Assignments for stylistic analysis

1. Define a) the theme, b) the idea of the episode.

2. Does the dialogue present the theme in form of description or narration?

3. Is the plot simple/ complex/ intricate?

4. State whether the setting is realistic/ historical/ fantastic.

5. Analyse and explain the metaphor: "It's a plain case of friction.";

6. Decide and explain whether the tone of the text is formal/ semiformal/ informal/ conversational/ casual/ sympathetic/ cheerful/ vigorous/ serious/ humorous/ mock-serious/ lyrical/ dramatic/ excited/ agitated/passionate/ im­passive/ detached/ matter-of-fact/ dry/ impartial/ melancholy/ moralising/ unemotional/ pathetic/ sarcastic/ ironical/ sneering/ bitter/ reproachful, etc.

Item 2

There was a steaming mist in all the hollows, and it had roamed in its forlornness up the hill, like an evil spirit, seeking rest and finding none. A

clammy and intensely cold mist, it made its slow way through the air і ripples that visibly followed and overspread one another, as the waves of _a unwholesome sea might do. It was dense enough to shut out everything from the light of the coach-lamps but these its own workings, and a f_eu, yards of road; and the reek of the labouring horses steamed into it, as if they had made it all.

From Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities Assignments for stylistic analysis

1. Analyse the theme and the idea disclosed in the extract.

2. Define whether the text is more narration or description. What is the author's role in it?

3. Is there any exaggeration in depicting the phenomenon?

4. Define the kind of context. Characterise semantic and structural types of metaphor in the passage. What effect does the metaphoric description produce?

5. Analyse stylistic value of the simile used in the passage. Is the clause "as if they had made it all" in the last sentence also an instance of simile? What is the semantic stylistic essence of this concluding part?

6. Explain whether the conjunction "but" introduces antithesis.

7. What effect is produced by the detached nominative clause "A clam­my and intensely cold mist"?

8. In what tone is the extract written? What words specify it?

Item 3

The summer passed slowly like some torturing thing reluctant to let go. The rains came just in time, for the oily leather leaves were curling with crispness and turning yellow with the septic threat of death. In places the ground had cracked open, exposing millions of swarming insects to the harsh scorch glare of the sun: they ran out and withered in a few hours. It was impossible to have open the windows of the Company office for fear of mos­quitoes and huge gnats pumped up with blood, but this did at least keep down the sickening stench of the river. It had shrunk during the summer to half its size, leaving a mass of grey, stagnant silt to bake and stink in the sun. The Animals instinctively kept away from it.

From David Clarke's The Turtles

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