EM based on the intentional reduction of some elements of the sentence structure (ellipsis, nominative, asyndeton, zeugma).

2 The EM based on me redundancy of some elements of the sentence structure (repetition, framing, anadiplosis, polysyndeton, emphatic and parenthetical constructions).

3 The EM based on the violation of word order in the sentence structure (inversion, detachment).

4 The SD based on the interaction of syntactical structure of the several contact clauses (parallel constructions, chiasmus, anaphor, epiphors).

5 The SD based on the interaction of the forms of connection between clauses and sentences (parcellation, segmentation, coordination instead of subordination).

6 The SD based on the transposition of the meaning of a syntactical structure in the context (rhetorical questions, litotes).

Note: Comment on the stylistic effect produced by the EM and SD and their contribution to the artistic intention of the writer.

Speak about the figure of speech (semeasiological stylistic devices).