Style Breakdown of “Happy Endings”
Part A
1. Tone
Lack of description creates a monotone, mechanical tone.
The reuse of specific words deflates words and renders
them empty. Plot dominates character. Irony is created
by repetition of “stimulating and challenging” by making
them the opposite in meaning.
2. Diction
Formal and impersonal. Catch phrases relate to a formula
rather than individuality.
3. Figurative or
No word play or figurative language. Every sentence is
Literal
completely literal and unimaginative.
4. Word Choice
The words used are typical and formulaic. The names are
generic and are mentioned only once.
5. Sentence
Sentences are listed in a linear, redundant fashion and
Structure (Syntax)
many begin with “they”. Some key milestones such as
retirement and death are treated anti-climactically with
short, unceremonious sentences.
6. Pacing
Part A cruises right past. All life events just pass on by
without any significance. It all ends abruptly without any
meaning.
7.
Impersonal and repetitive use of “they” as if the names
Uniqueness/Unusual don’t matter.
Quirks
Parts B and C
1. Tone
2. Diction
3. Figurative or
Literal
4. Word Choice
The sections opens in a matter-of-fact manner. The
details center around actions rather than individual
character traits. Internal thoughts and feelings are
described externally – the narrator remains detached.
Even dramatic scenes continue to drone on mechanically.
Plot dominates character.
Pronouns are primarily used and makes this part
extremely formal and impersonal. Personal reflection
and emotional details are omitted. They become
external facts.
No word play or figurative language. Every sentence is
completely literal and unimaginative. Even the insults
are common and banal. The similes would be figurative if
they hadn’t been overused and cliché.
“Tepid” is a lukewarm word without any definite feeling
much like “stimulating and challenging”. Dramatic words
are hollowed out/cliché such as the insults. The names
are common and become interchangeable much like the
words. In Part C, words such as “respectable” echo Part
A. Part A becomes more prominent in Part C by using the
primary elements of the American Dream.
5. Sentence
Listing continues in the same mechanical way – their
Structure (Syntax)
“date” is very routine and predictable. Details are
consumed by complete sentences being chunked into
long lists. Important events like death appear as short
chunks in overly long sentences.
6. Pacing
Part B cruises lists the characters’ lives in overly long
sentences. All “major” dramatic events get swallowed up
in these lists and daily routines. It all quickly comes to an
abrupt end in death. Many detailed and succinct actions
(dressing, cleaning) run parallel with life events to speed
up the story line.
7.
Impersonal and repetitive use of “he” and “she” as if the
Uniqueness/Unusual names don’t matter.
Quirks
Parts D and E
1. Tone
All drama is stripped out of these two sections. Irony is
used when the tidal wave causes “real estate values to go
down” instead of up. An epic disaster is told in a matterof-fact way. Plot dominates character.
2. Diction
Pronouns are primarily used and makes this part
extremely formal and impersonal despite its epic and
personal undertones. Personal reflection and emotional
details are omitted. They become external facts.
3. Figurative or
No word play or figurative language. Every sentence is
Literal
completely literal and unimaginative.
4. Word Choice
Words from Part A are used. Words here are
interchangeable in Part E making technically all lives in
this culture predictable because they follow the same
patterns even if the details vary.
5. Sentence
Listing. Thousands drowning is briefly and ironically
Structure (Syntax)
mentioned as Part A continues on as usual. Major
external events appear in short segments of sentences.
The story, although interrupted, continues according to
the original structure.
6. Pacing
Details are left out in major life events just so they story
can continue as in A.
7.
Impersonal and repetitive use of “he” and “she” as if the
Uniqueness/Unusual names don’t matter. In fact, the narrator asks the reader
Quirks
to fill in the blanks by addressing “you” just as in Part B.