Style Analysis

1. Diction (choice of words) – Describe diction by considering the following and Give Examples from the selection
to support your point of view.

A. Are the words monosyllabic (one syllable in length) or polysyllabic (more than one syllable in length)?
What impact does this have?
B. Are the words mainly colloquial (slang), informal (conversational), formal (literary) or old-fashioned?
What impact does this have?
C. Are the words mainly denotative (containing an exact meaning), e.g. dress, or connotative (containing a
suggested meaning), e.g. gown. What impact does this have?
D. Are the words concrete (specific) or abstract (general)? What impact does this have?
E. Are the words may be euphonious (pleasant sounding) or cacophonous (harsh sounding) What impact
does this have?
F. Are the verbs active and varied? Or passive and repetitive?

2. Subject Matter – Describe the author’s treatment of subject matter by considering the following:
A. Where is the author subjective, drawing conclusions based upon opinions which are rather personal in
nature? Give examples and explain the impact that this has.
B. Where is the author objective, drawing conclusions based upon facts which are more impersonal or
scientific?
C. Tone is defined as the writer or speaker’s attitude toward the subject. Describe the author’s tone, using
specific examples from the selection.

3. Sentence Structure – Describe the author’s sentence structure by considering:

A. Sentence length

Are the sentences telegraphic (shorter than 5 words in length), medium (approximately eighteen words
in length), or long and involved (thirty words or more in length)?
 How does (or does not) sentence length reflect the subject matter, what variety of lengths is present?
Why is the sentence length effective?
 How does (or does no) the sentence length variety impact meaning?
B. Sentence patterns. Some elements to consider are listed below:

 Sentences can be classified by purpose:

i. declarative - makes a statement
ii. interrogative – asks a question
iii. imperative – gives a command
iv. exclamatory – interjects a feeling

 Sentences can also be classified by structure:

i. simple sentence - one subject and one verb
ii. compound sentence - two independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction (and, but, or) or
by a semicolon,
iii. complex sentence - one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses
iv. compound-complex sentence - two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clause

 Sentences can be classified by arrangement:

i. A loose sentence makes complete sense if brought to a close before the actual ending:
We reached Edmonton that morning after a turbulent fight and some exciting experiences.
ii. A periodic sentence makes sense only when the end of the sentence is reached:
That morning, after a turbulent flight and some exciting experiences, we reached Edmonton.

C. Sentence order
 i. Natural order of a sentence involves constructing sentences so the subject comes before the
predicate, e.g., Oranges grow in California.
ii. Inverted order of a sentence (sentence inversion) involves constructing sentences so the predicate
comes before the subject, e.g., In California grow oranges. This is a device in which normal
sentence patterns are reversed to create an emphatic or rhythmic effect.
iii. Split order of sentences divides the predicate into two parts with the subject coming in the middle,
e.g., In California oranges grow.

D. Examine sentence beginnings. Is there variety, or does a pattern of repetition emerge?

3. Artful use of language (Figures of Speech) – Describe how the author embellishes his writing while adding
to its meaning by considering the following:

Schemes (placement of words): Tropes (meaning of words):

1. structures of balance 1. reference of one thing to another
a. parallelism a. metaphor
i. isocolon b. simile
ii. tricolon c. synechdoche
b. antithesis d. metonymy
c. climax e. personification
2. change in word order 2. wordplay and puns
a. anastrophe a. antanaclasis
b. parenthesis b. paronomasia
c. apposition c. syllepsis
3. omission d. onomatopoeia
a. ellipsis 3. substitutions
b. asyndeton a. anthimeria
c. brachylogia b. periphrasis
d. polysyndeton 4. over/understatements
4. repetition a. hyperbole
a. alliteration b. litotes
b. assonance 5. semantic inversion
c. polyptoton a. rhetorical question
d. antanclasis b. irony
c. oxymoron
d. paradox